Anybody know of Krell industries?
 

Any of the hifi guys in here heard of Krell industries?

Yes. What do you want to know? The founder Dan D'Agostino has just been ousted along with his #2. He fired his regional staff a year ago. A consortium (his partners?) now controls the company. They just announced that he is suing them or vice versa . . .

Ian

What do you want to know?

I've heard of them. It's legit equipment but be aware of white van man speakers being rebranded as Krell or something like "Krell Technology" or "Krell Acoustics"

Electronics are big, heavy, macho and bullet proof. Wouldn't hesistate to buy used. Way over priced, but that's high-end. Very nice gear.

FYI. The crisis that precipitated Dan's ousting is a recall that could cripple the small company.

From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Amplifiers Recalled by Krell Industries Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Amplifiers

Units: About 2,300

Distributor: Krell Industries LLC, of Orange, Conn.

Hazard: The amplifiers were designed to operate at a temperature warm to the touch. However, a component input device can fail and cause the amplifiers to overheat, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Krell has received 50 reports of the amplifiers overheating including reports of smoke and electrical fire. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Krell power amplifiers with model numbers KAV-250a, KAV-250a/3, KAV-500i and KAV-1500. The amplifiers are used to provide power to a loudspeaker in a home audio playback system. The Krell logo is printed on the front of the amplifier.

Sold by: Authorized dealers and distributors of audio equipment nationwide from January 1997 through February 2001 for between $3,000 and $8,000.

Manufactured in: USA

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the amplifiers, and contact Krell to schedule the free installation of replacement fuses.

Ian

Note, those are all AV amps (home theater). Krell built it's reputation on high performance, high powered stereo amps. Even made a very nice 150wpc receiver.

I have a Krell system. What do you want to know, exactly?

JR

I just want to know what the industry is saying about the company.
Dan D'Agostino and Rondi D'Agostino are my parents, and they are the ones (as most of you know) started the company. Yes they were ousted by the partners. I just wanted a feeler of what the industry was saying.
I am not going to slander the partners (as much as I would like to) because all they do is cry when something goes on the net.

Kris

What I posted above is what the street is saying. I don't know your father except by sight. But I have worked retail events with McKiegan & others over the years.

As you must know, hi-end hi-fi is in a sinkhole due to the economy & we are bracing for more store closings, products disappearing, companies merging etc etc. Not fun times. CES is approaching but it promises to be a light show again. We opted out of the show with off-site suites @ the Mirage (and saved 50K) . . . and we are not alone.

Ian

Ian-
Well that is good to hear that you are going to be there and saving a few bucks, never hurts. How is Bill doing? Do you still talk to him? I can't be in touch with any of those people right now. What do you think my father's disappearance means to the product? I am not an audio guy (though I may have built some of your products over the years...), I just want to hear opinions.

I haven't seen or spoken to Bill in 6 months or so.

Krell has always been Dan so I can't see any upside to his departure. Krell, Levinson, ARC & a host of others are all battling over a declining market which means that there will be casualties. We shall see who/what/where.

Ian

Well I wish the best to all of those who are in the industry and especially all those who have helped my parents over the years. Lately I can't get the visions of my father in the engineering department 29 years ago testing things at 2 am to make sure all went well. It is just a damned shame and makes me sick to my stomach to see them come to this after all of their hard work. Hell- my mother was assembling some of the amplifiers while carrying me.
I would still like to hear more feedback from others-