Krell FPB 600c 700cx 400cx Heatsink noises.


In 2001 I bought my complete new Krell cast music system: Krell FPB 600c amplifier, Krell KCT preamp and Krell KPS28c cd-player .Siltech cast interlinks. Speakers are JM Lab Utopia with Transparent ref.XL loudspeaker cables. However I certainly have the feeling that all the manufacturing dollars have been spent on sonically critical design elements,there is a mechanical problem,which is bothering me since the moment of purchase.Two or three times during a listening session the metal construction of the heated amplifier cabinet in operational mode makes a sound (tsssjakkk).Probably because the difference in heat of the heatsinks and/or heavy gauge alluminium chassisplates. When I bring the amp in stand by position after listening,this mechanical sound is there also ,several times. I phoned the Krell service department in 2002.Irving Gross told me that it was a diffraction problem.(traction and contraction of the heated amplifier cabinet.) The service department advised me to tighten all the bolts of the heatsinks. It did not help. During the upgrade from 600c to 700cx,end 2002, I told the German importer about the problem. He admitted that this diffraction problem was a tough one to solve.I had the hope that the problem would have been gone after the X-Upgrade but unfortunately it did not. In the english Hi-Fi News magazine of december 2005 (page 28/Howard's Way) I read an article about a former owner of the Krell 400cx."I sometimes got noise from the heatsinks through heating and cooling." He finally could not live with it and sold the amp. My question is ;does anyone has the same problem with this Krell FPB amplifier(600c,400cx or 700cx)? More important, which owner has a smart suggestion to eliminate this undesirable mechanical'vibration'. Otherwise...I figure I have to live with it, which I can because I simply love the sound of my complete Krell cast system.
paulinemarcel8390
Off topic, but this seems to be a good captive audience:

Are any of you guys using a tube pre-amp? I have been kicking around the idea of the Aesthetix Calypso or an Audio Research SP-25 MkII or the newer SP-26.

I read in the manual about some caps, or something, that need to be put in if a tube amp is used...
Dbld, I have never had a problem running any Krell amp with a tube preamp. The only time there is a problem is if the preamp leaks DC. The older BAT pres did cause the protection circuitry to shut down many amps that had no capacitors in the signal path.
Thanks - I am completely naive about tube preamps. I have done a lot of thread searching but I still feel like I am flying blind.
Dbld, If I recall, use of a tube pre-amp without the changes to the amp could affect your warrantee on the amp. There was another thread on this subject last summer but it seems to have been deleted. Lots of folks reported using tube pre-amps with Krell amps without any ill-effects. I use a KCT with a CAST connection, so it's not really an issue for me. I think your best bet is call or email Krell technical support.

Bob R.
I use an Audio Research Ref 3 tube preamp together with a Krell FPB700CX. No problems at all. The new tube preamps all have a DC offset which is only microvolts.

The Krell amps are DC coupled and if your tube amp has a DC offset if will pass through the Krell directly to the speakers. Putting a cap will prevent DC to pass. This is the reason that the caps are introduced to prevent DC to pass.

If you have a good voltmeter you can measure the DC offset of your tube preamp. But is should be close to 0 so I gues with the modern tube preamps there is no problem for this.

Peter