Best Budget Audiophile Amplifier? - Crown Audio XLS DriveCore 2 Review

  Рет қаралды 236,392

Andrew Robinson

Andrew Robinson

Күн бұрын

✅ 🛒 Crown XLS 1502: bit.ly/CXLS1502, bit.ly/3Nv9Ztt
✅ CLICK ❤️ THANKS above to highlight your questions & help support the channel!
✅👇CLICK SHOW MORE👇to see a full list of products shown
► SHOP CROWN AUDIO XLS DRIVECORE 2 SERIES AMPLIFIER
▹ Crown Audio XLS 1502 Amplifier: bit.ly/CXLS1502, bit.ly/3Nv9Ztt
► TESTING THE CROWN XLS 1502
JBL L100 Classic Speakers: bit.ly/3oyx6Yv
► MORE FROM CROWN AUDIO:
Crown Audio XLS 1002: amzn.to/2HXhZ9t
Crown Audio XLS 2002: amzn.to/2WJfPO5
Crown Audio XLS 2502 775 Watt Amplifier: amzn.to/2Dcy0aa
► COMPARABLE AMPLIFIERS
Arylic Integrated Amplifier: amzn.to/2QwddS1
SMSL Integrated Amplifier: amzn.to/2YH88uE
Musical Fidelity M3si Integrated Amplifier: bit.ly/M3SiIA
► CROWN AUDIO XLS DRIVECORE 2 SERIES AMPLIFIER
Best Budget Audiophile Amplifier? - Crown Audio XLS DriveCore 2 Review
What is the best audiophile power amplifier on the market today? How does the Crown amp compete with other more expensive amplifiers? While this is NOT an amplifier I would ever call a show piece, it gets the job done at an affordable price. This amplifier has loads of power for even the hungriest of speakers. Are there better amplifiers? Absolutely there are but at this price, you'll be hard pressed to find one this good. I share my budget reference amp in this Crown Audio XLS 1502 review.
► MY REFERENCE AUDIO AND HOME THEATER SYSTEM
POWER
Naim Uniti Atom All In One Music System: bit.ly/NaimAtom
Musical Fidelity Integrated Amp: bit.ly/M5si
LOUDSPEAKERS
Q Acoustic Concept 300: bit.ly/C300wsA
Klipsch Heresy IV: bit.ly/heresyiv
Jamo S809: amzn.to/356tnK5
SPEAKER STANDS
Kanto Bookshelf Speaker Stands (budget): bit.ly/Kanto26
SolidSteel Speaker Stands (best): bit.ly/2VOs7p3
TURNTABLES
Audio Technica LP140XP: amzn.to/33OfgXO
Cambridge Audio Direct Drive Turntable: bit.ly/AlvaCA
RECORD PLAYER CARTRIDGES
Ortofon 2M Blue: bit.ly/OrtBlue
Ortofon 2M Black: bit.ly/Ort2MB
HEADPHONES
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless NCX Headphones: bit.ly/WH1000xm4
SOUNDBARS
SENNHEISER AMBEO: bit.ly/35yLQO1
TOP SMART TVs
LG 8K TV: bit.ly/LG8K99TV
Hisense H9G: bit.ly/H9GTV
TCL 6 Series: amzn.to/35Vn9NO
BLUETOOTH / DESKTOP SPEAKERS
Naim Mu-so V2: amzn.to/33ASZxI
Klipsch The Fives: bit.ly/fivesUS
Kanto YU: bit.ly/YUdesk
► SHOP OUR LIVING ROOM
ARTICLE LEATHER CHAIR: bit.ly/NirvanaChr
ARTICLE SOFA: bit.ly/2HI6cMH
ART: bit.ly/howfaryt
TV / MEDIA CABINET: bit.ly/BDIMEDIA
EVERYTHING ELSE: bit.ly/ARdecor
► STAY CONNECTED
SUBSCRIBE & RING THE 🔔 bit.ly/RobinsonYT
JOIN THE CREW: bit.ly/ARobMbr
INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/AndRobIG
BUSINESS INQUIRIES: bit.ly/andrewbiz
FTC: This video is not sponsored. Some links above are affiliate, meaning we make a small percentage if you buy through the link but it won't change the price for you! Thank you for helping to support the channel.
‪@crownaudio‬
#crownaudio #amplifier #hifi

Пікірлер: 1 300
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 4 жыл бұрын
★ *REVIEWING: **amzn.to/3mAJB3v** NEED MORE INFO? ✔︎ THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *QOTD: Do you think audiophiles will ever accept Crown amps as hifi contenders? What's another amplifier that more people need to know about?* ★ *COMMENT RULES:* - No outside URLs or KZfaq links. - Please be respectful to one another. Harassment and threats will not be tolerated.
@joereynolds6496
@joereynolds6496 3 жыл бұрын
Andrew, I went and purchased a Legacy Powerbloc2, class D amp about a month ago. I can’t believe how solid and transparent it is. Using it with a Martin Logan 60XTis (4 Ohm impedance) the beast amp is capable of 650W rms. I didn’t have to hurt my back to install it.
@joereynolds6496
@joereynolds6496 3 жыл бұрын
And yes. They will accept class D.
@LexusAllTerrain1
@LexusAllTerrain1 3 жыл бұрын
Crimson 275 tube amp...
@madmaori1
@madmaori1 2 жыл бұрын
Just swapped out a musical fidelity m6i which is a fantastic amp bought a crown 1502 on ebay and paired it with a topping pre 90 and was suprised how good the sound is from these 2 i have a topping d90 a parks audio puffin phono pre amp which is connected to the d90 via coax a linn sondek and elac carina speakers i was sceptical about how good this would be but i am amazed how good this sounds
@brandonhampton7505
@brandonhampton7505 2 жыл бұрын
Andrew - I am using a crown to drive 2 subs with preouts from a Marantz av receiver. I have all of the sub preouts maxed out. I have resorted to Amazon line level gain boosters. They only work sporadically. When they do, it sounds great! How did you match yours? High end home audio pre outs are apparently much lower than what the Crown inputs need. Do you recommend a higher end solution? I will pay more to get consistent sound quality.
@laurencesellors
@laurencesellors 4 жыл бұрын
I just received my XLS 1002 today, plugged it in and tested it with various music. I was uncertain that it was going to be as good as reported by many reviews, however I am so glad I took your advice. The sound is head and shoulders better than my old JVC 6012R. Full and rounded with no discernible deficit. What an amp.
@vinnytube1001
@vinnytube1001 4 жыл бұрын
I had a Crown XLS 1000 and loved it. Gave it to a friend and now I have a Crown XLS 2502. I never heard the fan in my 1000 but in some (rare) circumstances, like quiet sections at low volumes, I can hear the fan in the 2502. Well, that problem is solved. If you're interested, here's the fix - and it's easy. The Noctua NF-R8 redux-1800 is about $10, and it matches the specs of the 2502's fan - 12V, roughly identical CFM (cubic feet per minute of air moved), but there's a catch: it's about 13 dB quieter in official rating, and I wouldn't be surprised if the OE fan manufacturer lies about the noise rating a little bit. Installing it is really easy, as the XLS' case top is secured with Torx screws and the snap-ins that hold the fan in place can be pushed from behind and easily pulled out (and reinstalled). The only tricky thing is that you have to remove the pins from the fan connector and swap the order of the red/black wires. If you have a small flathead screwdriver that will be sufficient to get the leads to pop out, then pull back the sleeve, cross red over black, and re-assemble the connector. The Noctua has a 3 pin connector, but you only need to connect the red/black part. The yellow pin will simply be unused.
