Krell Kid Dock: The ipod dock for audiophiles

Could this be the best ipod dock that money can buy? This is a short demonstration of how it works & how it plays for those who are serious about getting hi fidelity from their ipod and don't mind paying £900 for one.

During my testing sessions it is very clear to me that the Kid produces a superb & involving midband, with the treble on the sweet and slightly soft side, while the bass is solid & well defined. I personally don't like soft & sweet treble, users can easily adjust treble & bass level to their liking but i wouldn't prefer using the Kid's onboard equalization. On a solid state amplification setup (i also tested this with a Naim setup some time ago) the kid manages to give a warm/valve like sound which is appealing to some if you prefer that kind of sound.

I personally think it is an exceptional product it would completely wipe out the majority of sub £1k cdp although i must say i tend to look for upgradability on top of functionality in things, especially in high end equipment and i just don't see any for this product.

I must conclude that if you're the sort of person that demands quality but rarely would you upgrade your equipment then this is the product for you! However I would be more than happy to have the wadia itransport and a DAC of my desire (& possibly upgrade my DAC in the future!)

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Hi-fi
• audiophile
• krell
• kid
• ipod
• apple
• dac
• digital-to-analogue
• dock
• digital
• pre-amp
• valves
• lossless
• isolation
• £900
• katie melua
• Pavement

[RWL2011]

you need an audiophile camera so we can hear what it really sounds like!

[BoronAlloy]

Do well in school getting good grades, work hard, and don't blow your money on drink, drugs, and hookers, or foreign holidays.

A few sacrifices made here and there can soon build up the cash to afford this sort of kit, as will a good credit rating if doing it on tick.

[energeez]

@TheOlmeister1 you can put wav on an ipod

[HiFiReviewer]

I used to own the Wadia iTransport, great stuff, but if i am going to spend big bucks like that, i would just buy a new usb dac to pair with my computer audio

[zk351]

Uh guys he could be using lossless audio formats.....duh

[Jeffmtbr]

@BoronAlloy Thanks Dad!

[TheOlmeister1]

Now i can play my highly compressed mp3's on my hifidelity system. Fantastic.

[BigRooster747]

@BoronAlloy -> as a hooker, I took the short cut....:-)!

[DocLibertos]

@rcandpc I use a few old turntables (Thorens TD124 and Barthe Rotofluid). I also have a Studer PR99 and a Nakamichi ZX1000. My amp is a JC Verdier and my speakers are a pair of Elipson 4240. ( I also have a pair of JM Lab spectral 913I and a pair of Bang and Olufsen beovox S75 which belonged to my father)

I've just changed my CD player for a CAYIN CD50T.

[rcandpc]

@DocLibertos I used to feel the same way but if you put your music on the iPod in a lossless format you get really good sound from it especially when you use a well build dock like the KID. I was curious what components you have because a lot of people like to rip on the iPod while they brag about their Bose set up or their high end Pioneer receiver :-) I am not saying that is you. For 95% of the people out there even MP3 is just fine for the typical receiver + bose speaker system they have.

[DocLibertos]

@rcandpc No iPod dock! I don't listen to mp3s on my system.

I should have written "How can one put iPod and audiophile in the same sentence".

I don't put the blame on the dock but on the mp3 format.

[rcandpc]

@DocLibertos What kind of gear do you have in your system?