X3600/3CH or X3700/9Ch or XMC-2/9CH?

[RickyT]

I’m surprised at the efficiency of the LE14. I’ve got both subs running off a RBH SA-400 sub amp. I have the gain all the down to 8 o’clock, boost button off. The have a very beautiful sound, quite unique compared to my other reference class subs. I doubt that I’ll sell these. Their keepers…plus my recone tech did a beautiful job restoring the woofers for little coin. Thx again for the data.

Ditto, this Citation system was an amazing design. Like you, I won't sell my Citation amps.

 

[DJ7675]

I just received my repaired LE14H-1 woofers today. I’ve got two mint Citation 7.4 subs now in operation. Lovely things.

My JBL 250ti 4 way speakers have an LE14 in each of them. They seem to be a really nice driver.

 

[Pogre]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

I'm making some changes to my 5.2.4 atmos setup. I have a Denon 4400H and 3 Revel M106 bookshelfs (with ~ 86db sensitivity) for LCR arriving on Tuesday. The Denon will drive my rear & atmos speakers, and two Citation 7.1 amps (RCA inputs only) will drive the the M106s and two passive subs.

Does the Citation's 1.1V input sensitivity means it will reach full power once 4400H preouts reach 1.1V? Relative to other amp brands, is the Citation better or worse suited for using the RCA preouts from a prepro or receiver?

I can only find the following info below on the old Citation 7.1.

General Description High current, multichannel audio power
amplifier, configurable for four, three or two-channel output. THX Certified.
Power Output 4 x 150 watts @ 8 Ohms, 4 x 240 watts
@ 4 Ohms
2 x 150 watts + 1 x 450 watts @ 8 Ohms
2 x 450 watts @ 8 Ohms bridged
FTC: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, .03% THD, All channels driven.
HCC 130 Amps/channel in dual mono mode
Frequency Response < 3 Hz - 200 kHz ±3 dB at rated output
THD/IMD Less than 0.03% at rated output
Power Bandwidth 5 Hz - 130 kHz
Input Impedance 22k Ohms
Input Sensitivity 1.1 volts for rated output
Dimensions (HxWxD) 7 1/2 x 17 15/16 x 17 1/2"
191 x 456 x 445 mm
Weight 75 lbs / 34 kg
Power Requirements 120/230VAC, 50 - 60 Hz; 2500 watts,
maximum

What a cool, versatile amp! Great specs too. You don't see bridging or mixed mono like that in home audio very often.

I know this post was from last year. I'm just geeking on that amp.

 

[ParleyW]

I actually have 280 lbs of citations! As I also have the smaller 5.1 (100x4 or 300x2, 55 lbs) augmenting a Denon 5200W in a 7.2 family room setup with NHT bookshelves and subwoofers.

These Citation amps original retail was $2800 and $2200 and can be found used $700-900 and $400-600 these days. They were part of a modular THX system with Citation 7.2 LCR speakers, 7.3 rear dipoles, and 7.4 passive subwoofers (with the highly regarded LE14H-1 14inch driver) with these specs:

7.4 Specifications
General Description
Front-firing Subwoofer, THX Certified

Frequency Response
21 Hz - 100 Hz ±3 dB

Driver Complement
14" Woofer with Cast Frame Basket

Nominal Impedance
6 Ohms

Sensitivity
92 dB SPL / 1 watt @ 1 meter

Power Handling Capability
Over 300 watts

Dimensions (HxWxD)
20 5/8 x 24 x 17 3/8" (not including feet)

81.5 lbs / 37 kg

Hence, the Citation amps were designed to drive these subs in bridged mode, with each bridged amp channel seeing 3 ohms (nominal).

The brains of this system was Jim Fosgate's Citation 7.0 analog surround prepro, with his splendid 6-Axis that eventually became Dolby Pro Logic 2 (and made him a rich man!). The 7.0 is still regarded on Audiogon as a sweet sounding analog preamp (even for 2 channel). I used the 7.0 for a few years before getting the Aragon Soundstage prepro.

Nice AH article on this:

History of Surround Sound Processing: The Battle for Dolby Pro Logic II

This is a historical perspective on 6-Axis surround originally developed by Jim Fosgate (who recently passed away) and how it battled Harman's very own Logic 7 format to become Dolby Pro Logic II.

www.audioholics.com

I was surprised when I installed the woofers again that there is a crossover in this “passive sub”. It’s got an odd configuration but it’s a crossover. I’ve removed them where I’m driving them with an excellent sub amp.