Krell Industries Evolution 400 Quick start guide

OWNER’S REFERENCE

EVOLUTION

EVOLUTION AMPLIFIERS

302 AND 402 STEREO

403 THREE-CHANNEL

400, 600, AND 900 MONAURAL

Evolution 302, 402, 403, 400, 600 and 900 Power Amplifiers

Owner’s Reference, v08.0

Krell Industries, Inc.

45 Connair Road

Orange, CT 06477-3650 USA

This product complies with the EMC directive (89/336/EEC) and the low-voltage directive

(73/23/EEC).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read Instructions.

2. Keep these Instructions.

3. Heed all Warnings.

4. Follow all Instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with a dry cloth.

7. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appa-

ratus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

8. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

9. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus

has been damaged in any way,such as a power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has

been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to

rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

10. An Evolution amplifier must be placed on a firm, level surface where it is not exposed to drip-

ping or splashing.

11. The ventilation grids on the top of everyEvolution amplifier,the ventilation grids on the back of

the Evolution 302 and 400 amplifiers, and the space underneath every Evolution amplifier must

be unobstructed at all times during operation. Do not place flammable material above or

beneath an Evolution amplifier.

12. Before making connections to an Evolution amplifier, ensure that the power is off and other com-

ponents arein mute or stand-by mode. Make sure all cable terminations are of the highest quali-

ty,free from frayed ends, shortcircuits, or cold solder joints.

13. THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE AN EVOLUTION AMPLIFIER.

Please contact Krell if you have questions not addressed in this guide.

This product is manufactured in the United States of America. Krell®is a registered trademark of Krell Industries, Inc., and is restricted for use by

Krell Industries, Inc., its subsidiaries, and authorized agents. CAST™, Evolution CAST™, and Krell Current Mode™are trademarks of Krell

Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are registered to their respective companies.

TEL 203-298-4000

FAX 203-891-2028

E-MAIL [email protected]

WEBSITE http://www.krellonline.com

P/N 309888

Contents

List of Illustrations, page 4

ALetter from Dan D’Agostino, page 5

SECTION ONE: Evolution Amplifier Features and Technology, page 6

Features, Revolutionary Krell CAST Technology,

Definition of Terms

SECTION TWO: Unpacking and Placement, page 11

Opening the Evolution Amplifier Shipping Carton

SECTION THREE: Anatomy of the Evolution Amplifier, page 13

Front Panel Description, and Back Panel Description

SECTION FOUR: Connecting an Evolution Amplifier to Your System, page 22

CAST Connections, Balanced Connections, Single-ended Connections,

Evolution DC Protection Circuitry/Using Tube Preamplifiers, Connection Steps

SECTION FIVE: Evolution Amplifier Operation, page 24

On/Off and Stand-by Operation

SECTION SIX: Troubleshooting System Noise, page 25

How to Evaluate Amplifier Operation, Error Codes

SECTION SEVEN: Questions and Answers, page 27

WARRANTY,page 28

RETURN AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURE, page 30

SPECIFICATIONS, page 31

List of Illustrations

Figure 1, page 13

Evolution Amplifier Front Panel

Figure 2, page 15

Evolution 302 Stereo Back Panel

Figure 3, page 16

Evolution 402 Stereo Amplifier Back Panel

Figure4, page 17

Evolution 403 Three-channel Amplifier Back Panel

Figure5, page 18

Evolution 400 Monaural Amplifier Back Panel

Figure5, page 19

Evolution Monaural Amplifier Back Panel

ALetter from Dan D’Agostino

Dear Audio Enthusiast,

Thank you for your purchase of a Krell Evolution Series amplifier.

Evolution Series amplifiers continue my quest for amplifiers that deliver absolute

truth in music reproduction. Active Cascode Topology is a unique circuit technique

that minimizes distortion by applying from 2 to 3 times more active devices to

each gain stage. The attributes of this topology is shared throughout the Evolution

Series amplifiers.

Krell amplifiers arebest known for their ability to drive any loudspeaker to sound

its best, without regardto impedance or efficiency.Ibelieve that linearity,an

amplifier’s ability to output an exact duplicate of the input signal, is the ultimate

measureof that amplifier’s work. At Krell, I drive amplifier designs toward the com-

mon goal of linearity,through the rigorous application of Krell design principles

that focus our efforts on four major performance factors: distortion, bandwidth,

output impedance, and current capability. The Evolution Series amplifiers are a

synthesis of these factors.

The Evolution Series amplifiers use Evolution CAST technology,for superior per-

formance and verylow noise.

Ihope that you enjoy your new Evolution Series amplifier.

Sincerely,

Daniel D’Agostino

Chief Executive Officer

SECTION ONE

Evolution Amplifier Features and Technology

This section describes the innovative features and technology of the Evolution

Series amplifiers, and defines CAST and other key terms used in this reference.

There are six amplifier models in the Evolution Series: the 302 Stereo Power

Amplifier, the 402 Stereo Power Amplifier, the 403 Three-channel Power Amplifier,

the 400 Monaural Power Amplifier, the 600 Monaural Power Amplifier, and the 900

Monaural Power Amplifier.The compact chassis of the 400 Monaural Power

Amplifier contains all of the high power,wide bandwidth, and low noise character-

istics designed into all Evolution Series amplifiers.

Features

Evolution Series amplifiers are designed with a signal path that incorporates Krell

Current Mode and CAST circuitry.

All amplifiers feature massive power supplies. The power supply makes use of

extensive electrical and magnetic shielding to keep radiated interference out of

critical amplifier circuits.