@StrangerInParadise58
@StrangerInParadise58 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your video. I purchased and use the XLS1502 DriveCore 2 preamped from my Denon receiver to drive my front stereo mains in my home stereo/theatre setup, with input sensitivity @.775 Vrms .... Unreal power and sound! The realism and soundstage it brings to my stereo music, I close my eyes and the artists are in the room with me! Clean, pure, neutral sounding power that simply allows your sources & speakers to determine your sound signature. Noise floor is dead, dead quiet. Never going back. :-) Thanks again.
@StormCentre88
@StormCentre88 5 жыл бұрын
I used to have a pair of Crown MacroTech 2400's years ago. I ran them bridge mono. There was nothing they could not drive/melt. Incredible amps.
@win33adam
@win33adam 5 жыл бұрын
I've been using a Crown XLS2500 for PA over the past 6 years (6 to 7 gigs a week). Never misses a beat and is still going strong.
@paulheartsongs
@paulheartsongs 5 жыл бұрын
My XLS amp has played over 500 vocal/guitar gigs ... clean and low self-noise at 775 watts! Great choice!
@analogaudiorules1724
@analogaudiorules1724 4 жыл бұрын
These amps are truly beautiful, i just wish they said true power figures instead of rating things at 1khz, still great and reliable power indeed!!
@jessyvictor954
@jessyvictor954 4 жыл бұрын
Many saying crown amps distore and get disturb
@JP-ko8jj
@JP-ko8jj 5 жыл бұрын
I am just glad your back to making these types of video's. I used all of your video's to create my home theater\ music listening room. Did I spend to much...maybe...but its perfect for me.
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
Glad you stuck around. Thanks for being a loyal viewer!
@tallpaull9367
@tallpaull9367 4 жыл бұрын
@@andrewrobinsonreviews - Have you tried a MiniDSP SHD ? Seems like it would make THE winning combo with a Crown XLX 1502
@Joshualbm
@Joshualbm 4 жыл бұрын
I 've always been of the mind that if a pro amp has to sound clean at 120db through horn-loaded p.a. speakers, they should sound great with home hi-fi. In general, this is true. With the exception of some units having loud cooling fans that stay on all the time, pro amps are amazing values for performance, real specs and reliability. Crown has been a leader of these virtues since their beginning. The beastly DC300 of the 1970s weighed a ton but was one of Sterophile's favorite, if not all-time favorite amps of the period. Incredibly stable, colorless, clear sound with seemingly unlimited power reserves... what more do you want?
@keithraufer6894
@keithraufer6894 5 жыл бұрын
He’s back! Watching all your videos helped me choose some xls2002’s for my subs but now looking to put a 1502 and 1002 for my speakers. My Rotel’s are like ovens!
@sux2bu883
@sux2bu883 4 жыл бұрын
I have a Crown xls2500 hooked up to my Klipsch Chorus I . A Crown xls1002 hooked up to JBL 2446H (for movies) helps with speech . JBL PRX718XLF 18" powered sub. This is in my music room, where I spend my down time. I transferred all my music to a solid state hard drive. My computer's graphics card has a HDMI out so I Bought a Essence HDACC II 4K DAC which I think is awesome. It has 4 HDMI inputs & 1 out, 1 coax in & out, 1 optical in & out, 1 usb in & out, 1 rca L & R out, 1 Balanced XLR L & R out. Supports Sampling Rate Conversion, all inputs can be SRC to 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 and 384 KHz via DSP Engine. So with the Crown products having xlr in & out and rca, I use the XLR connections so everything is dead quiet except for music or movies and of course KZfaq .
@richardlandgrebe4917
@richardlandgrebe4917 5 жыл бұрын
I absolutely agree Andrew, Thank you for your refreshing views.
@addonisryan
@addonisryan 4 жыл бұрын
I am a live sound engineer and long time fan of Crown Amplifiers ,going back to the original Macro-Tech series. For many years Crown was and still might be the de-facto standard in the industry. I LOVE THEM. I share you point of view in that they currently build amps that are affordable and rival many others which cost more. When Clarence Moore, the founder of Crown started the company they made tape recorders and eventually decided to make high fidelity amps which again evolved into high powered professional amplifiers, so Crown definitely has some hifi experience.Furthermore, The well defined , well controlled bass comes from their higher than average "damping factor".Nice videos, keep up the good work!
@truckyouable
@truckyouable 5 жыл бұрын
My XLS 1002 arrived yesterday, I'm blown away, listening to Low Spark of High Heeled Boy is pure heaven. Thank You, TY TY TY TY!!!!
@souloftheage
@souloftheage 4 жыл бұрын
You have good taste in music
@panzerfaust375
@panzerfaust375 4 жыл бұрын
With the drivecore 2 do you still recommend against using it with an av receiver? I saw another video where you recommended against it. Was this because the original drivecore didn't have a voltage input selector?
@guanaco1626
@guanaco1626 5 жыл бұрын
What would i set the crossover if I want to run a xls 1502 with Definitive Technology BP-8060ST that have subwoofers built in?
@Gadgetdad007
@Gadgetdad007 5 жыл бұрын
What an awesome review and now I know what I’m am going to get for my next power amp. Thanks 👍
@justinhiggins2210
@justinhiggins2210 2 жыл бұрын
I have a couple crest amps, a 10004, and a 10001, they each weigh 150lbs. I bought a crown xls 2500 from a pawn shop and was blown away. I'll be honest it bothered the shit out of me. The midrange and upper frequencies were just brilliant. I have over 100 amps of all different levels and topology and to my ears none I tried sounded better until I a pair of Emotiva xpa1s series 2 amps, and I can't really say for certain that they sound better, and I run the matching xsp 1 pre amp processor. The crown I run with no preamp and it just blows me away that kind of sound can come from something so miniscule. I put off leaving this comment for as long as I could. Great video thank you.
@clmcdonald1
@clmcdonald1 3 жыл бұрын
I was in guitar center today they had some on the top shelf. I said screw it I bought one. Well I have it hooked up to some bozak MB 80s. Holy hell. I'm impressed. It was worth every penny. Looks are as said a bit to be desired. The clarity and weight this added to theses tiny speakers to make them sound great and not a note is off. Screw opinions and graphs. It's great.
@bfouryou3885
@bfouryou3885 4 жыл бұрын
For the last 3 years I have been using the XLS with my JBL l220 and couldn't be happier. This is the best bargain in the amplifier world bar none. Thanks Crown for delivering such an amazing product:)
@hardestyboy
@hardestyboy 3 жыл бұрын
Will this amp do well with two speakers rated at 120 watts each going into 6ohms??
@tonymoore9128
@tonymoore9128 5 жыл бұрын
Xls 2502 bridged pushing an 18" 2000 watt 8ohm Rockville sub with no problem. Huge upgrade from the Behrenger ep4000 Europower. I was worried the xls 2502 would not be enough but it is just right. Of course I can go bigger. The sub can take it but my neighbors can't lol. My setup is a home PA system for rockin out on the weekends and karaoke. Xls series is awesome!
@bphilbac
@bphilbac 5 жыл бұрын
Well, you just pissed off a bunch of class A, A/B audiophiles.😌 Great review!
@earlismarks7108
@earlismarks7108 5 жыл бұрын
Tisk tisk..............LMAO
@gradydrago
@gradydrago 5 жыл бұрын
Yeah, great job. Now it is time for the DJs and pro audio snobs to unite. Go class D amplification! ;-) Seriously, though... Class-D amplification is getting better sounding, and a very few of them can do a reasonable job of driving difficult speakers (low efficiency, low impedance, highly reactive) . Class A and A/B still have a unique signature and use cases.
