Krell Illusion Preamplifier - Manual

Note
Save all packing materials. If
you need to ship the Illusion in
the future, repack the unit in its
original packaging to prevent
shipping damage.
Illusion
Stereo Preamplifier
SETUP GUIDE
Getting Started
THE LEADER IN AUDIO ENGINEERING
Thank you for your purchase of the Krell Illusion preamplifier. The Illusion features
Krell Current Mode circuit topologies, Krell CAST technology, and a powerful,
separate power supply for exceptional audio performance. A thoughtful suite of menu
options ensures that the Illusion can be customized for the greatest ease of operation.
Please contact your authorized dealer, distributor, or Krell if you have any questions
not addressed in the owner’s reference.
The Illusion is comprised of two chassis: the preamplifier chassis and the power
supply chassis.
The preamplifier’s front panel provides power on, input selection, level control, menu
functions, and status display. The rear panel allows connection to audio sources,
power amplifiers and other system components
The power supply unit contains powerful transformers, high quality regulators, and
extensive electrical and magnetic shielding, supplying optimum regulated DC power
to the preamplifier.
The remote control provides power, preamplifier, level control, navigation and
customization functions, CD and DVD player controls and menu configuration.
Do not place the preamplifier where it could be exposed to dripping or splashing.
Do not remove or bypass the ground pin on the end of the AC cord. This may cause radio
frequency interference (RFI) to be introduced into your playback system.
The ventilation slots on the top and bottom of the preamplifier must be unobstructed at all times
during operation. Do not place flammable material on top of or beneath the component.
Turn off all systems’ power before connecting the preamplifier to any component.
Make sure all cable terminations are of the highest quality, free from frayed ends, short circuits,
or cold solder joints.
THERE ARE NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE ANY KRELL PRODUCT.
1. Open the shipping box and remove the top layer of foam. You will see these
items:
2. Carefully remove all items from the shipping box.
3. Place the preamplifier and power supply in a safe location and remove the
protective plastic wrapping.
We recommend placing the preamplifier on top of the power supply unit. Place
them on a firm, level surface, away from excessive heat, humidity, or moisture.
The preamplifier requires at least two inches (5 cm) of clearance on each side
and at least two inches (5 cm) of clearance above to provide adequate ventilation.
Installations inside cabinetry may need extra ventilation.
WARNINGS
Krell Illusion 1
Unpacking
Krell Industries, LLC., 45 Connair Road,Orange, CT 06477-3650 USA
TEL 203-799-9954, FAX 203-891-2028, E-MAIL [email protected]
WEB SITE http://www.krellonline.com
Connecting the
Illusion
to Your System
The Illusion 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. The use of AC line conditioning devices is
not recommended. The features provided by these devices are already included in
the Illusion.
Position the preamplifier and power supply where you intend to use them in your
system. Do not move the chassis after they are connected.
1. Connect the power supply chassis and the preamplifier chassis with the 12-pin
DC cable provided, using the back panel DC power connectors (25).
2. Neatly arrange and organize wiring to and from the preamplifier and all
components. Separate the AC wires from any audio cables to prevent hum or
other unwanted noise from being introduced into the system.
3. Connect the outputs of your source equipment to the appropriate CAST (18),
balanced (15), single-ended (16), or tape inputs (17) on the Illusion.
4. Connect the main outputs (20) on the Illusion to your amplifier’s inputs.
5. Connect the supplied AC power cord to the IEC power cord receptacle (28) of
the power supply unit.
6. Plug the other end of the AC power cord into AC power and turn on the main
power switch (30). The display (3) scrolls through
ILLUSION SOFTWARE VERSION ,
and the stand-by/power LED (7) illuminates red on the preamplifier and green
on the power supply, indicating that the Illusion is in stand-by mode. When the
scrolling stops, the Illusion is ready to be powered on.
Note
Use only the power cord provided with the Illusion to make the connection to AC power.
Operation with a power cord other than the one supplied by Krell can induce noise, limit
current, or otherwise impair the ability of the preamplifier to perform optimally.
After the Illusion 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 input:
S-1
, and level:
000
. The Illusion is now in the operational mode.
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. (We recommend leaving the Illusion in the stand-by mode
when it is not playing music.)
The balance function allows adjustment of the left and right balance. The options
are:
CENTER, L .5-5 dB <, R .5-5 dB >.
1. Press the preamplifier’s menu button (5), then use the level control knob, to
select: BALANCE.
2. Press the enter button (6). The display shows the default mode:
CENTER.
3. Use the level control knob to select the desired balance option from .5 to +5 dB
in .5 dB increments, left or right.
4. Press the enter button to confirm the selection. The display reads: BALANCE.
Press the
MENU
button to return to normal operation.
5. The balance can also be adjusted directly using
BAL L
and
BAL R
keys on the
remote control.
4 Krell Illusion
Operating the Illusion
This product complies with the EMC
directive (89/336/EEC) and the
low-voltage directive (73/23/EEC).
1 Preamplifier chassis
1 Power supply chassis
1 IEC connector (AC power) cord
1 12-pin DC supply cable
1 Remote control
2 AAA remote batteries
1 T-10 Torx wrench for remote
1 Owner’s r eference
Placement
AC POWER GUIDELINES
MODEL SERIAL NUMBER
Illusion Preamplifier
Overview
Krell recommends using
its proprietary Krell CAST
system for unparalleled sonic
performance for connections
between the preamplifier
and other CAST-equipped
components. Krell CAST
uses flexible interconnecting
cables that can be drawn
through tight spaces and
concealed. The Illusion also
offers balanced operation.
This not only minimizes sonic
loss but is also immune to
induced noise, especially for
installations using long cables.
This CLASS 1 apparatus must be
connected to a MAINS socket outlet
with a protective earthing connection.
Channel Balance
Adjustment