Evolution 402e

Features

The Evolution 402e is the flagship stereo amplifier in the Evolution e Series utilizes the same technological advances as in the larger Evolution monaural amplifiers. The Evolution 402e is an extremely powerful stereo amplifier with the distinct advantage of a smaller footprint. As in its larger siblings, the Evolution 402e combines this power with a modest 2 watt power draw when in standby mode. Perfectly matched with an Evolution 202 preamplifier for stereo application, the Evolution 402e also shines as part of a home theater. In this application, the Evolution 402e gets mated with the Evolution 707 Reference Surround Preamplifier/Processor and an Evolution 403e Three Channel Amplifier for ultimate home theater performance.

Power Supply
The Evolution 402e is equipped with two 2,200 VA transformers and 188,000 μF of capacitance. This power source is the backbone for the output of the Evolution 402e. With this foundation, the Evolution 402e delivers 400 watts into 8 Ohms, 800 watts into 4 Ohms, and 1,600 watts into 2 Ohms with all both channels driven simultaneously. The FTC mandates that power ratings are quoted using a 1,000 Hz sine wave into a fixed 8 Ohm resistor with final power specification stated at 1% distortion. Krell engineering considers this specification too lenient and not indicative of what an amplifier is required to provide. Krell designs to a much stricter standard. Our power tests use a 20-20,000Hz signal into 8, 4, and 2 Ohm loads. Our power tests use a 20-20,000Hz signal into 8, 4, and 2 Ohm loads with our final specifications stated for .1% distortion.

Internal high-current line conditioning circuitry effectively blocks RF noise entering via the AC line and compensates for any asymmetry or DC offset in the power waveforms. The amplifiers' low level and gain stages are powered via multi regulated rails that provide total immunity from supply fluctuations and assure noise-free circuit operation. Primary rail voltages are quasi-regulated, enabling an "on-demand" supply of power that is highly responsive to dynamic load.

Circuitry Highlights
Krell's Active Cascode Topology™ is a significant departure from traditional amplifier circuits where the positive and negative rail voltages are each applied entirely across a single row of transistors. High voltage swing and gain requirements dictate that the transistors be "pushed" into non-linear operating regions and, in some cases, dangerously close to breakdown. Krell topology divides the full voltage swing across multiple rows of transistors, and all devices are active-biased (i.e., they all carry the audio signal). Because individual transistors in the cascode array "see" only a proportional fraction of the rail voltage, they operate in a region that provides optimum linearity, gain, and safety. And because the devices are not being pushed to their limits, the amplifier runs cooler and more reliably. The improved linearity and stability greatly reduces the need for negative feedback, which is known to cause sonic degradation. Krell Evolution power amplifiers use only 14 dB of feedback throughout the topology-a small fraction of the amount implemented in typical designs.

Krell Active Cascode Topology™ offers several performance advantages. It breaks through bandwidth limitations of conventional designs and delivers very high current. The usable bandwidth of an Evolution 402e is 300 kHz; triple the bandwidth of a typical high performance amplifier. The result is near perfect performance in the audible range with no phase anomalies typical of lower bandwidth designs. Because the "work" is spread across multiple devices, the amplifier is more load tolerant. Open-loop output impedance is extremely low-about one hundred times lower than with most power amplifiers-ensuring exceptional speaker control. All of these performance gains are achieved while maintaining a high rail voltage, which provides a beneficial "flywheel" effect-a de facto regulation that enables the amplifier to better deal with sudden changes in power requirement, such as those caused by large signal transients.

Evolution amplifiers feature Krell CAST technology. CAST is a unique circuit and connection breakthrough that eliminates distortions inherent in voltage based amplification. A complete Evolution (source, preamplifier, and amplifier) system, connected with CAST interconnects reduces the number of voltage gain stages to the minimum, one. The resulting noise floor is approaching the theoretical limit of technology. Emanating from a completely black background, music explodes from absolute silence moving the listener closer to the goal of recreating the live musical event in the listening room.

Specfication

Frequency response
20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, -0.17 dB
<0.5 Hz to 125 kHz +0, -3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio
>108 dB, wideband,unweighted, referred to full power output
>118 dB, "A"-weighted
Gain
25.4 dB
Total harmonic distortion
<0.02% at 1 kHz, at 400 W, 8 Ohms
<0.15% at 20 kHz, at 400 W, 8 Ohms
Input impedance
Single Ended: 100 kOhms
Balanced: 200 kOhms
CAST: 70 Ohms
Input sensitivity
Single Ended or Balanced: 3.04 V rms
CAST: 3.04 mA rms
Output power
400 W RMS at 8 Ohms both channels driven 800 W RMS at 4 Ohms both channels driven Output voltage
160 V peak-to-peak
57 V RMS
Output current
37 A peak
Slew rate
100 V/μs
Output Impedance
<0.055 Ohms at 20 Hz
<0.064 Ohms, 20 Hz to 20 kHz

Damping Factor (referred to 8 ohms)
>145 at 20 Hz, referred to 8 Ohms
>125, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, referred to 8 Ohms
Transformers
Two 2200 VA (4400VA total) for audio circuitry
One 10 VA for digital control circuitry
Power Supply Capacitance
188,000 μF
Power consumption
Standby: 2 W
(High-current standby: 260W
Idle: 390 W
Maximum: 3800 W
Heat Output
Stand-by: 7 BTU/hr.
(High-current standby: 890 BTU/hr.)
Idle: 1300 BTU/hr.
Maximum: 6400 BTU/hr.
Inputs
2 single-ended via RCA connector
2 balanced via XLR connector
2 CAST via 4-pin bayonet connector
Outputs
2 pairs Krell binding posts
Dimensions
17.25 in. W x 9.75 in. H x 22.05 in. D
438 mm W x 248 mm H x 560 mm D
Weight
Shipped: 150 lb., 67.9 kg
Unit Only: 135 lb., 61.1 kg