Superstar chef Mario Batali’s credo, "Wretched excess is just barely enough," could be applied to most luxury pursuits: cars, watches, boats and my favorite indulgence, high-end audio. Dan D’Agostino, Krell Industries’ co-founder and chief designer, has a bit of Mario in him—he is an accomplished cook and drives a silver Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder "for the fun of it."

Which nicely sums up my encounters with some of D’Agostino’s latest triumphs: the Evolution 505 SACD/CD player, Evolution 202 stereo preamplifier, and Evolution 402 stereo power amplifier. Even before they are plugged in and warmed up, I note the swooping curves and massive proportions of previous generations of über Krells are gone—the Evolutions’ heavy-gauge aluminum chassis are all razor-flat. Their ribbed and slotted panels lend an exotic automotive flair to the industrial design. My review samples are finished in natural aluminum, but stealthy jet-black Evolution components are also available. While most of my probing technical questions glance off the tight-lipped D’Agostino, he responds to my query about possible parallels between practicing his culinary skills and electronic design with a sly smile and says, "In the end if it’s good you’ll enjoy the hell out of it."

D’Agostino’s perfectionist zeal extends to Krell’s proprietary interconnecting technology featured in the brand’s best components. His interconnect cables resemble any number of audiophile-grade wires, but Krell’s analog connecting system, known as CAST (Current Audio Signal Transmission), is said to ensure a more accurate signal transfer than the voltage-based systems used on all other audio components. D’Agostino claims the near elimination of industry-standard voltage-to-current and current-to-voltage conversions in my CAST-connected, all-Krell system is responsible for some of the sonic refinements. CAST allows the music retrieved from the CDs and SACDs by the player to make its way through the preamplifier and power amplifier with a minimum of loss. But the Krell components can play with others—the Evolution gear is also fitted with conventional RCA and XLR connections to ensure compatibility with non-CAST Krells and other brands’ components. That said, you will get the best results only when the entire chain—i.e., CD or DVD player, preamplifier, and power amplifier—are all CAST-coupled. The synergy is powerful.

Other examples of attention to connectivity detail include Crestron and AMX touchscreen compatibility via RS-232, RJ-45, RC-5, and 12-volt triggers. The Evolution 202 preamplifier sports the necessary connections to support one of Krell’s numerous external phono preamplifiers, so you can groove to LP sound in your Evolution system.

The Evolution stereo preamplifier and CD player come with extruded aluminum remote controls that have teensy round buttons; the overall ergonomics of the remotes leaves a lot to be desired. My Evolution 505 CD player took a long time to load, but Krell says this problem is fixed in production samples. The preamp and the CD player are always warm to the touch, and the Evolution 402 amplifier generates significant heat. Either give it a place of honor near your speakers, or if you must stash it out of sight, make sure your installer provides ventilation to dissipate the excess BTUs.

The Evolutions’ transcendent sound combines an engaging sweetness with brilliant resolution of fine detail. Most high-end designs veer in one direction or the other, but D’Agostino’s warmth/detail balance is spot-on perfect. That neutrality seems to bring out the best from every recording.

Remarkably, the Evolution ensemble sounds equally thrilling at soft, moderate, or blisteringly loud volume levels. Late-night listening still offers a wealth of subtle detail, and in mid-afternoon, when all of my neighbors are away at work, I crank the Krell to, ahem, more soul-satisfying volumes. Familiar favorites like the first (and best) Crosby, Stills & Nash album emerge with newfound clarity, and oh boy, their soaring harmonies never sounded better.More exotic musical fare, such as Ghatam by The Antenna Repairmen, a curiously titled CD on the MA Recordings’ label, displays the Evolution’s extraordinary resolution. The recording starts with the sound of water being poured from a series of stoneware pots. Next a selection of ceramic percussion instruments is rhythmically struck, prodded, slapped, and rubbed, and the tactile quality of the sound is mesmerizing. Each porcelain vessel or clay pot’s unique sound appears in its own three-dimensional space between my Dynaudio Special Twenty-Five speakers. Yes, most high-end electronics are stereo-imaging champs, but the Evolutions’ conjuring seems believable and complete, so the illusion of living music is more you-are-there natural. Switching between the CAST and balanced XLR connections on the three Evolution components confirms that, yes indeed, some of that incredible sound can be attributed to Krell’s proprietary technology.

The Evolution 505 plays Super Audio CDs, and those higher-resolution discs manifest an even more palpable sound. The differences in sound quality between CDs and SACDs are more clear-cut than I am used to; I just wish there were more new SACDs coming out. It is also worth noting that while most high-end SACD players are strictly two-channel affairs, the Evolution 505 is a bona fide multichannel machine.

Another thing I am noticing about the Evolutions is the way they "play" musical dynamics. Swinging big-band recordings effortlessly swell as the brass reaches for the heavens, yet the horns still sound rich and warm. Rick Danko’s bouncy basslines on The Band’s Music From Big Pink sound, well, bouncier. The kinetic energy of The Band’s music takes on a "live" quality that keeps me coming back for more.

This intoxicating sound is coming from the "baby" stereo 400-watt Evolution 402 amplifier; the mind reels pondering the glories afforded by the Evolution 600 or Evolution 900 (600- and 900-watt monophonic amplifiers, so pairs are required for stereo operation) in truly palatial home theaters. D’Agostino still has a few more tricks up his sleeve, including an Evolution phono preamplifier for vinyl lovers, and Evolution-equipped home theaters will loom large when armed with the Evolution 525 DVD player and the matching Evolution 707 surround processor. "Wretched excess" never sounded better.

PRICE: Evolution 402 stereo power amplifier $15,000, Evolution 202 preamplifier $10,000, Evolution 505 SACD/CD player $10,000

CONTACT: 203.799.9954, krellonline.com