Video Asylum

Posted by beever on January 18, 2002 at 15:03:37

In Reply to: Krell HTS owners.. posted by beever on January 17, 2002 at 16:07:03:

For the record, I sold my HTS2 a few months ago and I never looked back. I got 4k for the HTS2 and bought a Lex MC-12b. Needless to say, I am happy and the difference in price between the 2 was not so bad considering the upgrade cost is $1500-$2000 with round trip shipping and insurance.

Krell as a company is riddled with problems. Their product is very good but, customer service is seriously lacking. On a personal level, Pat in Sales, is an excellent fellow. The reason for the comments is that I decided to contact them for my upgrade, they don't know I sold my unit months ago. They are not taking any RMA's yet for the HTS2. They have no idea how long you will be without a processor but, they are shooting for 1 week. They are not accepting dates for the returns either, gotta call back next week. Then why not send out the email next week? Oh and the original HTS, whats up with that. "Don't know yet?" They want to try and convince all HTS owners to do a major swap out and get an entirely new unit, the redesigned units. Sounds great but, how much? "We don't know yet?" More than $1500? "Oh, yes definitely more. It requires far more work upgrading an HTS to 7.1 than an HTS2, so it has to be more." I doubt that a $3000 upgrade will make you happy. However, like Lexicon upgrades, there is opportunity. If you buy an original HTS and figure out a way to be the original owner, I can think of half a dozen ways right now, you can make some quick cash or get a great deal on an HTS 7.1. How? Do the math. HTS units sell for $2500 all day on Audiogon and Ebay. Buy from an original owner or dealer and pay the $3000(?) upgrade cost. That will get you at $5500 for a unit that will retail for $8000. Even if a dealer gives you 20% off of new ($1600) your unit sells for $6400. Once the unit is upgraded to 7.1 it is essentially new anyway. All new chips, an entirely new chassis, new boards, new analog preamp section, new remote, everything gets swapped out. Keep the unit and you got it at a "steal" or sell it and make a quick 1,000 or more. Even if you keep it for a year, I doubt a 7.1 will be worth less than the $5500 you paid so you use it and sell it with no out of pocket loss to you. Use it for free and get 100% of your money back. Not a bad idea?