Introducing the KRELL Illusion II Pre-Amplifier

Audio Engineering at its Finest

The Illusion II is the perfect centrepiece 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. The 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.

Technical Specifications

Analog Inputs
2 pr. balanced via XLR connectors
3 pr. single-ended via RCA connectors

Digital Inputs
1 AES/EBU via XLR connector
2 coaxial via RCA connectors
2 optical via Toslink connectors

Main outputs
1 pr. balanced via XLR connectors
1 pr. single-ended via RCA connectors

Headphone output
1 via 3-conductor 6.35 mm (1/4 inch) connector

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 2-conductor 3.5 mm connector

Control outputs
2 individually programmable 12 VDC trigger outputs via 2-conductor 3.5mm connectors (30 mA maximum per output)

Input impedance
Balanced: 40kΩ
Single-ended 20kΩ

Output impedance
Balanced: 310 Ω
Single-ended: 155 Ω
Headphone: <3.0Ω

Frequency response
20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, -0.02 dB
0.25 Hz to 1.2 MHz +0, -3 dB

Total harmonic distortion plus noise
Balanced Output: <0.003%, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, at 4.0 V RMS
Headphone: <0.09%, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 2.0 V RMS, 32 Ω load

Gain
Balanced: 12.0 dB
6 dB (single-ended output)
Single-ended: 6.0 dB
Headphone: 5.1 dB with 32 Ω load

Volume control
Current mode, 12-bit, discrete R-2R ladder

Input overload
> 7.0 V RMS balanced or single-ended

Output overload
Balanced: >16 V RMS
Single-ended: >8.0 V RMS
Headphone: >3.0 V RMS, 32 Ω load

Signal-to-noise ratio
100 dB wideband, unweighted
107 dB ”A”-weighted, both referred to 4.0 V RMS balanced

Power consumption
Standby: <2 Watts
Power on: 40 Watts

Dimensions (W x H x D)
438 x 97 x 464 mm

*This information has been obtained from Manufacturers website. We advise that Price, Features & Specifications are subject change without notice.