The Digital Vanguard incorporates a 200-watt-per channel amplifier and a Class A preamplifier, enclosed in a chassis that borrows its design and construction from the new Krell Foundation preamp/processor, Connect stream player, Illusion preamp and iBias amplifiers. Digital support has been included with USB, HDMI, coaxial, and optical inputs as well as Ethernet audio and Bluetooth streaming.
The Vanguard’s amplifier incorporates a massive power supply with a 750 VA toroidal transformer and 80,000 microfarads of storage capacitance. The tremendous amount of energy on tap provides 200 watts per channel into 8 ohms and 400 watts into 4 ohms. Two quiet, thermostatically controlled fans permit the use of a surprisingly compact chassis.
The preamplifier section of the Vanguard borrows its balanced, fully discrete Class A circuit concepts from Krell’s top-of-the-line Illusion preamplifiers. Krell’s Current Mode technology is employed to assure unequaled signal bandwidth, easily enough to handle the latest high-resolution PCM and DSD audio sources without impacting high-frequency response and detail.
Packed with many of Krell’s most musical-sounding technologies, the elegant chassis is living-room-friendly. Yet it has enough power to achieve incredible, lifelike dynamics with any speaker.
The front-panel menu system provides configuration features such as input naming and input trim. Theater Throughput mode lets the Vanguard serve as the core of a surround-sound system without sacrificing two-channel sound quality. Analog Inputs include three stereo RCA and one stereo balanced XLR. High-quality WBT speaker cable terminals provide a secure, electrically ideal connection.
The Vanguard also offers features that make it perfect for custom installation, such as 3.5mm jacks for IR input and 12-volt trigger input and output, as well as optional rack-mount ears. Additionally, the unit can be controlled with home automation systems through its Ethernet connection.
A key feature for the Digital Vanguard is its digital module, which includes USB, HDMI inputs and output, coax and optical digital inputs; Ethernet music streaming controlled through dedicated iOS and Android apps; and Bluetooth wireless for convenient streaming from phones, tablets and computers.
The Vanguard also offers features that make it perfect for custom installation, such as 3.5mm jacks for IR input and 12-volt trigger input and output, as well as optional rack-mount ears. Additionally, the unit can be controlled with home automation systems or the Krell web server through its Ethernet connection.
Krell Industries, LLC designs and manufactures high-performance audio and video equipment for serious music enthusiasts and home theater aficionados. Every Krell component is a unique synthesis of science and art. Recorded performances are, by their very nature, works born of passion. Our goal is to bring that passion to life in your home. From source to loudspeakers, Krell components reproduce the definitive music and home theater experience based on the principles of innovative engineering, impeccable build quality, and unerring accuracy in sonic reproduction.
Inputs
1 pr. balanced via XLR connectors
3 pr. single-ended via RCA connectors
1 HDMI
1 USB
Outputs
1 pr. speaker outputs via WBT gold-plated binding posts
Control inputs
1 remote IR detector input via 3-conductor 3.5 mm connector
1 12 VDC trigger input via 2-conductor 3.5 mm connector
Control output
1 programmable 12 VDC trigger output (300 mA maximum current) via 2-conductor 3.5 mm connector
Input impedance
Balanced: 95 kΩ
Single-ended: 47.5 kΩ
Frequency response
20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, –0.01 dB
<2 Hz to 150 kHz +0, –3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio
>90 dB, wideband, unweighted, at maximum gain, referred to full power output
>97 dB, “A”-weighted
Gain
48 dB
Input sensitivity
Single-ended or balanced: 160 mV RMS
Total harmonic distortion
<0.015% at 1 kHz, at 200 W, 8 Ω load
<0.13% at 20 kHz, at 200 W, 8 Ω load
Output power
200 W RMS per channel at 8 Ω
400 W RMS per channel at 4 Ω
Output voltage
113 V peak to peak
40 V RMS
Output current
16 A peak
Slew rate
50 V/μs
Output impedance
<0.066 Ω at 20 Hz
<0.075 Ω, 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Damping factor
>121 at 20 Hz, referred to 8 Ω
>106, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, referred to 8 Ω
Power consumption
Standby: 12 W
Idle: 70 W
Maximum: 1300 W
Heat output
Standby: 41 BTU/hr
Idle: 239 BTU/hr
Maximum: 4436 BTU/hr
Dimensions
17.1 in W x 4.15 in H x 17.5 in D
434 mm W x 105 mm H x 445 mm D
Weight
Unit only: 39 lb [17.7 kg]
As shipped: 47 lb [21.3 kg]
Digital Module Specs
Coaxial and HDMI inputs support PCM up to 24-bit/192kHz. optical input up to 24-bit/96kHz.USB and Network streaming support MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV(PCM), FLAC, ALAC up to 192kHz Bluetooth streaming supports A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
