Krell Industries 222 User Manual

EVOLUTION

THE LEADER IN AUDIO ENGINEERING

EVOLUTION 222

STEREO PREAMPLIFIER

OWNER’S REFERENCE

Evolution 222 Stereo Preamplifier

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Owner’s Reference, v06.0

TEL [phone]

Krell Industries, Inc.
45 Connair Road
Orange, CT 06477-3650 USA

FAX [phone]

E-MAIL [e-mail]

WEBSITE http://www.krellonline.com

This product complies with the EMC directive (89/336/EEC) and the low-voltage directive
(73/23/EEC).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read Instructions.

2. Keep these Instructions.

3. Heed all Warnings.

4. Follow all Instructions.

5. Do not use this apparatus near water.

6. Clean only with dry cloth.

7. Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appa-

ratus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

8. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

9. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus

has been damaged in any way, such as a power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has
been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to
rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

10. The Evolution 222 preamplifier must be placed on a firm, level surface where it is not exposed

to dripping or splashing.

11. The ventilation grids on the top of the Evolution 222 preamplifier and the space underneath the

Evolution 222 preamplifier must be unobstructed at all times during operation. Do not place
flammable material above or beneath the preamplifier.

12. Before making connections to the Evolution 222 preamplifier, ensure that the power is off and

other components are in mute or stand-by mode. Make sure all cable terminations are of the
highest quality, free from frayed ends, short circuits, or cold solder joints.

13. Do not connect an RS-232 cable to the phono power port. Output from the phono power port

can seriously damage your computer.

14. Do not connect the cable from a Krell KPE phono stage to the RS-232 port.

15. THERE ARE NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE AN EVOLUTION 222 PREAMPLIFIER.

Please contact Krell if you have questions not addressed in this guide.

This product is manufactured in the United States of America. Krell®is a registered trademark of Krell Industries, Inc., and is restricted for use by
Krell Industries, Inc., its subsidiaries, and authorized agents. Evolution Bias
based on U.S. Patent No. 5,331,291. CAN Link
Inc. All other trademarks are registered to their respective companies.

© 2006 by Krell Industries, Inc. All rights reserved P/N 309158-W

™, CAST™, Evolution CAST™, and Krell Current Mode™ are trademarks of Krell Industries,

™ is a trademark of Krell Industries, Inc. and is a Krell technology

Contents

List of Illustrations, page 4

A Letter from Dan D’Agostino, page 5

SECTION ONE: Evolution 222 Features and Technology, page 6

Features, Revolutionary Krell CAST Technology,
Definition of Terms

SECTION TWO: Unpacking and Placement, page 11

Opening the Evolution 222 Shipping Carton

SECTION THREE: Quick Start, page 13

Connecting the Evolution 222 to Your System,
Operating the Evolution 222

SECTION FOUR: Anatomy of the Evolution 222, page 15

Front Panel Description, Remote Control Description,
Battery Installation, and Back Panel Description

SECTION FIVE: Connecting the Evolution 222 to Your System, page 26

Input and Output Connections, Connection Steps

SECTION SIX: Evolution 222 Operation, page 28

On/Off and Stand-by Operation

SECTION SEVEN: Customizing the Evolution 222, page 29

Navigation Conventions, Menu Functions

SECTION EIGHT: Troubleshooting System Noise, page 43

WARRANTY, page 44

RETURN AUTHORIZATION PROCEDURE, page 46

SPECIFICATIONS, page 47

3

List of Illustrations

Figure 1, page 15

Evolution 222 Preamplifier Front Panel

Figure 2, page 19

Evolution 222 Remote Control

Figure 3, page 22

Evolution 222 Preamplifier Back Panel

4

A Letter from Dan D’Agostino

Dear Audio Enthusiast,

Thank you for your purchase of the Krell Evolution 222 preamplifier.

