Krell K-300i Integrated Amplifier with iBias

"One of the Best Sounding Pieces of Krell Gear"

Krell Audio's K-300i integrated amp incorporates a newly developed amplifier circuit design with Krell iBias™ technology that delivers 150 Watts/Channel into 8Ω and 300 Watts/Channel into 4Ω. iBias provides the sonic benefits of Class A operation without the excessive heat and power consumption of traditional Class A designs.

A 771VA transformer with 80,000μF of capacitance forms a potent power supply for excellent signal control and dynamics. Krell Current Mode topology is employed with fully differential circuitry that runs from the input stage through to the last output gain stage providing an extremely linear and extended frequency response curve with smooth, effortless highs and extremely dynamic bass energy.

"Sonic Excellence and Balance"

I'm hardly the final authority on integrated amplifiers, having reviewed exactly four," reports Jason Victor Serinus in his Stereophile for November 29, 2019. "But of all of them, the one whose sound stands out most in my mind is the Krell K-300i. It has the smoothest, most listenable, and most all-of-one-piece sonics of the lot; it isn't a supreme challenge to move around; and it offers an optional DAC that is surprisingly musical and satisfying for the price."

"On balance, this is one of the best sounding pieces of Krell gear I’ve had the pleasure to use," notes Gregory Petan in TONEaudio. "While the last bit of resolution and slam from their top products is not here, because you can’t have everything for [this price], Krell has made it a point to deliver a high degree of sonic excellence and balance in this compact package. Those needing more power can consider using the K-300i as a control center and adding a more massive Krell power amplifier later."

"The current integrated may be the cheapest amplifier the company currently makes but it still delivers a concentrated dose of the fabled Krell sound. Add the forward-looking feature set and you have something of a high-end bargain," says England's What Hi-fi? magazine, September 6, 2019.

Packed with Krell's Musical Sounding Technologies

Packed with many of Krell's most musical-sounding technologies, the elegant chassis of the K-300i is living-room-friendly. Yet it has enough power to achieve incredible, lifelike dynamics with any speaker.

The convenient front-panel menu system provides configuration features such as input trim. Theater Bypass mode lets the K-300i serve as the core of a surround-sound system without sacrificing two-channel sound quality. Analog Inputs include three stereo RCA and two stereo balanced XLR. High-quality gold-plated speaker cable terminals provide a secure, electrically ideal connection.

Custom Installation Features and Web Interface

The K-300i also offers features that make it perfect for custom installation, such as RS-232 and Ethernet ports for control and status feedback, 3.5mm jacks for IR input, and 12-volt trigger input and output. Additionally, the unit has an internal web server that is optimized for tablets and provides a remote graphical user interface for convenient and intuitive control accessed through its Ethernet connection.

Product Features

Overview

Integrated amplifier with Krell iBias™ technology
150 Watts/Channel into 8Ω and 300 Watts/Channel into 4Ω
771VA transformer with 80,000μF of capacitance
Fully differential circuitry that runs from the input stage through to the last output gain stage
Front-panel menu system
Theater Bypass mode
RS-232 and Ethernet ports for control and status feedback
Internal web server that is optimized for tablets and provides a remote graphical user interface

Analog Inputs

2 pr. balanced via XLR connectors
3 pr. single-ended via RCA connectors

Outputs

1 pr. preamp outputs via RCA connectors
1 pr. speaker outputs via gold-plated binding posts

Control Inputs

RS-232 input via 9-pin D-subminiature connector
Remote IR detector input via 3-conductor 3.5 mm connector
12 VDC trigger input via 2-conductor 3.5 mm connector

Control Output

12 VDC trigger output (60 mA maximum current) via 2-conductor 3.5 mm connector

Product Specs

Input impedance

Balanced: 16 kΩ
Single-ended: 8 kΩ

Frequency Response

20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, -0.22 dB
<10Hz to 100kHz +0, -0.57 dB

