Krell Analog Vanguard Integrated Stereo Amplifier

The Vanguard incorporates a 200-watt-per channel amplifier and a Class A preamplifier, enclosed in a chassis that borrows its design and construction from the new Krell Foundation preamp/processor, Connect stream player, Illusion preamp and iBias amplifiers.

The Vanguard’s amplifier incorporates a massive power supply with a 750 VA toroidal transformer and 80,000 microfarads of storage capacitance. The tremendous amount of energy on tap provides 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 400 watts into 4 ohms. Two quiet, thermostatically controlled fans permit the use of a surprisingly compact chassis.

The preamplifier section of the Vanguard borrows its balanced, fully discrete Class A circuit concepts from Krell’s top-of-the-line Illusion preamplifiers. Krell’s Current Mode technology is employed to assure unequaled signal bandwidth, easily enough to handle the latest high-resolution PCM and DSD audio sources without impacting high-frequency response and detail.

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

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

The Vanguard also offers features that make it perfect for custom installation, such as 3.5mm jacks for IR input and 12-volt trigger input and output, as well as optional rack-mount ears. Additionally, the unit can be controlled with home automation systems through its Ethernet connection.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Inputs
  1 pr. balanced via XLR connectors
  3 pr. single-ended via RCA connectors
• Outputs
  1 pr. speaker outputs via WBT gold-plated binding posts
• Control inputs
  1 remote IR detector input via 3-conductor 3.5 mm connector
  1 12 VDC trigger input via 2-conductor 3.5 mm connector
• Control output
  1 programmable 12 VDC trigger output (300 mA maximum current) via 2-conductor 3.5 mm connector
• Input impedance
  Balanced: 95 kΩ
  Single-ended: 47.5 kΩ
• Frequency response
  20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, –0.01 dB
  <2 Hz to 150 kHz +0, –3 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio
  >90 dB, wideband, unweighted, at maximum gain, referred to full power output
  >97 dB, “A”-weighted
• Gain
  48 dB
• Input sensitivity
  Single-ended or balanced: 160 mV RMS
• Total harmonic distortion
  <0.015% at 1 kHz, at 200 W, 8 Ω load
  <0.13% at 20 kHz, at 200 W, 8 Ω load
• Output power
  200 W RMS per channel at 8 Ω
  400 W RMS per channel at 4 Ω
•  Output voltage
  113 V peak to peak
  40 V RMS
• Output current
  16 A peak
• Slew rate
  50 V/μs
• Output impedance
  <0.066 Ω at 20 Hz
  <0.075 Ω, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Damping factor
  >121 at 20 Hz, referred to 8 Ω
  >106, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, referred to 8 Ω
• Power consumption
  Standby: 12 W
  Idle: 70 W
  Maximum: 1300 W
• Heat output
  Standby: 41 BTU/hr
  Idle: 239 BTU/hr
  Maximum: 4436 BTU/hr
• Dimensions
  17.1 in W x 4.15 in H x 17.5 in D
  434 mm W x 105 mm H x 445 mm D
• Weight
  Unit only: 39 lb [17.7 kg] As shipped: 47 lb [21.3 kg]