The preamplifier plays a vital role in audio playback by mediating the line-level out­put of a wide variety of source components in preparation for the amplifier’s input.
At no other point in the reproduction process is music so vulnerable to change, as
the signal level is small, and susceptible to noise and distortion.

Having always valued the role of the preamplifier in fine audio systems, I take pre­amplifier design very seriously. I realize that, no matter how impressive an amplifi­er’s performance; it can be no better than that of the preamplifier driving it.

My new Evolution 222 preamplifier employs balanced Krell Current Mode gain
stages from input to output, and Current Audio Signal Transmission (CAST)
receivers and transmitters. Utilizing these powerful technologies, the Evolution 222
conveys the complete range of timbre and dynamics that comprise the foundation
musical performance. Typical of my latest preamplifier designs, the Evolution 222
preamplifier includes a thoughtful suite of menu options, and can be customized
for the greatest ease of operation.

I hope that you enjoy your new Evolution 222 preamplifier.

Sincerely,

Daniel D’Agostino

Chief Executive Officer

5

SECTION ONE

Evolution 222 Features and Technology

This section describes the innovative features and technology of the Evolution 222
preamplifier, and defines CAST and other key terms used in this reference.

Features

The Evolution 222 has an open loop bandwidth that exceeds 1 MHz and a
balanced Krell Current Mode design, terminating in Evolution CAST ™. CAST
inputs and outputs drive a newly designed current mode balanced input stage.
Class A, balanced circuitry is used throughout the preamplifier. Cascoded, current
mirror input and output stages utilize an LED voltage reference to achieve an
exceptionally linear state of operation. There are 310 transistors utilized in each
channel, and all are Class A biased. A robust power supply is on board for excep­tional audio performance.

6

Revolutionary Krell CAST Technology

Current Audio Signal Transmission, termed CAST, is a revolutionary method of
connecting analog audio components for unparalleled sonic performance.
Innovative engineering combines the new Krell CAST circuitry with existing Krell
Current Mode technology to create entire CAST systems that reproduce music
with incredible range, tonality, and precision.

The Voltage Signal Transmission
and the Traditional Audio System

Traditionally, signal is transmitted in the voltage domain between two components.
In an audio system, each component is a discrete entity with unique characteris­tics that act upon the musical signal independently. Each component is unaware
of the other components in the system. The cables that connect the components
also have their own electrical characteristics, which affect the sonic presentation
of the entire system. CAST transmission unifies individual components and inter­connects into an electrically-linked whole. The original signal remains unaltered
from source to speaker.

CAST Basics

Here is how a CAST audio system works. Internally, each CAST source transfers,
or amplifies, current using Krell Current Mode circuitry. This current signal is then
output using CAST circuitry. When the signal is received by a CAST input, Krell
Current Mode circuitry again takes over until the signal reaches the loudspeaker.
By maintaining the musical signal in the current domain from beginning to end, an
entire CAST system behaves as if it is one component. With CAST, circuit board
properties and signal transmission aberrations between components are eliminat­ed. Cable impedances and their effects on the transmitted signal are non-existent.

How CAST and Krell Current Mode Interact

While CAST is a new method of transferring the musical signal between compo­nents, its origin stems from Krell Current Mode, the technology developed to
transfer the musical signal within a component. CAST combined with Krell Current
Mode takes circuitry signal transmission to the next evolutionary level. In essence,

7

continued

(SECTION ONE: Evolution 222 Features and Technology continued)

Krell Current Mode maintains the integrity of the signal within the component and
CAST preserves the transmitted signal between components. Together, CAST and
Krell Current Mode technologies unify separate Krell components into a

global circuit.

Krell Current Mode technology enjoys bandwidth increases up to an
order of magnitude greater than their voltage based counterparts. This dramatic
increase in circuit bandwidth delivers near perfection in the audible band that typi­cally suffers from phase distortions in voltage circuits.