@ericnortan9012
@ericnortan9012 4 жыл бұрын
@Larry Niles I'm jealous of audiophile systems because they have beautiful setups, great sound with high dollar equipment. Audiophiles are jealous of guys who can get great sound for reasonable money. I shouldn't have to pay $15,000 to make my $30,000 speakers sound good. I'll take my $1000 speakers and $500 amp get really good sound, and blow the doors off their hinges if called for. Our goals are different, audiophiles are searching for perfection, I just wanna ROCK!
@gideonkloosterman
@gideonkloosterman 4 жыл бұрын
@@eagleray4675 Get off your high horse lol
@juanmillaruelo7647
@juanmillaruelo7647 3 жыл бұрын
D class amps are improving by the day. New designs are reaching A/B amp levels at much lower cost, weight, heat, complexity. Evolution is at play. In 5 years' time class D will be widespread. In 10 yrs it may well be the new standard . Engineer Bruno Putzeys is redrawing the map and the rules.
@roygumpel8415
@roygumpel8415 6 ай бұрын
Which preamp would pair well with this Crown? Something affordable, like the Crown? thanks
@JAFOpty
@JAFOpty 4 жыл бұрын
Could you recommend a good preamplifier for this amp? I guess if I am using bookshelves and a sub, it will need to have a crossover too? thanks!
@michaelbrown-ns4dl
@michaelbrown-ns4dl 5 жыл бұрын
I tried an XLS 1002 with my cd player and used a Rolls mixer as a volume control. It was vastly superior to my previous amplifier. I have since acquired a XLS 2502 and use it to drive a pair of JBL SRX835 3 ways for my stereo system. Ridiculous for home use, it is truly powerful and articulate. No need for subs. XLS Drivecore 2 AMPs deliver a gigantic boom for the buck. They are wonderful amps...quiet, flat, and effortlessly powerful. Highly recommended!!!!
@AB-80X
@AB-80X 4 жыл бұрын
Which amps were the previous amps?
@michaelbrown-ns4dl
@michaelbrown-ns4dl 4 жыл бұрын
@@AB-80X 1970's SX727 Pioneer. Just not powerful enough. And bass was poor even with decently efficient speakers. Highs and mids are so much clearer in the XLS amp it is amazing. The Pioneer was a great rig back in the day and it was very heavy and ran hot. It was weird to see the very lightweight XLS totally outclass it, especially in terms of power. And stay cool while doing so.
@richardgrumbine4867
@richardgrumbine4867 Жыл бұрын
Been using a Crown XLS 1002 for the last several years… it replaced a pair of Trio LM-07 mono blocks… and I must say I am very impressed… better control of the bass, indistinguishable in the mids, and slightly more detailed but perhaps more etched at the top… so might not be perfect for rather forward speakers or bright speakers.. but with my Dalis I love it!
@BrianDRidgway
@BrianDRidgway 4 жыл бұрын
Great video and on a topic I have often wondered about. Here is a question for ya: Have you done any measurements to see about true signal purity and non-coloration? I wonder if Crown's focus on value creates any limitation in accuracy?
@allenkleyn
@allenkleyn 2 жыл бұрын
Hi Andrew, love your channel, thank you. I wanted to know if the Crown xls2502 would be suitable for running 2 x subs with a 1000 rms each, or if not, is there an amp for these 2 subs you would recommend, obviously budget is important
@LuisGabrielPhotography
@LuisGabrielPhotography 4 жыл бұрын
Is this good for a receiver like the Denon x4300h? I ask because on an older video you warned us about not using it with receivers and only to use with a separate preamp. Thanks
@ScaleCrawling
@ScaleCrawling 4 жыл бұрын
Not sure why this would be. Perhaps because these do no like very low level input, and most receivers are only good for 1.2V of clean output. But receivers like the Denon 3600H (perhaps earlier models too?) are good for 4V of clean output. This can make a big difference I think. Also, these latest Crown DriveCore2 amps have selectable input sensitivity.
@nealgant5291
@nealgant5291 3 жыл бұрын
I have my XLS2002 connected to my Denon AVR-X3500H. It works fine.
@bigdaddy3955
@bigdaddy3955 4 жыл бұрын
Are you in radio? You sure have the voice for it. Love the crown amps!
@rony6482
@rony6482 Жыл бұрын
I've been looking for a review of the XLS for some time but most of them were flat without expansion, I'm glad to come to your channel and I enjoyed the detail, I ordered this model and I'm waiting to enjoy the speakers I'll connect to the XLS, thank you
@hifitommy
@hifitommy 5 жыл бұрын
thanks andy for hipping me to the xover built into the crown. although i can play my spendor s3/5s plenty loud with my great sounding ADCOM 555II but have had trepidations about the lows unnecessarily channeled through them. zeos uses the crowns in bridged monoblock mode and this confirms that utilization. ...hifitommy
@sheikhyaboooty
@sheikhyaboooty 5 жыл бұрын
They may be old but my Audiolab 8000A pre and 8000A power amp are still a treat to listen to, they are very neutral and also well engineered.
@pauldavies8638
@pauldavies8638 4 жыл бұрын
My pioneer sa 9100 is also old wonderful and really kicks it out, I love old gear repairable and class.
@13bcoffee
@13bcoffee 5 жыл бұрын
I had been a mobile DJ for 30 years. As my career started to wind down I decided to setup a nice home theater that I could also use to spin some music. My home speakers are older speakers rated at 100 wrms. I went with the Crown XLS1002. It is rated at 215 watts rms at 8 ohms. My 100 rms speakers would be rated at 200 watts program. So speakers should be matched with 2X rms or program power. Perfect match for me. This amp has been outstanding for my needs. It has plenty of reserve/headroom but not so much power to be dangerous to my speakers.
@ChasingGiants23
@ChasingGiants23 4 жыл бұрын
I have Dali Zensor 7 towers powered by a Denon AVR. the speakers say 40-150w power requirement. would the XLS 1502 be the perfect addition to my system. To be HONEST the current set up is Fantastic. I just want to know if the extra power of the XLS will take it to the next level? My current AVR is claiming to be 140w per channel.
@Phantom-Eye
@Phantom-Eye 4 жыл бұрын
Great information here, i have never considered using a preamp in my home system, just change my amp to denon avr-x2600h ,love it. I configured a 7.1 with rear surround speakers. Have changed to front height speakers, doing so i ran out of speaker assignments for the rear speakers. I believe adding this Crown XLS audio will enable me to power front mains while keeping my rear surround speakers in play.. Will this work?
@domingobermudez6780
@domingobermudez6780 3 жыл бұрын
Excellent review,i have an abcom GFA-555 running my RF-7ii’s. Do u think i can get better sound with the Crown xls series amp? Thank u for your answer!
@kylekemp4776
@kylekemp4776 3 жыл бұрын
Just swapped my Denon PMA 800 for the Crown XLS 1502. I love how much better they sound with Magnepan LRS speakers. I used a Bluenose 2i as the source. Got a cheap subwoofer for $200. Tell me a better system for $1,500!!!!
@spencerboaz2385
@spencerboaz2385 5 жыл бұрын
I did a lot of checking with Harman before I bought the 1500 XLS's to use with my Proceed AVP 1 preamp and I think they would be hard to beat , in the real world price range .
