Crown pro amps on sale at Amazon - which should I get?

[strube]

The Crown XLS amps are on a pretty dang good sale at Amazon and I was thinking it would be a good time to dive into the pro amp world.

I just can't decide if I should go with one 2500 for my front Axiom M80s (yes I know we hate Axiom now ) and use the Denon 4310 for surrounds and VP150 center or if I should get two 1500s and bridge one for the center and just run surrounds off of the AVR...or just one 1500 for the fronts...

Thoughts?



P.S. I do plan on doing a DIY 5 channel system at some point with 3 identical fronts and an AT screen and bookshelves for the rears...if that matters...I obviously don't know the sensitivity or impedence of these unknown future speakers.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I can tell you I could not hear any fan noise at all. They are silent. The build quality seems pretty good on the outside. They are light weight, which I love.

They seem to be an excellent choice to me. I got two XLS 2500 for my FA 18.0 subs (on order).

Specs look great.

XLS Drivecore™ Series

I think just one XLS 1500, which is 300wpc 8ohm, 525wpc 4ohm is more than enough.

[Adam]

Dang it - now I want one.

[Adam]

Okay, so I was thinking about ordering three of them when I saw Amazon's statement about saving another 15% - but it doesn't seem to apply to the Crowns. Darn.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Dang it - now I want one.

Since my AT6012 & AT2004 are hidden anyway, if I could go back in time, I would have gotten four XLS1000 (instead of AT6012) and two XLS1500 (instead of AT2004).

Silent, high power, light weight, less cost, bad a$$.

[Adam]

So, a question then - is $300 really that good of a sale (or is it even a sale) for the XLS1000s? They tempt me. I've been looking at Class D amps, and just the thought of packing away those Emo amps gets me excited.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

So, a question then - is $300 really that good of a sale (or is it even a sale) for the XLS1000s? They tempt me. I've been looking at Class D amps, and just the thought of packing away those Emo amps gets me excited.

It's $300 everywhere for the XLS1000 & $350 for the XLS1500.

Some places like Guitar Center will also often times have an additional Holiday discount.

$300 for a XLS1000, which is 215wpc 8ohm/ 359wpc 4ohm, is pretty dang low.

Man, bridge the XLS1000 and you get 700wpc x 1 @8ohm & 1100wpc x 1 @4ohm. That's crazy for $300 each, no fan noise and 8lbs.

But I think $350 delivered for the XLS1500 is incredible. It's a 300wpc 8ohm / 525wpc 4ohm, and no fan noise. And it weighs 8lbs.

The Emotiva XPA-2 is 300wpc x 2ch for $800, and weighs like what 75lbs?

[ahblaza]

So, a question then - is $300 really that good of a sale (or is it even a sale) for the XLS1000s? They tempt me. I've been looking at Class D amps, and just the thought of packing away those Emo amps gets me excited.

Adam, $300 is the regular price on sale always at zsounds and guitar center, they can be had for $250 when they run promotional 15% off sales on everything which happens often if you suscribe to private email alerts, right now Guitar Center is running an in store promotion for three days of 15% off of everything when you use their credit card and free financing for one year. Zsounds will beat any advertized price if you can submit proof of a lower price. There is an authorized dealer on Ebay selling the 1000 for $269 or best offer new in box with factory warranty, I offered $199 and he declined, I'm sure you can get it for $250 or less. Hope this helps.
Jeff

[strube]

I might just get 1 1500 now, though I am tempted to get 3 and make the 4310 preamp/zone 2 amp only...how do you control power?

I think I have switched outlets on my Powermax thing that I can control with a 12v trigger.


I think the best sale must be on the XLS 2500. It is $73 off right now.

I camelcamelcameled the Amazon price history for it and it is lowest ever. Same with the 1500 ($50 off). The 1000 has always been $300.

Crown XLS1000 Power Amplifier with integrated PureBand Crossover System and PeakX Limiters | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com

Crown XLS1500 Power Amplifier with integrated PureBand Crossover System and PeakX Limiters | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com

Crown XLS2500 Power Amplifier with integrated PureBand Crossover System and PeakX Limiters | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com

Add the prime shipping on top of all of that and I don't think you can lose.


I already bought the Gold Box deal today...what's a few (several) more hundred dollars?

[Irvrobinson]

Specs look great.

For a subwoofer amp, perhaps, though I'm still not following why these are superior to the FA plate amp solution.

As for the specs, for anything other than high power for sub use, the specs aren't very impressive. SNR is rated 20-30db worse than your ATI amps, crosstalk similarly worse, input impedance is low, output impedance is just okay. I don't know what the real performance is like (though my experience with Crown tells me these specs are probably 99th percentile minimums for their production runs - any given amp is probably a lot better), and I doubt these degradations vis-a-vis your ATI amps would be easily audible.

The price-performance ratio compared to ATI is remarkable though.