CAST Cable Construction

A CAST system uses cables manufactured by Krell and other manufacturers spe­cially licensed by Krell. Thin and flexible CAST cables are constructed with the
same build quality as other Krell components and are aesthetically matched to the
components that Krell manufactures. An all-metal body and locking connectors
with gold contacts are part of the standard no-compromise specification devel­oped for every CAST cable made.

Evolution CAST

single

By employing radical current mirror circuitry, the Evolution 222 components ele­vate the CAST technology to another level. This advanced use of the technology
increases the linearity, transient speed, and bandwidth of the Evolution compo­nents while reducing the distortion by an order of magnitude.

The Best Musical Performance

When you operate a CAST system, you will hear significant improvements in every
performance area: speed, precision, dynamic range, depth and width of the sound
stage, transient impact, tonal balance, harmonic distortion, and more. The goal for
CAST is the same company goal used for all Krell products. Krell strives for the
delivery of the best performance of a musical event for you, using the full expres­sion of technology to date.

8

Definition of Terms

The following are definitions of key terms used in this owner’s reference:

Inputs and Outputs

Balanced

A symmetrical input or output circuit that has equal impedance from both input
terminals to a common ground reference point. The industry standard for profes­sional and sound recording installations, balanced connections have 6 dB more
gain than single-ended connections and allow the use of long interconnect cables.
Balanced connections are completely immune to induced noise from the system
or the environment.

CAST and Evolution CAST

Krell Current Audio Signal Transmission, or CAST, is a proprietary Krell circuit tech­nology for connecting analog components, transmitting the audio waveform
between components in the current domain rather than in the voltage domain. The
speed and bandwidth provided by Krell CAST and its circuitry update, Evolution
CAST, yield accurate, realistic music reproduction, enabling connected compo­nents to perform as if they are all part of a single circuit.

Single-ended

A two-wire input or output circuit. Single-ended connections are not recommend­ed for connections requiring long cable runs. Use care when using single-ended
connections, because the ground connection is made last and broken first. Turn
the system off/on prior to making or breaking single-ended connections.

Operation

Off

When the stand-by/power LED is not illuminated, the preamplifier is off.

Stand-by

A low-power-consumption status that keeps the audio and regulator circuits at
idle. The stand-by/power LED is illuminated in red, when the preamplifier is in
stand-by mode. Krell recommends leaving the preamplifier in stand-by mode when
it is not playing music.

Operation

When the standby/power LED is illuminated in blue, the preamplifier is in opera­tional mode and ready to play music.

9

continued

(SECTION ONE: Definition of Terms continued)

Technology

Krell Current Mode

A proprietary Krell circuit topology in which the audio gain stages of a component
operate in the current rather than voltage domain. This unique technology provides
the component with exceptional speed, and a wide bandwidth.

10

SECTIONTWO

Unpacking and Placement

This section describes the procedures for safely unpacking and placing your
Evolution 222 preamplifier. The Evolution 222 preamplifier and accessories are
shipped in 1 carton.

Opening the Evolution 222 Shipping Carton

The Evolution 222 shipping carton measures 22.3 in. (56.6 cm) wide by 23.5 in.
(59.7 cm) high by 16.2 in. (41.1 cm) deep.

Preamplifier Chassis. This measures 17.3 in. (43.8 cm) wide by 3.8 in. (9.7 cm)

high by 18.3 in. (46.4 cm) deep, and weighs 22 lbs. (10 kg).

To Remove the Preamplifier from the Shipping Carton

1. Open the shipping carton and remove the top layer of foam. The carton con-

tains these items:

1 Preamplifier chassis
1 IEC Connector (AC Power) cord
1 Remote control
2 AAA-size 1.5 Volt batteries for the remote
1 T-10 Torx wrench for the remote control
1 Owner’s Reference

2. Carefully remove the preamplifier and accessories from the box.

3. Place the preamplifier in a safe location, and remove the protective plastic

wrapping.

11

continued

(SECTION TWO: Unpacking and Placement continued)

Placement

Before you install an Evolution 222 preamplifier into your system, please follow the
guidelines in this section to select a location for your component. This will facili­tate a clean, trouble-free installation.

