Crown amps

Just out of curiosity...where are you shopping? A stereo store or a D.J. store?

The reason I ask is that I had a friend that owned a store that had a stereo side and a mobile DJ side.

I asked him about the Crown Amps that he had and was informed that they were really intended for "club" atmospheres where chest thumping bass and high SPL levels were the most important thing.

So...anyhow...I went to read the reviews over at audioreview to find out what users had to say about the amps.

some things that I noticed were...

1. People seemed to be buying them for use as subwoofer amps.

2. Some of the reviews seem to have been written by the same person with the same associated equipment yet under a different name??? (This was their $4,000 reference amp) I dunno...things just seemed a little fishy...most EVERYBODY seemed to think that they were better than their previous Krells...go figure.

Have I heard crown?

Yes...in nightclubs/bars

Was I Impressed?

Not especially.

I'm not trying to belittle you for your choice, but having been hanging around Audiogon for 5-6 years now I would have to say that there is equipment that you would probably be happier with in the long run for similar prices.

Bryston, McCormack and Odyssey to name a few (in no particular order), seem to get alot of praise for their sound quality and reliability. I am sure there are others.

no...I'm not a dealer and have no affilation with any manufacturers yada yada yada

Well...I just said it as I saw it.

My friends store had 2 distinct sections. One that supplied "Pro" audio gear....you know...super huge JBL monitors/Crown Amplifiers/Disco Lighting.

Then...for his consumer stereo stuff...he had JM Lab, Arial, Parasound, Theta etc. so...basically...he was very aware of the differences between pro and home gear.

We never wasted time A/Bing them in his store however I had been to the Clubs where he had sold them their Crown Amplifiers.

They made my ears bleed.

So...with regards to the reviews I read...it was over at Audioreview.com...I picked the 2 amps that had been reviewed the most.

Lets take a look at the one with the most reviews...

the Crown International Studio Reference One...impressive name.

read the 11 reviews...better yet...read the very first review...and then see where the next 9 reviews are sooooooooooo similar to each other...in a damage control sort of way...and the final review...first it was his Rowland amp that blew up on him...later in the review it was his Krell...regardless...just read them...if anything...they are kind of humorous.

Anyhow...do a search of the member systems here for crown. You will see that there are a couple people that use them as subwoofer amps, and the only one in use in an actual stereo as the primary amp refers to it as the "two-buck chuck" amp alternative.

And Eldartford...I just want to let you know that I respect your opinions...and am not bashing carver, CI or digital amps in general as I have not heard enough.

All I did was offer what my FIRST HAND experience was with respect to CROWN AMPLIFIERS.

How about trying a different thead title...one like..."Is there a better way to spend $1000 on an amplifier other than crown?"

Then we'll see what people think.

Also...include all your associated equipment...speakers etc etc...not just amp&pre.

Finally...Is Crown gonna be the next flavor of the day that is targeted towards audiophiles? Is this what this is?

So now you are comparing us to "Bose Ranters"?

stating that we are embarassing ourselves.

Whatever...

Look at your thread....you state in your FIRST sentence that you are "blown away by this thread"

How can you be blown away by a thread before response #1?

Is it because it was merely a troll...similar to your bose comment?

and Eldartford...

I have an open mind regarding digital amps...I don't need to be reminded TWICE in a thread where all I was doing was giving my opinion on what I thought of CROWN AMPS

CROWN AMPS
CROWN AMPS

not digital.

CROWN AMPS

so PLEASE STOP ADDING YOUR OWN PERSONAL SPIN WITH REGARDS TO MY COMMENTS.