Krell HEAT audio system bundles 11,500 watts for over $300K

Next time we upgrade the audio in our home theater setup, we'll be sure to consider Krell's HEAT system. With no less than 16 separate speakers pumping out 11,500 watts of 7.1 sound, this one should definitely rock the Engadget mansion. Of course, at $344,500, we may just need to take out a second mortgage on the mansion just to buy it, but isn't that what home improvement loans are for?

[mikey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

i have two, i'll trade you one for the engadget whore (i know she's there somewhere).

[Cem @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I'm sure the speakers are covered with daimonds and gold...

[Nathan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

11,500 watts? That'll really impress the neighbours!

[GORby @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Well, considering that in Europe, with it's 240V and fuses normally rated at 16A, one can draw a maximum of 3500W out of a power outlet, this is a really useful thing... NOT

Perhaps you can use your 3 Phase 3x400V with its 32A fuses, which could easily power 3 of these, but then again, everyone has one of these outlets in their living room, right...

Well, maybe this one comes with it's very own nuclear reactor for power, thus justifying it's outrageous price.

[YourNameHere @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Second mortgage? That's the price of the entire house!

[krell-owner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Typically, people who buy this equipment spend money wiring their homes to supply the power.

I own Krell amps (mine are only 300 watts/channel) and the capacitors are so powerful that at deafening levels of music, if you unplug the amp from the wall, it keeps playing for about 10 seconds.

[PeeBee @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Hey GORby!!

Since when does amplifier output = energy consumption as you stated?

[PCStuff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

It's 7.2, not 7.1 (two Master Reference Subwoofers, not just one). The 7.1 set only costs $299,500.00!

[Jayson Elliot @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Ha ha. Ha. Ha.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

Wheee! Ohmy. Hoooo hahahah heh heh heh... wait.. can't breathe... bwahahahaha

oh god.

[rocket punch @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

My! A perfect alternative to having 1 Ford GT, 1 C6-ZO6, 1 Elise & 1 superlight caterham all parked in 1 garage!!!!

The stereo is CLEARLY a better choice!

[JWC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Aren't the Krell bad guys in some sci fi novel? Sounds like a good name for a race with lotsa tentacles and teeth and such.

[andreas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

great audio system, just wish I could afford it, but that's the point, I'm sure we can find quality products at decent price, or at least, decent products at decent prices, which is why I'm looking currently looking at these music servers, the sonos (www.sonos.com) and the olive symphony (www.olive.us), does anyone recommend anything else similar?

[Vai @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

#7, You're partly right, Amp output is LESS than the power input, this unit most likely draws over 15,000 watts at max volume, of course it'll also likely blow your hearing at that level too. High-power units are usually run at WAY below max, the extra headroom is there to keep the system well below the point where distortion begins to show up, but this unit is still a bit of overkill for a home.

[larry @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

the article is also flawed in saying there are 16 speakers - amplifiers do not count as speakers. there are 7 speakers and 2 subwoofers. but anyway if you were gonna go all out and build that .5mil+ home theater system, this system (as i have heard krell products before) is the way to go. (and to the guy that said that one outlet cannot power the whole system - obviously not, there is extensive wiring that takes place to make a home theater system work properly, this isnt your 1000$ sony surround sound system that you just take out of the box and plug into the wall)

[larry @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

the article is also flawed in saying there are 16 speakers - amplifiers do not count as speakers. there are 7 speakers and 2 subwoofers. but anyway if you were gonna go all out and build that .5mil+ home theater system, this system (as i have heard krell products before) is the way to go. (and to the guy that said that one outlet cannot power the whole system - obviously not, there is extensive wiring that takes place to make a home theater system work properly, this isnt your 1000$ sony surround sound system that you just take out of the box and plug into the wall)