Signal-to-noise ratio

104 dB, wideband, unweighted, at 2V RMS in balanced, referred to full power output
117 dB, “A”-weighted

Gain

25 dB, referenced to 2V RMS in balanced and full power output

Input Overload

10.4 V RMS Balanced
6.8 V RMS Single-ended

Total Harmonic Distortion

<0.015%, 1 kHz, 150 W, 8 Ω load
<0.08%, 20 kHz, 150 W, 8 Ω load

Output Power

150 W RMS per channel at 8 Ω
300 W RMS per channel at 4 Ω

Output Voltage

98 V peak to peak
34.6 V RMS

Slew Rate

46 V/µs

Output impedance

<0.023 Ω, 20 Hz
<0.035 Ω, 20 Hz to 20 kHz

Damping Factor

347, 20 Hz, referred to 8 Ω
228, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, referred to 8 Ω

Power Consumption

Standby: 11 W
Idle: 46 W
Maximum: 900 W

Heat Output

Standby: 37 BTU/hr
Idle: 156 BTU/hr
Maximum: 3060 BTU/hr

Dimensions

17.25 in W x 4.12 in H x 18.00 in D
438 mm W x 105 mm H x 457 mm D

Weight

Unit only: 52 lb [23.6 kg]
As shipped: 60 lb [27.3 kg]

Product Warranty

3 Years Without Registration

5 Years With Registration Within 60 Days Of Purchase

Parts & Labor

Krell Warranty Information

Product Manual

	Krell K300i Integrated Amplifier User Reference (PDF Format)

"The Krell K-300i is a highly attractive all-in-one offer: a sonically convincing digital department in combination with an excellent amplifier, exceptionally versatile and user-friendly - what more could you want!"

- Roland Dietl, HIFISTATEMENT NETMAGAZINE, July 20, 2021

"It is a truly great one, arguably the single most compelling balance of features and sheer performance..."

"Behind the modern connectivity is an amplifier that is unquestionably old school. As well as being old school though, it is unquestionably brilliant. The Krell K-300i is a masterpiece and the indisputable Best in Class."

- Ed Selley, avforums.com, August 8, 2020

"Drawing on its well of power and coupling it with notable resolution proves to be a winning combination for the K-300i. It has even found favour with Naim Audio die-hards (no easy task), who view the K-300i as something akin to a ‘SuperDuperUniti’. So, purely as an integrated amplifier, the Krell-300i is a winner. The Krell has an excellent taut tonality that stays this side of ‘lean’, has power to burn and can deliver it into all sorts of speaker loads with speed and sure-footed dynamic stability. Like all good amps, it imposes itself on the music yet never gets in its way and the 150 watts into 8 ohms is going to be ample for all but the more extreme systems and locations."

- Chris Thomas, Hi-Fi+, June 2, 2020

2022 Recommended Components - Stereophile

"I'm hardly the final authority on integrated amplifiers, having reviewed exactly four. But of all of them, the one whose sound stands out most in my mind is the Krell K-300i. It has the smoothest, most listenable, and most all-of-one-piece sonics of the lot; it isn't a supreme challenge to move around; and it offers an optional DAC that is surprisingly musical and satisfying for the price."

- Jason Victor Serinus, Stereophile, November 29, 2019

"On balance, this is one of the best sounding pieces of Krell gear I’ve had the pleasure to use. While the last bit of resolution and slam from their top products is not here, because you can’t have everything for [this price], Krell has made it a point to deliver a high degree of sonic excellence and balance in this compact package. Those needing more power can consider using the K-300i as a control center and adding a more massive Krell power amplifier later."

- Gregory Petan, TONEaudio

"Krell released its first integrated amp, the KAV-300i, back in the mid-90s. That was a terrific performer, and this current version reminds us of that.

"We doubt there are many times those words have been used to describe a product worth almost nine grand."

- What Hi-fi?, September 6, 2019