@Sunghanah
@Sunghanah 5 жыл бұрын
Hello Team, Can I just hook these up to my computer and two speakers? Or I would need some kind of preamp output?
@willshinn737
@willshinn737 2 жыл бұрын
Andrew, thanks so much for your review of the Crown amplifier. I currently own three other reputable Class A and A/B amplifiers, and just purchased the 1002. I am totally in love with it. Thanks a million!
@dimitrismilios6483
@dimitrismilios6483 4 жыл бұрын
There is another product that i recommend from personal experience. Behringer a 500 used as monoblocks. They are ab amps very cheap and they sound amazing!
@muddyriverdogz
@muddyriverdogz 3 жыл бұрын
How do they sound compared to the crown ?
@herrtrigger7220
@herrtrigger7220 3 жыл бұрын
Tips for stereo use- one to two o'clock is the sweet spot on the gain knobs. Select the .775 voltage input. Use the XLR inputs and true balanced gear, not just gear with XLR connectors like Bryston's pre amps. Using RCAs on these amps= mediocre sound. Don't use any type of filter or surge protection, the amp has it already built in and they are a tourniquet for current as the wall is your power supply. Use a minimum 12 AWG power cord instead of the stock cord. The 2002 and 2502 are not much more expensive and have no end of headroom.
@marcin97
@marcin97 3 жыл бұрын
what's better for home XLS 2502 or XLi 2500? So I have ordered Crown XLi 3500 for my CerwinVegas DX9 rated conservatively 400wpc at 4 ohms. Is that an overkill and will hurt my 3 ways, with 15in woofers or as long as I don't blast them they will be fine?
@joaomontespalma3946
@joaomontespalma3946 4 жыл бұрын
Just got a 1002, 3 days ago, and I just LOVE IT! Great delivery, excellent buy!!! Thanks!!!
@twojacksonestand
@twojacksonestand Жыл бұрын
Hi Andrew, Hope the New Year is treating you well!! Quick Question, I'm Running Polk ES60 Towers and I know this amp would fire them with ease, but I'd like to upgrade the towers to R700s.. what's your opinion on that combination??
@TheBodhisattvaWisdom
@TheBodhisattvaWisdom 3 жыл бұрын
Class D is the future.. And sound still getting better and better..
@ArthaxtaDaVince777
@ArthaxtaDaVince777 Жыл бұрын
No way! If it doesn't cost $35000, I can't hear it!
@addonisryan8851
@addonisryan8851 3 жыл бұрын
I couldn't agree more Andrew. I am a sound engineer and recovering audiophile, I LOVE CROWN Amplifiers.Most great amp technologies come from companies in Professional Sound. CROWN was founded by a Missionary named Clarence Moore and in terms of amplifiers they started out in home HIFI. CROWN have always been about sonic accuracy( or as audiophiles say "neutrality").Crown amps also possess some of the highest "damping factor" in the industry, minimum 200:1 or better. This means far better speaker control than most overpriced, hyper expensive,so-called "audiophile" brands.A CROWN XLS Drivecore 1002 produces 210 watts per channel all day all night 24/7 @8ohms 350@4ohms and yes it produces 550 @ 2 ohms for all of you out there with Magnepan ribbon speakers and various electrostatics - both channels driven ! Most "Audiophile amps aren't even rated down to 2 ohms! Stop pupu-ing Professional Amps!
@stephenstevens6573
@stephenstevens6573 3 жыл бұрын
That's all I need yo hear...I desperately need more power for my magnapans...I've been looking at class a and ab... but they are ungodly expensive for the power I need...this is the answer. Thank you, guys!
@mdrummond194
@mdrummond194 2 жыл бұрын
I’m planning on buying one, using a older yamaha monster rx-v1 as a preamp. Should I scrap the Yamaha for a dedicated pre-amp? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
@slaving300
@slaving300 4 жыл бұрын
Hi, I have 2 Crown D-75 connected to 2 JBL Studio 530, they sound amazing, did you think those XLS are better? thanks
@TheVoicefrombelow
@TheVoicefrombelow 4 жыл бұрын
Hi Andrew. I'm considering getting the Crown power amplifier after watching your videos and scouring some forums. This would be for a home stereo setup. However, I'm kinda new to separates, so it's possible that this isn't the right product for me to start the journey with. For example, I don't know whether I need a preamplifier. Some people on forums say that all you need is a DAC which has volume control. I have no intention of using a turn table, so can I get away with just getting the Crown and a DAC / streamer, for example? Also, am I right to assume that even the 1002 is sufficient to drive most consumer speakers? Any advice would be helpful.
@mnoble247
@mnoble247 4 жыл бұрын
I feed my XLS with the Emotiva DC-1. I use the XLR balanced. It's computer to DC-1 to Crown... That simple. The 1502 has a lower noise floor and I would spend the few extra $$ to get that over the 1002.
@buttonman1831
@buttonman1831 4 жыл бұрын
Did you pull the trigger yet? I can help you out from experience.
@shaunr5450
@shaunr5450 3 жыл бұрын
Best amp for the money, period. Have an XLS 1502 running my Klipsch RF7 III and it was a huge jump in performance over having just the Denon 6700 push them.
@garavonhoiwkenzoiber
@garavonhoiwkenzoiber 3 жыл бұрын
Have you considered bridging the crown in bridge mode? I considered it but I hear some speakers, especially klipsch's can go down to 3 ohm at certain frequencies and I don't know if the crown will like that in bridge mode.
@shaunr5450
@shaunr5450 3 жыл бұрын
@@garavonhoiwkenzoiber I thought about bridge mode, but with my speakers, even at high volumes the Crown is not breaking a a sweat. Lot of power in reserve. So glad I bought it. My other speakers sound better too now that the receiver doesn't have to power my towers.
@carlosbarrerajr
@carlosbarrerajr 4 жыл бұрын
Great video and even better recommendation on the amp! How would you recommend to hook this up to a Marantz NR1606 receiver for best sound, RCA to RCA or RCA to 1/4?
@warrenosborne6044
@warrenosborne6044 2 жыл бұрын
Just my 2 cents. I played bass for a Nashville singer from 77-83. The PA used Crown DC-300 power amps. I know of several times that the mains were shorted. The Crown amps always worked and always sounded great. My bass was miked and also ran direct to the board. The Crowns through the JBL mains never gave any problem. I inherited one of the DC 300's and it runs my stereo today.
@mountedpatrolman
@mountedpatrolman 5 жыл бұрын
I tried out the Crown because of the massive thread you had on the XLS's. I have a pair of old Cerwin Vega VS-150's I had since I was a kid, that I was driving with my Denon POA's. They would never play very deep even with the huge 15's. So I began researching for something with more wattage as they are rated at 400 watts RMS. I picked up a used XLS-2002 and man do they have bass for days now. The high end sounds better than the POA's as well. I don't really see the worth in high dollar amps after hearing these.
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
So glad you're enjoying your Crown XLS amps! Thank you for sharing your personal experience.
@isaacsykes3
@isaacsykes3 5 жыл бұрын
Just wanted to say thank you again for the reply and my system sounds great...XLS Drivecore 2502's w/Goldenear Triton Reference speakers = 😁
@Old_Wizard_Minis
@Old_Wizard_Minis 5 жыл бұрын
Do you have two 2502's? setup in bridged/mono bloc mode? At 8 ohms Crown says that is 1550 watts a channel. Goldenear Reference Recommended Amplification is 20 - 750 watt/channel. That seems like a ton of extra wattage, do you worry you are going to overdrive the speakers? I have Triton One.Rs powered by PS Audio Stellar S300 at 140watts a channel. While it is ok, I would like a bit more wattage. So I was thinking of getting two XLSs (not sure which model yet) and putting them in bridge mode to mono block my One.Rs. What has your experience been like? Thanks for your time.
