Features

The Phantom II incorporates the advanced technologies and brilliant design of
the Phantom preamplifier into a single chassis format. Often overlooked, the
preamplifier is a critical component in the signal chain. A small signal must be
carefully amplified without damaging the ephemeral staging and dimensional
components of the music. Heard through the Phantom II, music fills a listening
room with three dimensional imaging, tonal integrity, and staggering dynamics.

The Phantom II is the perfect companion for the Evolution 302e power
amplifier and Cipher SACD/CD player.

Circuitry Highlights

Sharing the same audio circuitry as its bigger brother, the Phantom II
preamplifier is a dual monaural circuit design with the left and right channels
afforded their own power supply regulation and individual full chassis sized
boards. All signal gain is realized in surface mount topology using proprietary
multiple-output current mirrors with nearly 500 times the open loop linearity of
other designs 1.5 MHz open loop bandwidth in a zero feedback, balanced, Krell
Current Mode design terminating in Krell CAST. A complete Krell system (source,
preamp, and amplifier) system, connected using CAST interconnects reduces the
number of voltage gain stages to the minimum, one. The resulting noise floor
approaches the theoretical limit of technology. Negative feedback is not used
anywhere in he 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.

Power Supply Highlights

The Phantom II audio circuits receive power from a Krell Current Mode analog
power supply. The power supply avoids the common integrated circuit topology
used in many preamplifiers and instead mimics the design topology of Krell
Evolution e Series amplifiers. The circuitry is completely discrete giving it
the ability to respond quickly to current demands and also be unaffected by AC
voltage power fluctuations. Oversized for a preamplifier, the power supply
features a 140 VA transformer and 35,000μF of capacitance.

The Phantom II preamplifier is offered in diamond-cut silver or a luxurious
black finish.

Specfications

Inputs
2 pr. CAST via 4-pin bayonet connectors
2 pr.
balanced via XLR connectors
3 pr. single-ended via RCA
connectors
Tape input
1 pr. single-ended via RCA
connector
Main outputs
2 pr. CAST via 4-pin bayonet
connectors
1 pr. balanced via XLR connector
1 pr. single-ended via RCA
connector
Tape outputs
1 pr. single-ended via RCA
connector, buffered
Control inputs
1 RS-232 input via a
9-pin D-subminiature connector
1 remote IR detector input via a 3-conductor
3.5 mm connector
1 12 VDC trigger input via 3.5 mm connector
1
preamplifier link via an RJ-45 connector
Control
outputs
2 individually programmable 12 VDC
trigger outputs via
3.5 mm connectors
1 preamplifier link via an RJ-45 connector
Power
output
1 phono power output (+/-20 VDC) for KPE
via a 9-pin
D-subminiature connector
Input impedance
CAST: 45
Ohms
Balanced: 95 k Ohms
Single-ended: 47.5 k Ohms
Output
impedance
CAST: >1 M Ohms
Balanced: 50 Ohms
Single-ended:
25 Ohms
Gain
12 dB (CAST or balanced output)
6 dB
(single-ended output)

Volume control
Balanced, current-mode,
16-bit,
discrete R-2R ladder
Input overload
CAST: 14 mA
RMS
Balanced: 14 V RMS
Single-ended: 7 V RMS
Output
overload
CAST: 16 mA RMS
Balanced: 16 V RMS
Single-ended: 8 V
RMS
Frequency response
20 Hz to 20 kHz +/- 0.02 dB
0.1
Hz to 1.5 MHz +0, -3 dB
Total harmonic distortion plus
noise
Balanced Output:
<0.004%, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 4 V RMS or 4
mA RMS
Signal-to-noise ratio
4 V RMS balanced or 4 mA RMS
CAST output
Wideband, unweighted: >100 dB
"A" weighted: >109
dB
Power consumption
Standby: 45 W
Power on: 70
W
Power on, with KPE: 80 W
Dimensions
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
Weight
Shipped: 32 lbs., 14.5 kg