Krell Evolution 505 SACD CD Player.

[PHC1]

I guess I should share my impression of the Krell Evo 505 CDP since it also took part in my recent evaluations.



Great build quality and a good looking CDP IMHO but everyone has their taste when it comes to gear. I like it.

I wasn't expecting to be very impressed with it since Krell tends to sound a little sterile in most systems. Not all of course, I've heard a few systems where it was a nicely balanced sound. Such turned out to be the case in my system as well, with the Lamm amps, Lamm tubed pre and Sonus Fabers, it actually balanced out very nicely. YMMV.

Now on to the strong points. Stupendous bass, well textured and not at all dry sounding. Fast, deep, tight, resolving, well textured and satisfying bass. Remember, we are talking about a CDP not a Krell amp.

Resolution is probably as good as it gets. I heard subtle details in the recordings that many other CDPs have trouble pulling from the CD and there were a few times I heard subtle little background details that I have not noticed before on very familiar to me recordings. This CDP extracts them all. The bass quality and quantity as well as most impressive resolution is no doubt due to the transport quality. Most great quality transports and CDPs with great internal transports will bring out bass by the truckload. This CDP does not disappoint in resolution or bass.

Dynamics, well, if you know Krell, then you know that dynamics are the strong point of just about any Krell component and this one is no different. The dynamics, both macro and micro are impeccable. The dynamic shading and contrast is very impressive, able to capture the minute to the large dynamic swings and the subtle energy shifts of any instrument on any recording of good quality.

I think it captures the true pace, rhythm, timing and the very essence of dynamics of instruments captured on the recording among with the best CDP's out there. Even vocals seem to be reproduced with all the subtle fluctuations of the vocal cords that sometimes slips by other CDPs. Emotional content seems to pour forth with greater ease from both the recorded instruments as well as human voices.

Having said that, it is not a romantic sounding CDP as that would imply that it is somehow soft or overly forgiving or has too smooth of processing filters. It does not, it conveys what the recording has to offer with outmost clarity and truth. If the recording is an enjoyable recording to begin with, it will sound that much better with this CDP, if the recording was dog meat to begin with, it will sound that way as well. This CDP does not warm up recordings that are heavy handed by the mastering studio and dynamic range compressed recordings sound well, dynamic range compressed and harsh like they always do. I did however notice that on most recordings, I was able to get away with listening louder than normal and still not cringe or have the urge to turn down the volume. Interesting...

Some of the above statements may lead one to believe that this CDP is clinical or sterile sounding and that would be a mistake because it is not clinical or sterile sounding, at least in the context of my system. I certainly can't call it that while paired up with the Lamm monoblocks and Lamm preamp. I certainly enjoyed all the attributes of this CDP and did not feel fatigued or turned off by all the extra resolution. I actually quite enjoyed it. I wouldn't call the Lamm preamplifer a romantic sounding pre either. The sound was transparent, open, airy, dynamic and quite impressive but not the kind of impressive that gets fatiguing quickly. I did not hear the same over-emphasis of the leading edge of transients that I normally hear with Krell amplifiers. Again, this is a CDP, not their amps we are talking about.

I hesitate to make a blanket statement that everyone will enjoy this CDP because I can't be sure that every system will have the same level of synergy or leeway for being open, transparent and resolving without pushing the whole balance over the edge of what is still "musical" and what is just a hi-fi showcase of "collection of sounds". I've listened to quite a variety of genres and quality of recordings from SACD to XRCD to some older and crappier sounding redbook CDs and at no time did this CDP sound mechanical, clinical or etched. It did not lose composure on any of the genres and make me reach for the remote. I'd say that it certainly deserves an audition for those in need of something "extra" or some more "spice" from their system.

There may be some more "musical" CDPs out there but their musicality would be strictly by omission rather than anything else over this Krell 505.

[1KW]

So does this mean you are getting rid of the Ayre for the Krell ?

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by 2uberoller

So does this mean you are getting rid of the Ayre for the Krell ?

The're a bit different from each other. All depends where my system goes next. Much will depend on the speakers. The Lamm/Sonus Faber will allow either, not sure if I will feel the same way once the Wilson Sophia's will be in my system.

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by PHC1

The're a bit different from each other. All depends where my system goes next. Much will depend on the speakers. The Lamm/Sonus Faber will allow either, not sure if I will feel the same way once the Wilson Sophia's will be in my system.

OMG Serge, so many changes in so little time. I'd have a really hard time keeping track of the differences between components. But then again, I'm the kind of guy who takes a couple of months before publishing a review .

Having said that, very well written review .

Alberto

[1KW]

I'm telling you Serge, just keeping doing Demo's until you run out of dealers . You eventually will get bored with the new stuff and be happy with what you have.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Alberto

OMG Serge, so many changes in so little time. I'd have a really hard time keeping track of the differences between components. But then again, I'm the kind of guy who takes a couple of months before publishing a review .

Having said that, very well written review .

Alberto

Alberto, I have a strange memory like that. I can remember and describe in great detail the systems I've heard over 10 years ago.. Besides that, I can also precisely remember specific details I liked or disliked about each one, the quality of bass, soundstage and just about everything else. If I didn't know any better I'd say I had "savant syndrome" when it comes to audio...

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by 2uberoller

I'm telling you Serge, just keeping doing Demo's until you run out of dealers . You eventually will get bored with the new stuff and be happy with what you have.

Sorry David, you lost me there...

[JSCC]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Alberto, I have a strange memory like that. I can remember and describe in great detail the systems I've heard over 10 years ago.. Besides that, I can also precisely remember specific details I liked or disliked about each one, the quality of bass, soundstage and just about everything else. If I didn't know any better I'd say I had "savant syndrome" when it comes to audio...

Your next job - Audio Reviewer cum Editor for Audio Aficionado!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by JSCC

Your next job - Audio Reviewer cum Editor for Audio Aficionado!

If you guys find my posts informative and enjoy them, I will keep at it when the opportunities present themselves.

[1KW]

Originally Posted by PHC1

If you guys find my posts informative and enjoy them, I will keep at when the opportunities present themselves.

Serge,

I like your reviews, keep them coming when you see fit.