@isaacsykes3
@isaacsykes3 5 жыл бұрын
@@Old_Wizard_Minis First off you're more than welcome. I have the Crowns running in stereo which is 440 watts into 8 ohms per speaker. I have thought about bridging the amps just to see, but I am using my Oppo BDP 105D as a preamp, feeding it TIDAL via HDMI from my MacMini, and I don't think I've moved the volume past 33 out of a 100. Anything beyond that shakes the walls.
@46wireboy
@46wireboy 5 жыл бұрын
I'm running 2 XLS 2500s in this manner with excellent results; also using the same OPPO as the preamp each amp is running one Odyssey Lorelei and one original Titanic sub. This keeps the speaker wires short. That would be about 4 ohms to the subs and 6 ohms to the Loreleis. That's lots of extra power than needed and I've had zero issues. I love them. I wish they were black like the 2502s tho.
@davidvaningen4399
@davidvaningen4399 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. Would this be a good amp to drive Magnepan LRS
@audiofella5066
@audiofella5066 3 жыл бұрын
you may have answered this, how do you turn it on and off do you have to get up and down or does it have a trigger or anything or remote option?
@mohamedahmed1023
@mohamedahmed1023 5 жыл бұрын
Finally! A "cut-the-shit" video that provides a valuable recommendation in hi-fi without indulging any of the snake-oil nonsense. I wish folks understood how on the $ this recommendation is. A+
@scottlowell493
@scottlowell493 4 жыл бұрын
I replaced both a $$$$ passlabs and $$$$ quicksilver tube monos with a $$$ class D amp. I lost *nothing* in terms of fidelity, but gained power. The amp is neutral.
@EM-ke8is
@EM-ke8is 4 жыл бұрын
I agree nice job
@hurkamur1
@hurkamur1 4 жыл бұрын
@@scottlowell493 Did you get the 2502?
@fendergibs
@fendergibs 4 жыл бұрын
@@scottlowell493 get your hearing tested for high frequency loss.
@cardinalfang7725
@cardinalfang7725 4 жыл бұрын
@@ianjohnhorwood2605 That's a load of garbage. You sound like a marketing/advertising schill, or repeating BS you read in a magazine. You want to be a sucker for that crap, go ahead, that's your right to be a fool. Who the hell are you to tell anyone what they can or can't hear? That's not for you to determine. I've owned more audio gear than most people I know. I don't let "self proclaimed" experts tell me what sounds good and what doesn't. You're just another person online, and the type that drives people away from having an interest in audio.
@IanR1205
@IanR1205 5 жыл бұрын
This is why I subscribe to your channel, Andrew. You have great taste in audio equipment, but don’t fall for audiophile nonsense. Pro audio gear is awesome. I have a pair of bridged XLS1502s I power my SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers with. These amps are amazing. I paid $750 for both and they put out 1550 watts each into 4ohms. If I crank the volume up the amps can deliver clear sound as loud as my ears can tolerate. I can stand out in the street and hear my stereo like I’m sitting right next to it, and it sounds great. These amps combined with the SVS ultras are a great match for playing super loud and clear music.
@sonyvaio33
@sonyvaio33 5 жыл бұрын
Did u listen with the 1502 not bridged on the ultras?
@IanR1205
@IanR1205 5 жыл бұрын
sonyvaio33 Yes, for a short time. One 1502 is plenty of power to drive them both I’m sure. I just wanted more power than I would ever need and I like the idea of running one amp per speaker.
@sonyvaio33
@sonyvaio33 5 жыл бұрын
@@IanR1205 I like the way you think. Thx
@sevakbabajanians421
@sevakbabajanians421 Жыл бұрын
And somehow but I don't know how I really want to find a way to have a sub singing with the 2 speakers if possible. please tell me what to do. It's my first time and I have always been learning from my mistakes but I'm not sure if I can afford to make a bad mistake here. please thank you
@renesalem9409
@renesalem9409 4 жыл бұрын
Loved the info on this video, I’m looking to set up a pair of floor standing speakers. Like the price on the XLS, what preamp of other gar can you recommend
@Kevin_Carlson
@Kevin_Carlson 5 жыл бұрын
The history of Crown Audio is very interesting. The founder, Clarence Moore worked at Christian shortwave station HCJB in Quito Ecuador in the early 1940s. When he returned to the USA he began manufacturing rugged portable reel to reel recorders that were used by missionaries. The company also built professional reel to reel recorders that were widely used in commercial stations in the States. In 1964 Crown produced their first solid state amp. I had the pleasure of being able to use some of Crown's equipment as a high schooler in Quito.
@Licoricedisc
@Licoricedisc 5 жыл бұрын
Crown Audio has been defunct for many, many years... it is a Samsung company... you know, South Korea... Harmon International.
@Kevin_Carlson
@Kevin_Carlson 5 жыл бұрын
Licoricedisc Yes they are currently a subsidiary of Samsung.
@Kevin_Carlson
@Kevin_Carlson 5 жыл бұрын
And interestingly so is JBL.
@seancuster2349
@seancuster2349 5 жыл бұрын
People still use the early crown DC-300
@JerryWDaviscom
@JerryWDaviscom 5 жыл бұрын
That's a good story. God's own amp :) I'll take two, please.
@Reyfox1
@Reyfox1 4 жыл бұрын
Curious as to what pre-amp are you using with the amp?
@mohammadwasilliterate8037
@mohammadwasilliterate8037 4 жыл бұрын
It has volume controls on the front so you don't need a pre-amp, it has one built in.
@slimjim1104
@slimjim1104 4 жыл бұрын
Ummm no.
@joacwoot
@joacwoot 4 жыл бұрын
@@mohammadwasilliterate8037 Please know what you are talking about before open your mouth. Bad and wrong advice is not cool, man. What you see on the amp are GAIN controls. They are NOT to be used as volum. Here are the instructions: Get a preamp and conecct to Crown => With both units off, turn volum on preamp and Gain on Crown to zero => Turn on preamp and Crown => Turn volum on preamp carefully to full => Then adjust the gain on the Crown carefully up to as fare as you and your system can handle => when done NEVER TOUCH THE GAIN ON THE CROWN AGAIN! ONLY USE VOLUM ON PREAMP!".
@mohammadwasilliterate8037
@mohammadwasilliterate8037 4 жыл бұрын
@@joacwootTop Tip from an electronics engineer, YES I studied amplifiers, as part of my studies in electronic weapons systems for the military, volume is GAIN control, usually done by controlling negative feedback on an amplifier, usually the input line level is 1.2vp-p for maximum output on an audio amp, however pre-amps control this level to vary the volume. 0Dbm is referenced to milliwatts with 0=1miliwatt and half power points being -3Db levels you can easily calculate attenuation or maximum power output, which is why only electronics guys understand why amplifiers have negative numbers for volume as an increase, it simply shows the rough attenuation of the main amp. If you want to know anything further feel free to ask.
@joacwoot
@joacwoot 4 жыл бұрын
@@mohammadwasilliterate8037 Volume is how loud the OUTPUT of the amp is. It controls loudness, not tone. Gain is how loud the INPUT of the amp is. It controls tone, not loudness.
@bobidderis3880
@bobidderis3880 4 жыл бұрын
Can it be powering a passive subs? Given an active xover were hooked up too?
