Schu Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 What makes Crown Amplifiers so desirable... I mean specifically? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalifornian Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 For me, I am using it to power my dual 18” jbl bass bins on my Jubenstein. I get clear clean signal with lots of power for a reasonable price. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 24 minutes ago, Kalifornian said: For me, I am using it to power my dual 18” jbl bass bins on my Jubenstein. I get clear clean signal with lots of power for a reasonable price. so it's an issue of economics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Bullet proof, lots of power, decent sound esp. for use on bass bins. I use several in my basement all horn theater and also have a few for my porch system at my rural place. These are all the newer XLS series. There are certainly better sounding full range amps, but if you want a powerful amp on a bass bin or sub these really do the job for a very reasonable price. YMMV 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 I use K2s for my subs. Gobs of power, no fans. And now that I have modified them to stay out of sleep mode at lower gain settings while in bridged mode they fill the ticket. The D75s that I refurb'd to make them like the "Duke" are Ok...but noisy on mids and tweets of Jube system. They have been relegated to surround duty in HT or outdoor/garage systems. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 57 minutes ago, babadono said: he D75s that I refurb'd to make them like the "Duke" are Ok...but noisy on mids and tweets of Jube system. Interesting, my non modified D45s were not, maybe do to less power? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 My 'Duke' isn't noisy on mids and tweets. Was excellent on my LS, ad was fine on my Heresy IIs. Currently using XLi800 amps on the Heresy IIs. They are heavy, but it's not like I carry them around. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theplummer Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 Aren't Crown's considered a pro amp? If it has balanced LXR cables & you have a preamp that accommodates using XLR's, I'd highly recommend it. The 'noise floor' drops to near nothing. You'll be so impressed & you won't have realized just how noisy unbalanced RCA jacks really are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 8 hours ago, tromprof said: These are all the newer XLS series. I use the XLS too for its Xover features to choke the highs to my KPT684 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 For humor only, I have to share what Dennis (djk) had to say about most Crown amps: "By 1977 PWK was using the BGW 100, see DFH on 'TIM distortion'. Makes a Crown sound like broken glass." RIP Dennis 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 7 hours ago, babadono said: The D75s that I refurb'd to make them like the "Duke" are Ok...but noisy on mids and tweets of Jube system. They have been relegated to surround duty in HT or outdoor/garage systems. A few days or years ago, I went through djk's postings. To me, he was someone who could swim through circuits and see pretty clearly what was needed. I loved his humor, which can be seen in my sig. More Dennis "If you have a D60/75, adding a 0.1µF film bypass cap (total of 4 needed) to the electrolytic input coupling caps and feedback caps will make it sound vastly better." RIP djk, and thanks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 13 hours ago, Schu said: What makes Crown Amplifiers so desirable Like most brands, some are great, some not so great. What are you hoping to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjptkd Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 I've never owned a Crown amp- been considering one though. I've owned a handful of Samson Pro amps kind of stumbled into them as I received one as a package deal powering some old SVS? cylinder subs. Later on picked up a pair of 18" kp-480? Klipsch subs and nothing I had at the time would run them properly, they sounded flabby. Remembering the SVS sub amp went and looked online and found a 2800 for a couple hundred bucks and thought why not? It woke up those 18's and they actually sounded pretty nice with some power, not really low bass but sure helped to fill out the HIP's that were sitting on top of them I remember thinking this combo sounds like my Chorus II's on steroids. Out of curiosity I put the 2800 on my CH-II's and it really sounded quite good, I was impressed. I believe I preferred the sound over the Carver amps I had at the time but not quite as much as my Sunfire amp. For $200 gobs of power and very decent SQ- I'm guessing that's what the right Crown amp will provide? As for the Samson amps I have a few friends that are still running them today, two as their main stereo amp and one driving a home built 18" sub. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 5 hours ago, Woofers and Tweeters said: A few days or years ago, I went through djk's postings. To me, he was someone who could swim through circuits and see pretty clearly what was needed. I loved his humor, which can be seen in my sig. More Dennis "If you have a D60/75, adding a 0.1µF film bypass cap (total of 4 needed) to the electrolytic input coupling caps and feedback caps will make it sound vastly better." RIP djk, and thanks I believe he was referring to the DC300A, which in the early '80s was really pricey. Then again, the BGW amps were pricey, too. I think they still are. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvel Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 8 hours ago, theplummer said: Aren't Crown's considered a pro amp? If it has balanced LXR cables & you have a preamp that accommodates using XLR's, I'd highly recommend it. The 'noise floor' drops to near nothing. You'll be so impressed & you won't have realized just how noisy unbalanced RCA jacks really are. My XLI800 has both, and I have to use the rca inputs as my tube preamp only has unbalanced outs. I have used the balanced inputs when using one of my mixers, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudeJ1 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 20 hours ago, Schu said: What makes Crown Amplifiers so desirable... I mean specifically? Performance. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudeJ1 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 16 hours ago, tromprof said: Bullet proof, lots of power, decent sound esp. for use on bass bins. I use several in my basement all horn theater and also have a few for my porch system at my rural place. These are all the newer XLS series. There are certainly better sounding full range amps, but if you want a powerful amp on a bass bin or sub these really do the job for a very reasonable price. YMMV Especially if you can get K2's with NO fans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaudeJ1 Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 2 hours ago, Marvel said: I believe he was referring to the DC300A, which in the early '80s was really pricey. Then again, the BGW amps were pricey, too. I think they still are. Pricey is relative term. A dollar is now a dime relative to 1964. It's called Inflation. Klipsch speaker are now less expensive than they were in 1964. CNC plastic and MDF, and China! Electronics have come a long way in 60 years!! Engineers should make a good living, yes? If so the company they work for need to make a profit in order to exist in a competitive world,, in order to pay them and the people who manufacture their designs, yes? DC300A's are obsolete designs many of generations ago. This is 2025, not 1964. A lot has happened, and all 60 year old Paul Klipsch creations are obsolete, except the Khorn, now replaced by Mark IV models. Soon to be replaced also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woofers and Tweeters Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 16 minutes ago, ClaudeJ1 said: Pricey is relative term. A dollar is now a dime relative to 1964. It's called Inflation. Pricey has nothing to do with inflation and everything to do with how much X costs relative to how much people value X or their dollars. A 1964 dime is 90% silver and worth a few dollars, whereas today's dime is mostly copper with nickel plating, but I get what you're trying to say. Inflation, the hidden tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted January 17 Author Share Posted January 17 13 hours ago, theplummer said: Aren't Crown's considered a pro amp? If it has balanced LXR cables & you have a preamp that accommodates using XLR's, I'd highly recommend it. The 'noise floor' drops to near nothing. You'll be so impressed & you won't have realized just how noisy unbalanced RCA jacks really are. a LOT of consumer amplifiers have xlr capabilities... Current I am using an 6 channel (six monos) ATI that fits the bill well. I normally try and shop topology, then within that topology I shop features and brands. I am getting a little tired of class D and would like to try something else... maybe. I think I might be looking for something other than an 'economic' solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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