Krell Connect Media Player with DAC

Krell Connect with DAC. Factory packed and in full working order with 3 months warranty. NO REMOTE.

HiFi+ magazine says: All things considered, in fact, it seems that Krell has a genuine and worthwhile winner on its hands with the Connect, its first network music player. A confident recommendation… and hopefully a welcome introduction to UPnP streaming for a continent.

There are in fact two versions of Krell’s Connect player, the one featured here having an optional built-in DAC with balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) analogue outputs. Needless to say it is vastly overbuilt compared with most music streamers!

At its core lies a familiar BridgeCo-based StreamUnlimited platform including vTuner internet radio functionality. Massive power supplies have always been the cornerstone of Krell designs, and the Connect has an over-specified linear power supply with a 94VA toroidal transformer large enough to power a modest amplifier.

The on-board converter section uses ESS Technology’s flagship ES9018 Sabre 32-bit DAC chipset and has a fully discrete balanced analogue output stage employing Krell’s Current Mode topology.

At the rear are three mini-jack sockets. Two are 12V triggers, the third is for an external IR receiver. There is also a solitary A-Type USB input for direct playback of files from ‘local storage’ such as a USB hard drive or memory stick. These must be formatted for the FAT32 file system, not NTFS.

Technical Specifications

Inputs: Wi-Fi, Ethernet and USB
Outputs: Toslink optical and coax digital, balanced XLR and single ended RCA analogue
Supported Formats: FLAC, Ogg, WAV, WMA, Apple Lossless, MP-4a, MP3. Up to 192kHz/24-bit playback
3.5-inch QVGA (320×240) LCD Display
Internet Radio UPnP/DLNA-compliant
iOS and Android apps for control. IR Remote optional.
vTuner equipped
Dimensions (HxWxD): 8.8×42.8 x43.3cm
Weight: 8.16kg
Price: £3,500 with built-in DAC

A fabulous sound

The Connect is an extremely supple and expressive digital player. With good recordings it delivers really meaty and deeply extended bass, and refined high frequencies without any hardness or glare.

http://www.hifinews.co.uk/news/article/krell-connect-pound;3500–pound;2500-without-dac/20346

http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/krell-connect-digital-media-player/?page=4