@Kenjis9965
@Kenjis9965 2 жыл бұрын
So I have a silly question. Ive been considering adding a power amp to my setup to drive my Polk RTi A9s which are the fronts in a 7.1 setup. Will it muck up movie watching to have 2 of the speakers on a dedicated power amp and the rest running on my SR7012?
@paulf3353
@paulf3353 5 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately, it didn't work well for me. I was very excited to get a nice sound for low prices and I bought one of those XLS, but unfortunately, on my Magnepan speakers (not even quite high-end really) there was something wrong with sound comparing to standard A/B. Highs were quite harsh and something wrong with mids like the piano wasn't natural sounding. So not sure... I also googled other reviews with Magnepan and a lot of people got hearing similar issues. Maybe with normal speakers it is not noticeable, or Magnepans are more transparent. But that's my feedback. I think it is good to try yourself and compare with something, it may work very well with your speakers.
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
Magnepans are just tricky. They really are a great sounding loudspeaker when and if you can get them to sound "right", but damn if they're not (in my opinion) a bad design. One of those "oops" moments that worked out, but on a whole probably shouldn't have. They definitely had a hay day in the 80s and 90s which solidified their legend, and made them audiophile royalty, but I'm not surprised to hear you had issues, for I've yet to find an affordable amp that can drive Maggies well. In truth, when I owned Maggies (MMGs, 1.6s AND 3.6s) the only 2 amps that cut the mustard for me were Krell 402e ($18K) and Pass Labs 350 ($12K I think it was). Needless to say I got frustrated trying to make my musical tastes and needs conform to a speaker and got rid of the whole lot and started over. To each their own. I thank you for watching and for commenting!
@paulf3353
@paulf3353 5 жыл бұрын
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks Andrew, yes Maggies are indeed quite difficult to power and get a clear sound. I even get rid of standard preamp and got a passive one which made a huge difference in clarity comparing to "audiophile" one I had before. I end up getting a used tube power amp as Krell and others were too expensive. I also heard a great reviews of Hypex class D but didn't try myself yet, may be worth checking out if you're interested.
@peterbobrik
@peterbobrik 5 жыл бұрын
I have Magnepans and XLS2502 , using ATOLL IN 200 as preamp and sound is great.
@rewind9536
@rewind9536 5 жыл бұрын
Yeah, you just described why I don't do class D. Class A all the way baby! Tri-amped horn system for now, going on quad-amped soon.
@buttonman1831
@buttonman1831 4 жыл бұрын
Had a similar experience on the Thiels. The Crown is overrated, it just is.
@andreasheiden7122
@andreasheiden7122 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your work, Andrew. I really like your channel. With regard to the Crown drivcore amps I have to say, that I disagree. I bought the XLS1502 and hooked it up to my Marantz NR1710 and different speakers. I have to say, that I really wanted it to sound good, or better than the Marantz alone. Nevertheless I found, that something was missing regardless of the speakers I used. The sound was just.... How to say...? Boring? Flat? It was obvious. I just did not want to listen to it for a longer time. When I changed back to the Marantz, the sound came back. As said, I wanted it to sound good, but it just didn't, at least not for me. I sent it back...
@kochsebastian0
@kochsebastian0 3 жыл бұрын
I fixed this with an ART Clean Box Pro (Pro/Consumer Line Level Converter $50) and XLR cables
@andreasheiden7122
@andreasheiden7122 3 жыл бұрын
@@kochsebastian0 okay.... interesting. So not Just an adapter. Hmm... I somehow don't like the idea of putting an additional piece into the signal path, but t mobile f it works. So the sound is really better than via cinch..? What pre do you use?
@JoeDiTrapani
@JoeDiTrapani 4 ай бұрын
I have 2 xls2502s that I used for many years in a mobile DJ system. I downsized my dj rig to 10 inch powered Yamahas and sold off the passive speakers, but I refuse to sell the amps because they’re just so dang cool! I finally found a use for one of them in a home theater subwoofer build
@thegroove2000
@thegroove2000 4 жыл бұрын
Would this work well with the epos 11 speakers? Also would thease pair well with a valve pre amp?
@SantanKGhey1234
@SantanKGhey1234 3 жыл бұрын
Well i decided to try an XLS 2002... I own a McIntosh MC402, Emotiva XPA2 & Emotiva XPA200... For the price im literally blown away after 30 minutes of A-B comparison between my amps... Im getting really close to selling my Emotiva's...
@Cooliewhistles
@Cooliewhistles 3 жыл бұрын
wow really? Thanks for this feedback. I may get one too
@alphadonkey4545
@alphadonkey4545 3 жыл бұрын
By A-B you mean the other ones are class AB vs this D?
@chrisj9008
@chrisj9008 3 жыл бұрын
@@alphadonkey4545 I think he means a to b comparisons of amp 1 to amp 2, not class (class A/B vs class D)
@cranixten2620
@cranixten2620 5 жыл бұрын
Good to know about the input sensitivity. I bought a XLS years back and and loved it for my stereo system. But it would not work in my theater because the output signal of the processor was too low to run it.
@sainaveenbali
@sainaveenbali 4 жыл бұрын
Did you hook subwoofer ? If yes was it from pre amp or without pre amp?
@beardedgaming3741
@beardedgaming3741 2 жыл бұрын
thinking of the 1502 for a couple of subs for the home theater. think this will work well? maybe 2 or 4 ohm (undecided)
@user-gs4oi1fm4l
@user-gs4oi1fm4l Жыл бұрын
Just had one come in yesterday for a pair of L600s. Very good high and low end detail. Is it normal for the vocals to sound recessed?
@CravingTheMagic
@CravingTheMagic 5 жыл бұрын
It's a nice amp but I switched to qsc pld amps and can't look back plus qsc builds higher quality amps
@CravingTheMagic
@CravingTheMagic 5 жыл бұрын
@33Ddg209Ret7 crown itech which is the only amp from them I like us better at subs them qsc I can admit that
@davidfarris8780
@davidfarris8780 5 жыл бұрын
These amps are amazing!!!!!!
@mitchellryder4289
@mitchellryder4289 2 жыл бұрын
I took your advice and dragged out a spare xls 1002 from my club to drive my 683’s at home via a marantz sr5007 - VERY impressed! Has opened up the soundstage noticeably and is very neutral. Thanks Andrew. Mitch, Christchurch, New Zealand
@kriswelanetz9537
@kriswelanetz9537 2 жыл бұрын
if you have to pick an external amp, Crown vs Outlaw or monolith amps?
@lastoftheboomers9600
@lastoftheboomers9600 5 жыл бұрын
I'm not a class d amplifier guy at all now. But if I still did pro sound, I might use them. Crown has always been a top notch name.
@MichelLinschoten
@MichelLinschoten 5 жыл бұрын
That means you know little about CLASS D.....let me tell you a secret, Class D has nothing to do with quality classification. Class D has been far superior to A/B and A since the past decade. Why? Because they finally figured out how to eliminate the distortion issues Class D had back in the day, it's more efficient than any other classification amp out there and it has because of it tons of more power with a super low THD %.... In a blind test....you would never pick your amp based on "sonic quality" differences why? Because they are not there...
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
It's below the threshold of human hearing in ideal (perfect) conditions. In a real world living room it would likely be impossible to hear. So, once again we're making mountains out of mole hills here. You don't listen to spec sheets, you listen to amps and speakers and music.
@lastoftheboomers9600
@lastoftheboomers9600 5 жыл бұрын
Andrew Robinson but... What about the fan? Does that kick in during home use? That would get heard. Personally, I'm fine with my Outlaw rr2160 receiver, but I've no doubt the Crown sounds good too.
