Build, looks, and smooth sound.

The transport could be better.

Krell has always made great audio gear, and the KAV 280cd is no exception. It is built to state of the art standards and will last forever. The sound is quite pleasing:

Top-End: Nicely Rolled-Off.
Midrange: Sweet
Bottom-End: Deep & Well Articulated

It is a very good player that uses the same Burr-Brown 1704 chip set as 25K Naim. Hence, the sweet midrange and relaxed overall sound. As with digial source components, the Krell KAV 280cd is very sensitive to line grunge. I have just upgraded to Siltech Ruy Hill, which take performance up a level. There are better players out there, but at between $1,500-$2,000 the Krell KAV 280cd is tough to beat.

Customer Service

Great

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Just as good as a $150 Sony cdp70 from 1986.

Just as good as a $150 Sony cdp70 from 1986.

Short version: In a back to back test in my home, there was NO difference between this Krell KAV 280 CD player and a 1985 Sony player! Long version: I recently borrowed the Krell KAV 280 demo unit and tried it in my system. I was looking to upgrade from my Sony cdp-70 which I bought for $150 in 1986. I hooked up the Krell and went back and forth with my old Sony and I was astonished to find that there was no discernible difference. Over several days, I listened to a large variety of genres of music, at various volume levels, etc but nothing made a difference. My wife thought the highs were a little smoother, but at best it was a very subtle difference. I'm not here to bash Krell. I have nothing against their amps or other equipment. I just felt compelled to relate my story. For $3500, I expect to hear a pretty dramatic improvement in sound. Since I've been upgrading my system, I've heard big improvements with new speakers (Dynaudio Audience 82) and amp (Musical Fidelity A308 Integrated). If anyone has a rational, reasonable explanation for why I heard no difference with the Krell, I'd be glad to hear it, but after this experience, I feel you'd be crazy to spend that kind of money on this player.

3D soundstage, punch, sweet treble, imaging.

None, just wish it were more affordable new. Bought mine as a demo.

This is the highest of high end I've heard. Previously owned mid-fi CD players, and this is a HUGE improvement over them! Incredible sweet warm detail with no edge in the treble, and 3D soundstage and punch that will lift you out of your seat! Makes my Maggie MG-12 speakers sound like there's a subwoofer built in! I'm hearing imaging in recordings I've never heard before. You can actually hear acoustics of halls symphony orchestra's recorded in! Wow!! Overall an Incredible player that deserves a lot more press and raves!

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Great detail, imaging, 3D sound, pace, and BASS! Nice looking finish.

They didn't make it sooner! Price, as always..

I have been trying to make a decision if I should go the Meridian or Krell. Fortunately, I have been able to audition both units at home before making a decision. I have backed to backed these units for about two days now, and I have had a tough time deciding. I have always been partial to Meridian products but I believe in the long run the Krell wins out. The one partticular thing that stands out in the Meridian, is that it has air around the instruments. I only wish that the Krell had the same quaility. The Krell has a very nice detailed 3D soundstage that makes it different from the Meridian. It is not any better, but different. Both units are great sounding, and Krell is to be commended for producing this puppy. It is a fantastic sounding unit! The vocals came across better in the Krell. They were more elevated than the Meridian. With the Krell the music goes way beyond the speakers and the instruments are more up front. I have been pursing this sound for quite a while. Stringed instruments are really "live" sounding. I play guitar, so I know what a guitar should sound like, and Krell produces it quite well. It is especially good at placing all the instruments in their place, causing you to look around, if you sit in the dark and listen like I do! The Krell puts out quit a bit more bass compared to the Meridian.

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superb soundstage, trigger cable, balanced inputs

none

This review is for the kav-300cd. Formerly used the Sony dvp-9000es as cdp. Used in conjunction w/ my kav-500 amp and hst1 preamp, the detail is nothing short of awe inspiring. The image focus is amazing. Take advantage of the balanced inputs. Great bargain if you can find one used. Krell is notorious for great customer service. They really stand behind their products.