The Evolution 302 design utilizes a 3000 VApower supply.The Evolution 402 and

Evolution 600 areequipped with a 5000 VApower supply, and the Evolution 403

and Evolution 900 house 6000 VApower supplies.

Internal high-current line conditioning circuitry filters RF noise on the AC mains, as

well as compensating for asymmetrical power waveforms and DC on the mains.

Advanced microprocessor control monitors critical operational parameters. Output

current, DC offset, rail voltages, and operating temperature are all continuously

monitored.

Revolutionary Krell CAST Technology

Current Audio Signal Transmission, termed CAST, is a revolutionary method of

connecting analog audio components for unparalleled sonic performance.

Innovative engineering combines the new Krell CAST circuitry with existing Krell

Current Mode technology to create entire CAST systems that reproduce music

with incredible range, tonality, and precision.

The Voltage Signal Transmission

and the Traditional Audio System

Traditionally, signal is transmitted in the voltage domain between two components.

In an audio system, each component is a discrete entity with unique characteris-

tics that act upon the musical signal independently. Each component is unaware

of the other components in the system. The cables that connect the components

also have their own electrical characteristics, which affect the sonic presentation

of the entire system. CAST transmission unifies individual components and inter-

connects into an electrically-linked whole. The original signal remains unaltered

from source to speaker.

CAST Basics

Here is how a CAST audio system works. Internally, each CAST source transfers,

or amplifies, current using Krell Current Mode circuitry. This current signal is then

output using CAST circuitry. When the signal is received by a CAST input, Krell

Current Mode circuitryagain takes over until the signal reaches the loudspeaker.

By maintaining the musical signal in the current domain from beginning to end, an

entire CAST system behaves as if it is one component. With CAST, circuit board

properties and signal transmission aberrations between components areeliminat-

ed. Cable impedances and their effects on the transmitted signal arenon-existent.

How CAST and Krell Current Mode Interact

While CAST is a new method of transferring the musical signal between compo-

nents, its origin stems from Krell Current Mode, the technology developed to

transfer the musical signal within a component. CAST combined with Krell Current

Mode circuitry takes signal transmission to the next evolutionary level. In essence,

continued

Krell Current Mode maintains the integrity of the signal within the component and

CAST preserves the transmitted signal between components. Together, CAST and

Krell Current Mode technologies unify separate Krell components into a single

global circuit. Krell Current Mode technology enjoys bandwidth increases up to an

order of magnitude greater than their voltage based counterparts. This dramatic

increase in circuit bandwidth delivers near perfection in the audible band that typi-

cally suffers from phase distortions in voltage circuits.

CAST Cable Construction

ACAST system uses cables manufactured by Krell and other manufacturers spe-

cially licensed by Krell. Thin and flexible CAST cables areconstructed with the

same build quality as other Krell components and are aesthetically matched to the

components that Krell manufactures. An all-metal body and locking connectors

with gold contacts arepart of the standard no-compromise specification devel-

oped for everyCAST cable made.

Evolution CAST

By employing revolutionary current mirror circuitry, the Evolution amplifier compo-

nents raises CAST technology to another level. This advanced use of the technol-

ogy increases the linearity,transient speed, and bandwidth of the Evolution com-

ponents while reducing the distortion by an order of magnitude.

The Best Musical Performance

When you operate a CAST system, you will hear significant improvements in every

performance area: speed, precision, dynamic range, depth and width of the sound

stage, transient impact, tonal balance, harmonic distortion, and more. The goal for

CAST is the same company goal used for all Krell products. Krell strives for the

deliveryof the best performance of a musical event for you, using the full expres-

sion of technology to date.

(SECTION ONE: Evolution Amplifier Features and Technology continued)

Definition of Terms

The following are definitions of key terms used in this owner’s reference:

Inputs and Outputs

Balanced

Asymmetrical input or output circuit that has equal impedance from both input

terminals to a common ground reference point. The industry standard for profes-

sional and sound recording installations, balanced connections have 6 dB more

gain than single-ended connections and allow the use of long interconnect cables.

Balanced connections arecompletely immune to induced noise from the system

or the environment.

CAST and Evolution CAST

Krell Current Audio Signal Transmission, or CAST, is a proprietary Krell circuit tech-

nology for connecting analog components, transmitting the audio waveform

between components in the current domain rather than in the voltage domain. The

speed and bandwidth provided by Krell CAST and its circuitry update, Evolution

CAST,yield accurate, realistic music reproduction, enabling connected compo-

nents to performas if they areall partof a single circuit. CAST and Evolution CAST

arebalanced connections, and reject induced noise.

Single-ended

Atwo-wire input or output circuit. Single-ended connections are not recommend-

ed for connections requiring long cable runs. Use care when using single-ended

connections, because the ground connection is made last and broken first. Turn

the system off/on prior to making or breaking single-ended connections.

Operation

Off

When the power status indicator is not illuminated, the amplifier is off.

Stand-by

Alow-power-consumption status that keeps the audio and power supply circuits

at idle. The power status indicator is illuminated in red, when the amplifier is in

stand-by mode. Krell recommends leaving the amplifier in stand-by mode when it

is not playing music.

Operation

When the power button is pressed, and the power status indicator is illuminated in

blue, the amplifier is in operational mode and ready to play music.

continued

Technology

Active Cascode Topology

Aunique circuit technique that minimizes distortion by applying from 2 to 3 times

more active devices to each gain stage thereby reducing the load on individual

devices and improving circuit-wide linearity.

Krell Current Mode

Aproprietary Krell circuit topology in which the audio gain stages of a component

operate in the current domain rather than the voltage domain. This unique technol-

ogy provides the component with exceptional speed, and a wide bandwidth.

(SECTION ONE: Definition of Terms continued)

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