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
I have NEVER had the fans come on. Not once. In 10 years.
@MichelLinschoten
@MichelLinschoten 5 жыл бұрын
@@TA-nn9os That means you have no idea how low thd that actually is. It's way below human hearing... People do yourself a huge favor UNDERSTAND what you're talking about. Look up a good video about thd you'll understand precisely how that works. A fantastic channel would be Ethan Winer or whiner (a veteran audio engineer, it eludes me what his last name is) he has a fantastic presentation. With samples about these topics. Go for it...information is free and readily available.
@reinervenegas875
@reinervenegas875 4 жыл бұрын
As a live sound engineer, I was able to use some of the best amplification including Crown and Crest. Amplifier technology has finally evolved to Class D and have improved in strides lowering the switching power supplies to what it is today. I am surprised that professional amplifier manufacturers are failing to see the home audio market and creating a separate division to re-package their pro gear to home audio enthusiasts. I am glad though that single ended connections (RCA) are now becoming an add on to make it easier to implement pro gear to home systems since most home gear have RCA's. All they have to do is re-package these amps to be more "home-e" looking with cases and front panels that suit home audio enthusiasts....I know that Magnepan owners love these pro amps and drive them with aplomb!
@AB-80X
@AB-80X 4 жыл бұрын
Crest. It was a really great amp once. In the late 80's and up though the mid 90's, I tried to use nothing but 7001, 8001 and 10001 amps. Crown Macrotech's were powerful, but did not sound nice. They were workhorses though and would stand up to most things. But things have most certainly changed, and like with Turbosound, JBL and many other things, the Harman group has ruined Crown, just like Peavey have ruined Crest, and Midas is a shadow of its former self. As a fellow live engineer, i'd say it's hard to beat the sound quality and reliability of a Lab PLM, Powesoft K, FFA or MC2 Delta. I simply don't get why people are still raving about Crowns and QSC, but I suppose it's no different than the "sheeple" that has to use line arrays despite all it's shortcomings. A shame people are not using their ears and simply drink the Koolaid.
@lewbarrett
@lewbarrett 4 жыл бұрын
Although to be fair, Crown did a pretty good job of stepping all over themselves even before they were acquired. Reliability in pro applications has been a problem for Crown for 20 years. When was the last time you saw a Crown amplifier in any rig that wasn't partnered with JBL?
@socksumi
@socksumi 4 жыл бұрын
@@AB-80X Basically it's because most people not very discerning, even people who you'd think would know better. Experienced ears are rare and long term listening will sort out the crap, the good and the best.
@FOH3663
@FOH3663 4 жыл бұрын
@@socksumi Agreed entirely. Also, most don't truly listen for themselves and form an opinion based on sonics.
@iCrispyBaconHD
@iCrispyBaconHD 4 жыл бұрын
i don't want them to repackage for home enthusiasts, it would double the price.
@SiouxGuitars
@SiouxGuitars 3 жыл бұрын
Have you tried pro speakers? I've used a pair of late 70s Peavey SP3 cabs for about 25 years.
@VivekKumar-qi6in
@VivekKumar-qi6in Жыл бұрын
Another great video Andrew! Thank you! Just as I was about to hit the buy button on amazon for 2 of these XLS1002.. but now I see XLi800 option that is $260 (vs $410 for these) a piece. I understand that XLi is A/B and not DriveCore, but it still has enough Watts to drive my Klipsch RP-504C and RP-8000f. Should I go with the XLis and save some $$$ or you'd rather recommend these XLSs?
@DarthChainsaw
@DarthChainsaw 5 жыл бұрын
"You don't listen to spec sheets, you listen to music" HAHAHA THAT'S GREAT! Some of these replies are hilarious. Self proclaimed "audiophiles" sure love to lose their shit over something they've never heard in person, only on paper in their heads. :) After hearing one over the weekend at a friend's place then going home and googling it, I found nothing but positive reviews from owners and this video was the nail in the coffin. My new XLS2002 will be here Wednesday!
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
Enjoy and thanks for watching!
@TriniKel200sx
@TriniKel200sx 5 жыл бұрын
The reviews given by you and Z Reviews convinced me to go with the XLS. I've got a 1502 fed by a Marantz NR1508 and driving a pair of KEF R3s. Bass is handled by a SVS SB2000. It sounds great.
@geoffreywelsby7434
@geoffreywelsby7434 5 жыл бұрын
Could I just ask a question please. I'm considering buying one of these amps. Is there a connection on the back for CD players. Big thanks..
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
This is just an amplifier, you do not connect source components (CD, DVD, turntables) to it directly. This sits between a preamp or receiver and your speakers.
@manlioyllades
@manlioyllades 5 жыл бұрын
@@geoffreywelsby7434 You can use the RCA connectors to connect a preamp. I connect my McIntosh C28 to the XLS that way (unfortunately my MC-2102 is broken :( )
@geoffreywelsby7434
@geoffreywelsby7434 5 жыл бұрын
Ok big thanks..
@markbingamon9351
@markbingamon9351 5 жыл бұрын
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for responding to this gentleman's question... I've seen many of these questions if not all ignored by the maker of the KZfaq video... Kudos to you for replying...
@kaneda7katsuragi
@kaneda7katsuragi 5 жыл бұрын
Wanted to thank you for recommending these amps over the years. I jumped on the 2002 the other week and its great for my needs (had a XPA2 gen 2 before). Makes my ls50's and (new to me) em-esl's sing. No noise/gain issues - can't get over how light it is... Looking forward to your new ML speaker review coming out. Did they include an ARC kit of some kind for the review?
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and I'm glad you're enjoying your amp!
@DavidEVogel
@DavidEVogel 2 жыл бұрын
I have a Crown XLS 1502 Amplifier in my garage. Plenty of headroom. Best feature is XLR connections for PA and RCA inputs for home audio. At first I thought that the fan did not function. After a few Led Zeppelin tunes, I checked with a flashlight, and the fan is ON. One more point: After being in the garage for several years, I am surprised how little dust is inside.
@october001
@october001 5 жыл бұрын
Great video! I've owned Mac, Parasound, Yamaha M, Integra, and a truck load of Adcom and I stopped looking/collecting when the XLS (first gen) went on sale. A pair of XLS 1500 have kept me VERY happy for a number of years now, even running a pair of DIY two-ways with the Crown's handling all of the xover duty. I wish I could find justification to upgrade to the Drivecore 2. Excellent amps, all the way around.
@tuba74
@tuba74 4 жыл бұрын
Bought a 1502 after watching your video. Getting another at Crutchfield and got a comment that these are not recommended for home/critical listening and are meant for PA systems only. I honestly could not tell the difference between my crown or direct to my marantz receiver to be honest.
@darpanbhuyan1909
@darpanbhuyan1909 4 жыл бұрын
@Land of pîss and pôôp - i have the KEF Q350s and got the crown xls1502 recently and IMHO, its a terrible match. it totally ruins the depth of sound and the bass becomes flat and lifeless (you'll see the drivers move but no bass). I have tried the Crown with my Quad S5s as well and though the detrimental effect is not as profound, it makes them sound like cheap supermarket desktop speakers (the KEFs sound worse than even cheap supermarket speakers). switching back to my very basic Marantz PM6006 is a revelation and has more or less made up my mind to cross off class D amplification as a viable option. I am getting a tube preamp to see if it helps with the depth and the midrange glassiness. Please audition before you put down your money on it. Cheers!