Here is the remaining of my prev. review, it got cut off... SCD-1 to me is the best looking CDP on earth, one of the best built too, but I choose the 280 for $500 cheaper (actually price, not MSRP), and to perfectly match with the 300iL! Ideally I would want to have both SCD-1 and 280CD at home,but we all have other priorities! :)

Build, Look, focus and 3D soundstage, and very accurate.

Pricy MSRP, even worst if you buy outside of US ($5000 instead of $3500). No HDCD.

This is one of the best CD player in the market. Excellent build quality, extremely well design, both technically and aesthetically. Pure Class A, and full balanced design. Perfect match with the 300iL, no doubt about it. Like other Krell products, the 280CD is very revealing and very analytical. An honest player I would say, just like the Sony SCD-1. So some people may say it''s too bright, too accurate for their taste, but like other reviewers had said, it''s very much depending on the recordings and other associated components on your systems too. Soundstage is very 3 dimensional, it''s laid back, yet still very dynamic and fast! Being said, orchestral and symphony works are amazing, Jazz and Classical. The balanced XLR output works wonder and it sounds much better than the single-ended RCA. I''ve done numerous comparisons with 1 pair of Stealth CWS XLR and 1 pair of CWS RCA, it''s not just the high volume which could be mistaken as improvement sometimes. I also mate it with a Taralabs Prism AC Ref power cord instead of my usual Harmonic Tech Pro-11AC. The Taralabs is smoother and warmer and I personally thinks it''s better for CDP, compare to the HT Pro-11AC. I love the HT and I use it for my amps, but it could be a bit too accurate for a CDP. BTW, if you are to purchase a HT Pro-11AC, buy with the Schurter IEC option, the stock one came with cheap standard plastic one like those from your computer. The good IEC like the Schurter allows better and tighter connecting between conductors, yet allows very easy in and out operation. The stock Taralabs AC Ref came with a very good IEC plug. Comparing to SCD-1 (CD only), there are both very similar. I would say the 280CD is a little better in bass. Both are very accurate and will reveal every bit of recorded information, good and bad! Overall image and 3Dness is better with the 280CD, but only by a bit in an AB comparison test. Esp where using XLR for comparison, I believe SCD-1 is not fully balanced. Though, SACD is better than regular CD, that''s if you are getting into this format. Comparing with other in similar price range, Meridian 588, Arcam CD23 and etc., the 588 is a good allrounder, but it''s very expensive in the US also, but I heard it has many bugs... The Arcam is a bliss and does wonder with voices, but it lacks the dynamic and soundstage for a good piece of symphony work. SCD-1 to me

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Arcam, Adcom, Denon, Marantz, Meridian, Sony SACD/CD.

Very good sounding player, from what I had chance to hear.

Read Review summary, I hope my unit was an exception (But it is not, I know for a fact). Except for my "Friday afternoon unit", no real weaknesses in this price range.

Only used the player for three weeks, had to send it back because the unit had several malfunctions issues. Does`nt initialize, open drawer when skip is used on remote, several display problems, transport freeze often while playing for no reasons, press Pause; will display in window but keep playing, finition was almost perfect if it wasn`t for the crooked drawer (still cannot figure why it left the factory).

reads the disc clearly and transmits this signal well
transport excellent
remote excellent

none yet

Really wasn't looking for a new CD player, but after demoing this one in conjunction with Krell 300iL int. amp. I just couldn't pass it up. Well thought out player that is truly incredible. Hooked up with Purist Cables and NHT's. Nice combo. Detailed lifelike music. Nicely laid out, excellent remote, incredible sound.

Build quality, bass extension and articulation, smooth sound

Highs

A good looking CD player that have a excellent build quality, and a perfect match to Krell KAV300iL amplifier. The sound is very liquid and smooth, with a very deep bass, but also articulate, with an excellent sense of tone. The midrange is liquid and has a threedimensional soundstage with good control and focus. The higs are very smooth but they have a slight recessed quality. Extension could be better too. This creates a slight dull kind of presentation to the music. Overall a good CD player but a little expensive when compared to Proceed CDP (a 1996 model), or the latest Meridian 588, much cheaper model with excellent sound quality.

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Meridian 588, Proceed CDP, Theta Miles, Mark Levinson 39