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Crown XLS 1500

For giggles I'm putting together a budget system. Starting with a pair of PSB Gold-i's and using an Audible Illusions M3a's secondary variable outputs. Anyway, I needed to come up with cheap power and current that could drive low impedance upper bass, e.g. dips at around 2.6 ohms. I didn't want to toast my Rogue M120's.
After researching I came across some good reports on the Crown XLS 1500 and decided to pull the trigger for a whopping $239, new! I was hoping to get it last Thursday but no such luck. The amp arrived the other day, or a day late for the Grateful Dead Chicago run. I had to use a self powered PA for my outside, projection, big screen system. A bit of a disappointment but in the end it worked out better as I didn't have to worry about the PSBs getting messed up.
Anyway, I plugged the unit in yesterday and gave it a quick listen and cold, out of the box I was not happy but figure it needed to burn in so I kept it playing for about 30 hours and then gave it a listen. I still was not happy, feeling that it sounded rolled off in the highs, a bit muffled in the lows and somewhat canny sounding in the mids. I was starting to feel that I wasted my money and that the saying that "there is no free lunch" was true. However, I was willing to let it burn some more.
So, while cooking the amp, and casual listening, I decided to make a new run of Canare 4s11 speaker cables, which I was planning on using for the new system but felt that ultimately this might be waste of my time because it was beginning to look like a failed system. 45 minutes later my cables were done and I put them in, replacing the temporary double run of Monster XP I made, which was left over from the outdoor deck system. After install I turned the amp back on and then turned up the wick. Holy cow!!!!! All of a sudden everything opened up and snapped into place. I now had extended highs, articulate bass and clean and sharp midrange. What a difference. This is what I was hoping for when this straw was pulled.
I won't give a full report until I get some more time in but for $239 new I can already say this is a great deal. This amp sounds good and delivers watts without strain. It out does the Adcom 555 I owned back in the day, which could poop out when pushed hard. As to some of the reported noise, yes, if I put my ear right up to the tweeter there is some low, low level buzzing. I can not hear it from a foot away, or needless to say, from my listening seat.
Lesson learned; don't judge a component until your rule out other variables. My guess is that the Monster is high capacitance and caused all kind or uglies with the system. Ridding myself of these cables brought me from Kansas to the land of OZ!
For those that care, I'll report back in a few to let you know how things develop.
raymonda

Showing 11 responses by raymonda

raymonda OP
855 posts
 
I do have to keep the output gain on the 1500 at around noon in order to keep the noise down. Most likely due to the difference between consumer and pro input voltage. More output gain causes too much noise at low volumes. Note that the noise does not increase with input gain.

Fortunately I have a pre that can put out lots of gain.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
So I've gotten a bit more time into the amp, as it has been
my primary listening system over the past week, and here is
what I can say; it is inexpensive and will work better than
most inexpensive consumer grade amps for systems which
require amps and watts. Although, it is a bit noisy if you
turn up the amp's output gain past noon....in my case. I do
have a pre-amp that puts out a good amount of voltage, so I
can get around this issue and it is not much of an problem.
However, ultimately, when doing so, it appears to take some
dynamics away from the amp.

Therefore, I have purchased a Henry Matchbox HD to convert
the consumer voltage and impedance to the pro standard. This
should eliminate all noise and allow me to operate the amp
at its maximum capacity.

I imagine that this might also change the signature of the
amp, too. Therefore, final judgement on how good the amp can
be must be put on hold until a later time. Note, adding the
Henry to the system adds another $100.00 possibly making it
less of a value. Maybe? If it can push it to the next level
it might be an even better value but I'll have to wait and
see.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Here is my next installment on this on going review. No, I didn't get the Henry yet but still a few tweaks has brought this amp to another level. I shifted the phase on my subs to better integrate the bass and give a tighter presentation. I also reconfigured how I had wired the system and finally I lifted the ground. The last, although not my favorite long term solution, did wonders to bring the noise down to where I could substantially increase the amps output gain.

