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In my youth, Crown was known as a high-end audio company, manufacturing equipment for home audiophiles, as well as studio gear. Crown has left the consumer market, but some of its products appear suitable for home use. While waiting for repairs to my Emotiva amplifier used to power my center speaker and subwoofer (Center Magnepan CC3 and Ohm SB4A, respectively), I decided to give Crown gear a chance in my system. (Of course, now I have ANOTHER) spare amp, and I'm running out of places for a good system). I ordered an XLS 1000, amplifier used primarily for sound reinforcement. The XLS amplifier use Class H technology and are advertised as efficient and light weight, despite their relatively high power ratings. See: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/crown-xls1000-drivecore-series-power-amp. See also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoGvOhGQX5M for a video explaining how the XLS serires with DriveCore technology was designed. Class H uses a digital processer to control the output. Crown worked with Texas Instruments to build the chip that manages this processing, as the video notes. The unit is assembled in China, but I think the processor is proprietary and manufactured in the US by TI. The amp sports XLR, 1/4", and RCA inputs. Sensitivity is low but sufficient to allow the amplifier to be driven by my Cary P-7 controller. The unit has very flexible, Linkwitz-Riley crossovers, addressable via the front panel. This feature can be used for bi=amping and other applications. At $299, ordering the XLS seemed a reasonable gamble, and possibly some good fun.
So, how does an amplifier designed for sound reinforcement do in a home audio/home theater setting?
Surprising well. I detect no apparent glare or graininess. The unit appears (given its power ratings) to have great dynamic range, plenty of bass slam, and detailed mid- and high-frequency performance. SACD, DVD-A, and DTS recordings reveal no deficiencies vis a vis other units in my system). The unit is quiet (it has a fan that kicks in on demand, and I've not heard it yet) and appears not to suffer from inter-modulation distortion or any audible distortion.
So far, I like the XLS. There a number of other configurations to try, including bi-amping, the use of the programmable crossovers, and the use of the XLS to drive my Magnapan front left and right speakers. Given the unit's rated specifications, its listenability, light weight, and evident performance, I'm glad to have the XLS. I know this amplifier series has been discussed in the past, but I curious what contemporary experience others may have had.
Follow Ups:
Further listening has reinforced my impression that the Crown serves well driving my Magnapan center speaker and Ohm sub. No hiss or hum. Good bass slam. Detailed highs with plenty of dynamic range likely reflecting unit's relatively high power rating.
Edits: 09/02/12
I use a Crown XTi 1002 on my bass driver below 250Hz. With its builtin DSP I can equalize the bass and am currently experiencing the best bass response I ever had on my speakers.
Full range the sound was pretty good, slightly on the warm side, with good imaging and soundstage depth. It fell short compared to a 10K$$ Luxman class A amp, and my completely modified Jolida 302, both sporting better midrange, bass definition, and soundstaging.
But for the price its a great deal($499. new).
Some do exceedingly well although I can't say anything about Crown.
Crest amps are very good and MC2 Audio (aka Quested Audio) give even the best and most expensive audiophile amps a good run for their money.
Not surprisingly MC2s are voiced by Ian McCarthy who worked closely with Tim de Paravincini.
It was actually Ian who came up with the name of Tim's company E.A.R., which means nothing in itself other than how close they were working together.
Dismissing pro amps out of hand is merely a sign of complete ignorance on the subject matter.
I just picked one up and put it in place of a McIntosh MC252.I also tried the XLS 802 first.
The 802 sounded better than the XLS1000 and I think was superior to my McIntosh. Seemed to have better bass control. Rock solid imagery. Non fatguing sound. fantastic transients. Only problem: fan noise. That did bother me. There are mods for that: quieter fans, putting in a resistor to slow them down, and people have evene removed them.
The XLS 1000 does sound a little different. Its smooth, non grainy and solid, much like the 802 and really quiet. I cannot quantify the differences and I will have to swap amps out to be able to describe them better.
All in all, I find these amps just great bargains. They sound good. They handle difficult loads well and seem to reveal more of equipment feeding them. I find bad recordings really sound bad and good recordings shine through them. I take that to mean they are quite neutral.
I am planning to move these into my home theatre and replace the Emotivas I currently have there. I think they will treat my B&W well (speakers that seem to need a good amp imho).
navman
Edits: 08/27/12
is the best of the bunch...
If a thing's worth doing, it's worth doing well
(Proverb)
Ill save up my pennies!
navman
In my youth, Crown was known as a high-end audio company,
I've owned Crown before. Reliable, but poor sound quality. Hard, closed in with little in the way of top end extension.
So, how does an amplifier designed for sound reinforcement do in a home audio/home theater setting?
Poorly, unless used for subwoofers.
Interesting thread linked here.
I think some of these amps perform on par with my McIntosh amps. You might say that McIntosh dont produce good sound and that there are better amps out there.
Maybe it is worth trialling some of the newer Crown amps before they are dismissed?
navman
You might say that McIntosh dont produce good sound and that there are better amps out there.
While that was my experience when I was first exposed to Mac in the 70s, I don't hold that opinion today. Even then, the weakness I heard with models like the 2105 were more sins of omission, not fatiguing sound quality. I've heard the 2301 in a very nice system.
Honestly, I seriously doubt that either amp discussed in your linked thread would be in the same class as the Mac in terms of musical refinement.
you maybe right, but on first exposure it seems to be quite close. I will report back later whith more a more definative experience. Plan to listen to the Crown in my system for about a week or so and then swap in the McIntosh.
OTOH am very tempted to bridge the Mac to mono and use it as a center channel amp for my HT setup. Would have to believe it would do an awesome job on dialogue.
But in my experience, and I dont ever try to suggest Im an expert, is that front end equipment, turntables, CD players and DACs as well as speakers seem to affect what I hear more so than amps in and off themselves.
navman
I had a Class T amp with a Tripath chip that I thought was grainy. The Crown in contrast seems smoother with good high frequency extension and detail. I wonder though if the differences I think I hear are anything more than an amp having sufficient power for extended dynamic range. All in all I am innocent rush to swap out the Crown.
I had a Class T amp with a Tripath chip that I thought was grainy.
something like this ?
Made by Audiosource. Don't think it's manufactured any longer.
Zero Tripath amps in the line.
Audiosource amps
No longer made. Model was 7T
I am very pleased with the value for the money of my Crown XLS 2500 which is a fixture in my video system. Gobs of power, balanced outputs and runs cool as a cucumber without the usual pro fan noise.Here's a link to an XLS thread elsewhere:
http://www.hometheaterequipment.com/mono-stereo-amps-59/crown-audio-xls-drivecore-series-amplifier-official-thread-1319
Edits: 08/26/12 08/26/12
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