@darpanbhuyan1909
@darpanbhuyan1909 4 жыл бұрын
@Land of pîss and pôôp - i have a subwoofer but theres no point if the natural bass of the speaker is destroyed by the crown. you saved yourself a good deal of disapppointment by not going with the crown! The Emotivas cost twice as much where I live compared to the US/UK so they dont represent good value. Marantz on the other hand is cheap but good enough which is why its been the amplifier of choice for me.
@darpanbhuyan1909
@darpanbhuyan1909 4 жыл бұрын
@Land of pîss and pôôp - not getting a tbe amp. rather getting a tube preamp to see if it fixes the problem with the crown.
@darpanbhuyan1909
@darpanbhuyan1909 3 жыл бұрын
Chris Clark you are right. It was a placement issue. I tinkered around and have found the perfect spot for it. Now it sounds phenomenal and the bass response has improved to such an extent that no sub is required.
@Ridge-Riders
@Ridge-Riders 4 жыл бұрын
It's great to see your review Andrew, I've been high on these amps for the last 3 or 4 years and currently have one of these on my Audio Physics Avanti speakers. Are you using a balanced pre-amp? I've been using unbalanced pre-amps and have found I have to use an unbalanced-to-balanced converter like the Rolls MB15b Promatch to increase the input voltage to the amp. What have been your experiences with pre-amps? I'd love to ditch the Rolls converters, but they do their job.
@xpsmax1
@xpsmax1 Жыл бұрын
Andrew, I have some older bowers and Wilkins DM 620 towers that I love. I have been running them on a carver TFM 55 for years but it just died and cost too much to repair. I bought an XL less 1002 on your recommendation. Can you tell me how loud the fan is? I also have a very old XLS 402, but at four ohms it put out way too much power for these DM towers. I also need to replace the fans because they are extremely loud.
@23nickxp
@23nickxp 5 жыл бұрын
100% agree. sold 2 xls2500 that drove my 2.1 home office system and replaced with Parasound JC1's. Kept the Jc1s less than a month. Have had everything from McI to Halos to Krells. What is in my office rack today 2 XLS
@andrewrobinsonreviews
@andrewrobinsonreviews 5 жыл бұрын
Had all of the amps you mentioned above as well. What do I have, XLS amps too. Thanks for watching!
@joe2_515
@joe2_515 3 жыл бұрын
To test out the "class D is Bad" allegations, replicate my measly $340 experiment. I replaced a Krell KAV 300i with a Crown XLS 1002. Martin Logan SL3 electrostats are "difficult to drive" but the sound is unchanged (and great). That's 1/10 the cost at two times the power.
@michaelgalanos981
@michaelgalanos981 2 жыл бұрын
You did the right thing do you still have the Krell?
@kenthobbs9527
@kenthobbs9527 3 жыл бұрын
Would this amp work with Elac debut B6 speakers?
@911turbojk
@911turbojk 4 жыл бұрын
Have you tried comparing these to the QSC RMX series ? Just wondering what you think of it , thank you.
@dcarcher12
@dcarcher12 5 жыл бұрын
This video persuaded me to subscribe. I use XLS-1500's as monoblocks in my system. Absolutely love em!
@jeffayres4265
@jeffayres4265 5 жыл бұрын
Commercial to " home use" have not found a better amp then my CARVER pm1.5
@michelst-jacques9555
@michelst-jacques9555 3 жыл бұрын
I think you should compare your Carver To the Crown.You might be surprised
@BC1000Stars
@BC1000Stars 5 жыл бұрын
Didn’t understand much of this video, it was a bit above my level, but I enjoyed it anyway and that is why this is a great channel. I’m enjoying my subscription very much and getting my money's worth. Best zero dollars I’ve ever spent. 👍
@Mani-aX
@Mani-aX 4 жыл бұрын
what is the standard for the input voltage with consumer home audio and stereo? also i have the 3500 XLI amp which is and class AB amp and love how clean it is.
@fnagdungdagint
@fnagdungdagint 3 жыл бұрын
I usually don’t care much about the looks of hifi gear, but this thing is truely vile. Good piece of kit, no doubt, but needs to be hidden away 😄
@XxtothmonsterxX
@XxtothmonsterxX 2 жыл бұрын
You can turn all the lights off in the menu it makes them much less hideous
@mynamesnotimportant6941
@mynamesnotimportant6941 3 жыл бұрын
Why is everyone implying that audiophiles don't like crown amps? I was recommended a crown amp by one lol
@rtimmins7212
@rtimmins7212 5 жыл бұрын
I do live audio / video for a living so I have a Professional QSC Powerlite 1.4 in the house I use for my electronic drums. A while back I did an experiment and hooked my up to my system (ifi Dac 2 - TVC {passive Preamp} - AMP - Spatial M3 Turbos.) It sounded pretty bad. Not enough weight in the bass department, and kind of harsh overall. Pretty sure the QSC Powerlite 1.4 is a class H amp. My main system amp is a Class D and it sounds great. Your channel is very entertaining.
@TheMatureBoyRacer
@TheMatureBoyRacer Жыл бұрын
Hi Andrew, I'm new to your channel and really enjoying the content. I purchased a Crown 1002 upon your recommendation and I'm absolutely loving it. It's paired with my Emotiva pt100 pre amp and my 15yr old Monitor Audio Silver RS8 speakers. I'll be replacing my speakers soon, what would you recommend for someone who likes to "Rock Out"?
Is Crown REALLY the answer?  A Review of the XLS 2502 power amplifier!
25:16
哈莉奎因以为小丑不爱她了#joker #cosplay #Harriet Quinn
00:22
佐助与鸣人
Рет қаралды 9 МЛН
WORLD'S SHORTEST WOMAN
00:58
Stokes Twins
Рет қаралды 136 МЛН
Slow motion boy #shorts by Tsuriki Show
00:14
Tsuriki Show
Рет қаралды 10 МЛН
⚠ Amplifiers for SERIOUS Audiophiles! Marantz M1 vs EVERYONE else!
54:24
Do Expensive Amplifiers Sound Better than Cheaper ones?
13:20
Audioholics
Рет қаралды 216 М.
Audio Equipment Isn't MAGIC - Audio Advice with Andrew Robinson
19:39
Andrew Robinson
Рет қаралды 70 М.
Meet Tim, he reviewed the powerhouse $339 Crown XLS 1002 amp!
10:17
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac
Рет қаралды 107 М.
High end amps vs. pro amps
4:58
Paul McGowan, PS Audio
Рет қаралды 53 М.
Believe it: $1,250 (or less) can buy a complete audiophile system
15:21
Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac
Рет қаралды 1,1 МЛН
How to Determine Good from Great Amplifier Performance
22:44
Audioholics
Рет қаралды 37 М.
Crown Audio XLS DriveCore 2 Series - Before You Buy
10:14
HiFi Home Theater
Рет қаралды 25 М.
My Favorite Amps from Cheap to Expensive
17:11
cheapaudioman
Рет қаралды 290 М.
Что делать если в телефон попала вода?
0:17
Лена Тропоцел
Рет қаралды 3,6 МЛН
Ba Travel Smart Phone Charger
0:42
Tech Official
Рет қаралды 1,2 МЛН
Vision Pro наконец-то доработали! Но не Apple!
0:40
ÉЖИ АКСЁНОВ
Рет қаралды 803 М.
КРУТОЙ ТЕЛЕФОН
0:16
KINO KAIF
Рет қаралды 7 МЛН
Todos os modelos de smartphone
0:20
Spider Slack
Рет қаралды 66 МЛН