The end result, so far, is astonishing, to say the least. Even if the Henry does nothing, what I currently have is a winner in spades.

Compared to my Rogue m120's the Rogue offer a bit more body and depth of soundstage. But, by golly batman, this amp is a sonic wonder for the price. $209 will get one delivered to your door and it sounds more like a $1500 to 2000 amp. Yes there is still a bit of midrange glare but hardly so. And, it is still a tiny bit dry up top but all of this is not significant and what it does right is simply incredible, honest.

I'll give one last report after receiving the Henry, but consider this review almost complete. So, buy now or cry later. It is a steal of a life time.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Sounds like you need balanced power.

Ultimately, yes, which is why I have a Henry ordered. However, it is not necessary and good results can be had with cable management and ground lift.

You've just debunked all high-end audio gimmicks.

This amp is a freaking deal at $209, however, it is not going to replace my Rogues, nor would I have sold my Classe or highly modded GTA SE 40 for it. It does beat the pants off of many mid fi products.

I used it briefly on my Maggies last night and it did a nice job on them, too. It has a signature, which I have described above, most notably a up front presentation that highlights the mids and upper mids and less 3D than better amps. But what it does give you is silly, stupid for so little.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
That Crown merely punches above its weight.

That has always been my claim, nor more of no less.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Well, the Henry has arrived and I immediately threw it in my system. Well, well, just as I thought. Gone is the noise and gone is the need for the ground lift. Also, I now have more gain than I would ever need.

Initial impressions with the Henry in place remain as before but with a very, very low noise floor, so that this is no longer an issue and on a subjective level this amp can now be called quiet and without any noise issues what so ever.

It is a dynamic amp that has an up front presentation, that gives you incredible sound for pocket change. For someone starting out and on a limited budget, this affords them to allocate more funds for source components or speakers. It is also ideal for H.T. systems, surrounds, second or third systems, or like me, to just plain have fun with trying new things that won't effect your bank account.

It does have some limitations. To perform its best it should be run balanced or you should use a consumer to pro level matcher. Right now I'm getting good results with the Henry Matchbox HD. I would suggest not using the basic Matchbox, as it might not provide a level of performances needed for critical listening.

Also, it might not be a good match with speakers that are aggressive or up front in the mid and upper mid-range.

Back in 1986, I bought an Adcom 555 for $550. This was considered a good choice as a budget reference. In today's dollar that would be around $1,200 to 1500. The Crown 1500 can be had for $209, delivered, including taxes and it clearly beats what the Adcom offered. Yes, that is almost 30 years ago but it just shows how far technology has come and what can be had for much less money.

Does it sound better that any of the fine Classe amps I've owned or nice tube amps? Well, probably not but it won't necessarily keep you up at night dreaming for that perfect amp. Well, maybe not for a while anyway. Meantime you can buy that cartridge, pre-amp, speakers or that source component that you have been wanting.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
you have me thinking seriously about trying my Crown XTi 2002

Sure, I would give it a try, too. What do you have to lose? However, make sure it is not too much amp for your speakers.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Fanless Crown K2 can compete with audiophile units priced over $3k.

Has this particular statement of yours been proven?

It is an opinion and doesn't need to be proven.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Guys, guys, guys!!!!! Consumer can be great and Pro can be great. The point here is not that one is better than the other, but rather that technology has begun to provide cost effective solutions! On that note, Crown's XLS 1500 is one of them.
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Josefm

(The stock RCA in and banana-speaker post exhibited that harshness you are hearing. If you look inside, you will see that the banana post connects to the circuit board via a two piece plated brass metal strip which are bolted together to complete the circuit. THe SpeakOn is a single continuous silver plated conductor per pin into the circuit board.)

I made the change to speakon this week and it did wonders. It eliminated the harshness. Thanks for the tip!
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
Just buy the speaakon connector oh ebay and terminate them yourself.
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