Amp suggestions for Crowson Actuators

[SuperCraig]

Hello All,

After a fair amount of research, I am going to purchase the Crowson Tech Shadow Stereo Motion System Actuators (I tried to add a link for those not familiar, but I'm too much of a newbie) along with their BMP-3s Preamp for my system. I am not, however, going to buy their amp as I think it may be a bit overpriced for the power it puts out, and so I'm looking for alternatives.

According to Crowson, what I'm looking for is:

• Sensitivity (150Wrms output with 200mV input)
• RMS power (no less than 100Wrms @6 ohm, preferred max 250-300Wrms)
• Stability during low frequency high current draw (Many amps overheat and die after a short time powering Crowson actuators)
• Infrasonic performance (most amplifiers cannot produce output below 20Hz)

In addition to what they say I need, these features are important to me as well:

• quiet operation
• low temperature
• black color (preferred)
• remote would be nice, but not necessary at all

I'd like to spend $500 or less if possible.

ANY/ALL suggestions on what I might appreciate for this dedicated amp would be GREATLY appreciated. Links to other threads, sites, dealers, etc, would be great. Anything to help me in my choice.

Thanks SO MUCH for your feedback!

This is the last piece of my HT to put in place and I'm REALLY looking forward to having this one chosen and then be done shopping for a while, lol.

Thanks,
SC

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello All,

After a fair amount of research, I am going to purchase the Crowson Tech Shadow Stereo Motion System Actuators (I tried to add a link for those not familiar, but I'm too much of a newbie) along with their BMP-3s Preamp for my system. I am not, however, going to buy their amp as I think it may be a bit overpriced for the power it puts out, and so I'm looking for alternatives.

According to Crowson, what I'm looking for is:

• Sensitivity (150Wrms output with 200mV input)
• RMS power (no less than 100Wrms @6 ohm, preferred max 250-300Wrms)
• Stability during low frequency high current draw (Many amps overheat and die after a short time powering Crowson actuators)
• Infrasonic performance (most amplifiers cannot produce output below 20Hz)

In addition to what they say I need, these features are important to me as well:

• quiet operation
• low temperature
• black color (preferred)
• remote would be nice, but not necessary at all

I'd like to spend $500 or less if possible.

ANY/ALL suggestions on what I might appreciate for this dedicated amp would be GREATLY appreciated. Links to other threads, sites, dealers, etc, would be great. Anything to help me in my choice.

Thanks SO MUCH for your feedback!

This is the last piece of my HT to put in place and I'm REALLY looking forward to having this one chosen and then be done shopping for a while, lol.

Thanks,
SC

You are stuck buying the Crowson amp. Those bum vibrators are not speakers. They do not publish sufficient specs to be able to recommend an alternative amp. You would need a huge amount of technical data, including but not limited to the impedance curves and phase angles of the Butt buzzers to say nothing of their erogenous zones.

So if you buy another amp and it blows, your warranty will not be valid. With the Crowson it will be.

The wider issue is that those type of products are a waste of time and space.

You are far better off putting that money into really good subs.

I can assure you there is no need of butt rubbers here.

 

[markw]

I can assure you there is no need of butt rubbers here.

That would depend on what she looks like.

Seriously, this is your real problem: "Stability during low frequency high current draw (Many amps overheat and die after a short time powering Crowson actuators) "

Remember, they are not moving air; they are moving heavire stuff. Neither are they handling a wide frequency range. They sound like purpose-built devices.

 

[SuperCraig]

They do not publish sufficient specs to be able to recommend an alternative amp. You would need a huge amount of technical data...

Well, I'm in touch with the top people over there and I can get whatever data you may wish to help with this decision. If you let me know exactly what you want to know- I'll find it out.

The wider issue is that those type of products are a waste of time and space.

I can assure you there is no need of butt rubbers here.

Yes, that seems to be the consensus on these boards. Mostly from folks that haven't even tried them out in person (not saying you haven't). And I get it.

AND I have tried them out in person and feel when they are adjusted correctly (low crossover) they are not at all distracting and actually add a great amount of realism to the experience. I understand not everyone agrees, and to each his own.

You are far better off putting that money into really good subs.

I don't feel the need to choose, I feel I can have both. But having said that, yes- I agree that money towards a good sub is money well spent. I'll go and check out the other threads, but if you have any suggestions for a good sub in the $600-$800 ranger- please do share.

