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This preamplifier came to us from a client that upgraded to the flagship Krell shortly after purchase.

From what we can tell, it looks brand new. Not a fingerprint or smudge. Imperfection shown in our photos are mostly dust.

It also comes complete like the day it left the factory, including the manual, power cord, remote, batteries, and all the original packaging.

**Please note the first photo has some dust that may look like markings/scratches. This is not the case, it's just dust. 

Krell Illusion II Preamplifier

“… I loved about the Illusion II’s sound was that I never found it harsh, edgy, or bright. Bass sounded appropriately full-bodied, keyboards suitably spacious, and guitar had lots of body and soul…just as it should.”

— Brent Butterworth, Home Theater Review

The Illusion II is the perfect centerpiece for a world class digital and analog audio system. Added to the normal selection of balanced and single-ended inputs are five digital inputs. The digital module features AES/EBU, coaxial, and optical digital inputs for use with streaming devices or other digital sources.

Circuitry Highlights

The Illusion II preamplifier is a dual monaural design with the left and right channels afforded their own power supply regulation and individual circuit boards. All signal gain is executed with surface mount technology using proprietary multiple-output current mirrors with nearly 500 times the open loop linearity of other designs. Featuring 700 kHz bandwidth in a zero feedback, balanced, Krell Current Mode design, the Illusion II shares the same design philosophy as its bigger brother, the flagship Illusion preamplifier. Negative feedback is not used anywhere in the preamp, nor is it necessary. Open-loop distortion is typically less than 0.003%. The volume control is realized with a balanced resistor ladder – bandwidth and transient response of the preamp circuitry are virtually unaffected by the volume setting. 7c-Krell-IllusionPreamp_ProductOverviewLayout.pngThe headphone circuitry is identical to the main circuitry, offering private listening with the same performance as speaker playback.

Digital Module Highlights

The digital module supports up to 24 bit/192kHz LPCM. All digital signals are fed to an ESS Sabre DAC and then sent to Krell’s Current Mode, discrete, balanced analog circuitry.

Power Supply Highlights

Oversized for a preamplifier, the power supply features a 95 VA transformer and 40,000 µF of capacitance giving it the ability to respond quickly to musical demands. The large power supply improves noise rejection and renders the Illusion II impervious to all but the most severe AC voltage power fluctuations. A new eco-friendly standby mode reduces power consumption to 2W.

SPECIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS
• 3 pr. balanced via XLR connectors input/output
• 4 pr. single-ended via RCA connectors input/output
• 1 AES/EBU via XLR connectors digital input
• 2 coaxial via RCA connectors digital input
• 2 optical via Toslink connectors digital input
• 3ea 12V Trigger input/output
• 1 RS-232 input via 9-pin D-subminiature connector
• 1 remote IR detector input via 3-conductor 3.5 mm connector
• 1 Headphone output via 3-conductor 6.35 mm (1/4 in) connector
• Optional Rack Mount Kit
• 17.3 in W x 3.8 in H x 18.3 in D
• 43.8 cm W x 9.7 cm H x 46.4 cm D

Krell Illusion II Setup Guide

Krell Illusion II Product Sheet

The SkyFi Testing Process for Preamplifiers:

We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure there are no signs of stress or aging. Capacitors are checked for telltale sings of bulging or leaking, resistors are checked for signs of overheating or cracking, and transistors are checked for signs of stress or damage. Special attention is paid to the power supply which is the most common source of failure for preamps. We then power up the unit and run a simple 1k sine wave while monitoring the low voltage output on an oscilloscope for signs of distortion or noise to get a baseline.

At this point we will lubricate and clean all switches and potentiometers (that are not sealed) with a high quality contact cleaner, and then re-test all functions for any signs of noise or scratching.

Final testing involves putting actual music through the preamplifier We have learned over time that some issues are only noticeable to a trained ear while listening to a familiar source material. Our test bench has reference vintage KEF speakers that we are super familiar with which will quickly reveal any discrepancies. Some preamps will then move into the listening room where they will be tested with our in-house reference system.

Please click here for detailed specifics regarding our specialized packing process that separates us from the rest.