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First impresssions - Crown X4000 amp
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Posted on October 9, 2014 at 14:39:33 | ||
Posts: 37460
Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002 |
Last week, BigguyinATL brought to our attention a sale of Crown amps for lots of watts for just a few dollars. While I confess my initial experience with Crown (albeit in the 70s when I was a teenager) was mixed - reliable and rugged but hard sounding - I decided to experiment and buy an X4000 for myself for the princely sum of $300. It arrived in under a week's time. I was just curious as to what I might find. The X4000 is touted for 1000 watts per channel at 8 ohms. Mind you, that is rated using EIA specs so that number is a bit inflated. And, when one looks at the back panel hear the (20 amp) IEC jack, you find this label: "120V - 60Hz 700W". Hmmm. The last time I've seen watts rated that way was when I purchased my first and only stereo receiver when I was 13 - The Electrophonic T600! Physically, the unit is utilitarian. And I use that term in an entirely positive light given the expense. I've always favored components that look instrument grade devoid of light shows. It is quite heavy with a huge toroidal power supply with the case wrapped in a pebbly finished grey rolled steel. The finish is attractive in an Eastern Bloc sort of fashion. Reminds me of when I looked at and touched a MiG-21 up close and personal. Or an AK-47. Functional and practical. Not at all flimsy or overtly cheap looking. The front panel is assembled in a no-nonsense fashion: It's wired using balanced inputs and spades to the speaker connectors. It really is intended for using Speakon connectors. First of all, this is not a switching amp like many today. I'm not sure if it runs multiple rail voltages, but is conventional in operation. And there are no DSP processors, tricks, or crossover networks to be found. It's just a power amp with gain controls. So, how does it sound? Drum roll, please! Surprisingly, quite decent even driving the Sound Lab stats! The reactive load doesn't seem to bother it a bit. Ultimately it lacks finesse at the top, doesn't provide the "breath of life" in the midrange with vocal content and isn't particularly holographic in its presentation, but its sins are largely those of omission. Which is why I've been happy with a couple of pieces of NAD gear over the years. Somewhat opaque, but not objectionable at all. Fan noise is not bad, but audible. There are zero openings in the top and bottom chassis panels with all the air flowing from the rear fans out through the front vents. I plan to spend a lot more time evaluating this interesting find. So far, so good! It may well be just the thing for those on a budget who happen to enjoy inefficient speakers - like Maggies, vintage acoustic suspension speakers of all manner, etc. I plan to try it out in the garage with the Acoustats and a pair of New Advents that will likely mate pretty well with it. More to come... |