Thanks
SC

 

[SuperCraig]

Remember, they are not moving air; they are moving heavire stuff. Neither are they handling a wide frequency range. They sound like purpose-built devices.

Yes that is all accurate- they are "purpose-built devices".

I'm still doing some research, but as of now the front runner is the Crown DSi1000. It has enough controls to it that I don't think I'll need the Crowson pre-amp, and I happened to find a killer deal on the Crown.

I'm not 100% certain yet, so any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated though!

Thanks!

 

[TLS Guy]

Well, I'm in touch with the top people over there and I can get whatever data you may wish to help with this decision. If you let me know exactly what you want to know- I'll find it out.



Yes, that seems to be the consensus on these boards. Mostly from folks that haven't even tried them out in person (not saying you haven't). And I get it.

AND I have tried them out in person and feel when they are adjusted correctly (low crossover) they are not at all distracting and actually add a great amount of realism to the experience. I understand not everyone agrees, and to each his own.



I don't feel the need to choose, I feel I can have both. But having said that, yes- I agree that money towards a good sub is money well spent. I'll go and check out the other threads, but if you have any suggestions for a good sub in the $600-$800 ranger- please do share.

Thanks
SC

The chances are high you will ruin a good amp and void the warranty doing it.

The crucial data is the impedance curves and especially a graph showing the relationship of the voltage and current phase angles with frequency.

I would bet that for a device like that, the phase angles will be wide apart.

What happens is that there becomes a big discrepancy between the apparent and true power consumed by the device. The current for the apparent power has to be provided by the amp. I suspect this is what blows audio amps, as at parts of the cycle these devices will present a virtual short circuit. In other words the VA rating for those devices I suspect is much higher than the true power consumed in watts. This is why they are talking about the high instantaneous current than can flow through the devices and blow amps

Now I would bet money that the Crowson amp has current limiting built in to the output device drivers and or power supply. It might even be designed like a motor driver amp, with a highly capacitive output stage to improve the phase angles. In any event it almost certainly has design parameters not found in audio amps. This will result in a distorted signal. For the butt thumpers this will not matter, but an audio amp can not do that as results would be poor driving a speaker. I suspect this is the most significant way in which the Crowson amp is customized, and why it does not blow but most audio amps probably will.

My strongest recommendation, is that if you want to use these, you need to buy the complete package. If you don't you are very likely to end up an unhappy camper.

Others can make sub recommendations. All my speakers are my design and have been all my life.

 

[SuperCraig]

The chances are high you will ruin a good amp and void the warranty doing it.

The crucial data is the impedance curves and especially a graph showing the relationship of the voltage and current phase angles with frequency.

I would bet that for a device like that, the phase angles will be wide apart.

What happens is that there becomes a big discrepancy between the apparent and true power consumed by the device. The current for the apparent power has to be provided by the amp. I suspect this is what blows audio amps, as at parts of the cycle these devices will present a virtual short circuit. In other words the VA rating for those devices I suspect is much higher than the true power consumed in watts. This is why they are talking about the high instantaneous current than can flow through the devices and blow amps

Now I would bet money that the Crowson amp has current limiting built in to the output device drivers and or power supply. It might even be designed like a motor driver amp, with a highly capacitive output stage to improve the phase angles. In any event it almost certainly has design parameters not found in audio amps. This will result in a distorted signal. For the butt thumpers this will not matter, but an audio amp can not do that as results would be poor driving a speaker. I suspect this is the most significant way in which the Crowson amp is customized, and why it does not blow but most audio amps probably will.

My strongest recommendation, is that if you want to use these, you need to buy the complete package. If you don't you are very likely to end up an unhappy camper.

Others can make sub recommendations. All my speakers are my design and have been all my life.

Thanks for your input TLS. I'm going to share your thoughts with Crowson and see what they have to say. I'll be happy to share their response.

 

[NaughtyNorris]

A Bump in the Dark

It may seem a bit pricey at the outset, but it is WELL worth any potential long term compatibility headaches. I've been using the Crowson Unit for over 5 years, and I must say it is well worth the price of admission. A properly tuned Sub is a lot of fun, but the party started (lol) once I had the Crowson Actuators in place. Spring for the Crowson Amp.