The Evolution 222 preamplifier does not require a special rack or cabinet for instal­lation. The preamplifier chassis measures 17.3 in. (43.8 cm) wide, 3.8 in. (9.7 cm)
high, and 18.3 in. (46.4 cm) deep.

The Evolution 222 preamplifier requires at least two inches of clearance on each
side, and at least two inches of clearance above the component to provide ade­quate ventilation. Installation inside cabinetry may require additional ventilation.

AC Power Guidelines

The Evolution 222 preamplifier has superb regulation and does not require a dedi­cated AC circuit. Avoid connections through extension cords or multiple AC
adapters. High quality 15 amp AC strips are acceptable.

12

SECTION THREE

Quick Start

To access the full array of available functions for the Evolution 222, please read
this entire owner’s reference manual. The abbreviated routine in this Quick Start
section will allow you to connect and operate the Evolution 222 quickly and enjoy
its basic functions.

The front and rear panels are shown in the diagrams on pages 15 and 22. Each
button or feature is labeled with a callout number, and these numbers are shown
in parentheses in the sections below. (In the following instructions, the word “but­ton” refers to a front panel operation, and “key” refers to a remote control opera­tion.)

Connecting the Evolution 222 to Your System

Position the preamplifier where you intend to use it in your system. Do not
move the chassis after it is connected.

1. Neatly arrange and organize wiring to and from the preamplifier and all com-

ponents. Separate the AC wires from any audio cables to prevent hum or other
unwanted noise from being introduced into the system.

2. Connect the outputs of your source equipment to the appropriate CAST (18),

balanced (15), single-ended (16), or tape inputs (17) on the Evolution 222.

3. Connect the main outputs (20) on the Evolution 222 to your amplifier’s inputs.

4. Connect the supplied AC power cord to the IEC power cord receptacle (26) of

the preamplifier.

5. Plug the other end of the AC power cord into AC power. The display (3) scrolls

through
nates red, indicating that the Evolution 222 is in stand-by mode. When the
scrolling stops, the Evolution 222 is ready to be powered on.

Note

Use only the power cord provided with the preamplifier to make the connection to AC
power. Operation with a power cord other than the one supplied by Krell could induce
noise, limit current, or otherwise impair the ability of the preamplifier to perform optimally.

EVOLUTION 222 SOFTWARE VERSION, and the stand-by/power LED (7) illumi-

13

continued

(SECTION THREE: Quick Start)

Operating the Evolution 222

After the Evolution 222 is connected to your system and to AC power, and the
front panel display has stopped scrolling, begin operation:

1. Press the power button (1) on the front panel, or the remote control power key.

The standby/power LED turns blue. The display shows the factory default

S-1, and level: -INF. The Evolution 222 is now in the operational mode.

input:

2. With the preamplifier output muted, or the volume fully attenuated, select a

source manually using the front panel input select buttons (8, 9, or 10) or the
remote input select keys. Start playing the source. Use the level control knob
(14) or the remote level keys to set the volume to a comfortable level.

3. To return the preamplifier to the stand-by mode, press the power button (1) or

remote power key.
Krell recommends leaving the Evolution 222 in the stand-by mode when it is

not playing music.

14

SECTION FOUR

Anatomy of the Evolution 222

This section describes the Evolution 222 Preamplifier functions.

Figure 1 Evolution 222 Front Panel

Power

Remote
Functions

Display
Navigate/

Customize
Input

Selectors

Mute
Phase
Level

1 Power Button
7 Stand-by/Power LED
2 Infrared Emitter
4 Infrared Sensor
3 Front Panel Display
5 Menu Button
6 Enter Button
8 Single-ended Input

Selection Buttons

9 Balanced Input

Selection Buttons

10 CAST Input Selection Buttons
11 Tape Button and LED
12 Mute Button and LED
13 Phase Button and LED
14 Level Control Knob

15

continued