The audio world is more focused on digital than ever. Digital music is both easy and plentiful. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t have that sound some of you demand. That’s why Krell is giving us the Digital Vanguard Integrated Amplifier.
This amp is actually a digital upgrade to one of the company’s most popular products, the Vanguard. The digital version packs in a Class A preamplifier and 200-watt stereo amplifier, as well as a digital module with USB, HDMI inputs and output, coax and optical digital inputs. The coaxial and HDMI can deliver PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz, while the optical input can do 24-bit/96kHz.
If you don’t want to be tethered to another device, the Digital Vanguard also has apt-X Bluetooth wireless and Ethernet music streaming, both of which can be controlled through Krell’s iOS and Android apps.
Of course, having Bluetooth means that you can wirelessly stream music right to the amp, from any smartphone, tablet or other compatible device. If you don’t have one of those handy, the Digital Vanguard can stream Deezer and Vtuner. A software update will also add Pandora and Spotify in the near future.
Promising 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms (or 400 watts at 4 ohms), the Digital Vanguard also includes a power supply with a 750 VA toroidal transformer and 80,000 microfarads of storage capacitance, two thermostatically controlled fans, 3.5mm jacks for IR input, a 12-volt trigger input and output, and optional rack-mount ears.
“With the digital module installed, all you need to do is add speakers and you have a complete high-end audio system,” Bill McKiegan, Krell’s president. “If your focus is on digital music files and streaming, the Vanguard with the digital module will give you all the convenience of the mass-market streaming audio products, but with sound quality that’s far beyond what those products can achieve. It’s truly an audio product built for the next decade.”
Krell will start shipping the Digital Vanguard sometime in the first quarter of 2015, with an MSRP of $6,000. The existing Vanguard is still selling for $4,500 and will be field upgradeable for $1,500.
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