Kreshna
...but I have to know.
In many forums I've seen no love for Crown amps. Crowns are often described as "reliable, but not very good sounding." However, while I've never owned nor heard any Crown yet, I found it hard to believe they're bad-sounding amps.
First, Ken Rockwell's measurements suggest that Crown D-75 is a very clean sounding amplifier. Yeah, I knew this is a guy who called audiophiles "pedophiles", but numbers are numbers, no?
I've also read many great reports of people who use Crown amplifier to drive their JBL titanium dome series, like JBL 4410 and JBL 4412. The following an example:
Also here:
I've run my L112s and O30s on a Crown D150 and D150A-II for years with great results. That being said, I currently am using a DC300A-II with the 030 and a Crown PS400 with my L112s and 4412As with even better results, according to my ears. Back in 1974 when I bought my first Crown the stereo shop (Hi-Fidelity Showroom in St.Louis) let me take home one of each Crown (D75, D150, DC300) to compare them in my system (Mac C20). I believed then that each successive increase in power (and cost) sounded better to me. But as a college student, I stopped at the D150. Now, over 30 years later, I'm catching up on the amps I couldn't afford then. I loan-out amps from my stash to my neighbors and currently just got back my first D150A-II that was filling in for a Phase Linear 400 that passed smoke. I swapped it for another D150A-II that needed some exercise. I currently own seven Crown amps and think any of them would work fine for what you want to do with your L112s. A nice DC300A-II or PS400 can be had for just over $200 with some regularity.
And here:
Also, from our forum:
And this too:
I found JBL titanium dome series to be quite revealing. I experienced listening fatigue in the long run when driving my JBL 120Tis and JBL L20Ts using crisp-sounding Yamaha RX-V663 (it seems Yamaha AV receivers sound less mellow than vintage Yamaha "natural sound" amps). But those users reported good results on using Crown amps to drive JBL titanium dome series. So, any chance Crown amps would sound better on JBL 120Tis than a typical Yamaha AVR?
Also, JBL suggests Crown I-Tech 5000HD to power their TOTL M2 monitor series.
Yeah, I knew, different amp models do not sound the same, even those from the same brand. For example, Sansui A-40 sounds warmer, darker, and grainier than Sansui AU-7900. However, calling Crown bad-sounding is unfair generalization, isn't it?
For those have listened to Crowns, could you please share your experience? Are they dark? Are they bright? Also, what speakers are you using with it?
First, Ken Rockwell's measurements suggest that Crown D-75 is a very clean sounding amplifier. Yeah, I knew this is a guy who called audiophiles "pedophiles", but numbers are numbers, no?
Its outputs are silent, much better than active speakers more popular today.
If you get hum at the speaker outputs, remove the ground jumper and store it rotated 90º on either of the two screw terminals.
Otherwise this is a typical good solid-state amplifier; it has no sound of its own. Whatever goes in is what comes out, and if there is any sort of distortion or other problem, the IOC lights to warn you before it becomes audible.
It lacks the euphonic colorations and distortions of tube amplifiers. As a professional product, it lives to serve by faithfully reproducing what it's fed, not trying to make music sound even better than it is.
It's very revealing. You'll hear all the inner detail and details like footsteps behind the stage.
If you want great sound, get a tube amplifier. If you want accurate sound cheap, get one of these.
If you get hum at the speaker outputs, remove the ground jumper and store it rotated 90º on either of the two screw terminals.
Otherwise this is a typical good solid-state amplifier; it has no sound of its own. Whatever goes in is what comes out, and if there is any sort of distortion or other problem, the IOC lights to warn you before it becomes audible.
It lacks the euphonic colorations and distortions of tube amplifiers. As a professional product, it lives to serve by faithfully reproducing what it's fed, not trying to make music sound even better than it is.
It's very revealing. You'll hear all the inner detail and details like footsteps behind the stage.
If you want great sound, get a tube amplifier. If you want accurate sound cheap, get one of these.
I've also read many great reports of people who use Crown amplifier to drive their JBL titanium dome series, like JBL 4410 and JBL 4412. The following an example:
I have pulled great mixes for years using my JBL 4410s powered by a Crown DC-150A.
I re-capped the Crown somewhere back there.
There are lots of amplifiers that will work since the JBLs are somewhat forgiving.
I re-capped the Crown somewhere back there.
There are lots of amplifiers that will work since the JBLs are somewhat forgiving.
Also here:
I've run my L112s and O30s on a Crown D150 and D150A-II for years with great results. That being said, I currently am using a DC300A-II with the 030 and a Crown PS400 with my L112s and 4412As with even better results, according to my ears. Back in 1974 when I bought my first Crown the stereo shop (Hi-Fidelity Showroom in St.Louis) let me take home one of each Crown (D75, D150, DC300) to compare them in my system (Mac C20). I believed then that each successive increase in power (and cost) sounded better to me. But as a college student, I stopped at the D150. Now, over 30 years later, I'm catching up on the amps I couldn't afford then. I loan-out amps from my stash to my neighbors and currently just got back my first D150A-II that was filling in for a Phase Linear 400 that passed smoke. I swapped it for another D150A-II that needed some exercise. I currently own seven Crown amps and think any of them would work fine for what you want to do with your L112s. A nice DC300A-II or PS400 can be had for just over $200 with some regularity.
And here:
The 4408's and the 4410's were the best sounding in that range. The 4408 is a good A/V editing suite speaker. When I was selling those, I always paired them up with a beefy Crown or a Bryston.
Also, from our forum:
And this too:
I found JBL titanium dome series to be quite revealing. I experienced listening fatigue in the long run when driving my JBL 120Tis and JBL L20Ts using crisp-sounding Yamaha RX-V663 (it seems Yamaha AV receivers sound less mellow than vintage Yamaha "natural sound" amps). But those users reported good results on using Crown amps to drive JBL titanium dome series. So, any chance Crown amps would sound better on JBL 120Tis than a typical Yamaha AVR?
Also, JBL suggests Crown I-Tech 5000HD to power their TOTL M2 monitor series.
Yeah, I knew, different amp models do not sound the same, even those from the same brand. For example, Sansui A-40 sounds warmer, darker, and grainier than Sansui AU-7900. However, calling Crown bad-sounding is unfair generalization, isn't it?
For those have listened to Crowns, could you please share your experience? Are they dark? Are they bright? Also, what speakers are you using with it?
and tied to my Sony TA2000F, the D150 was a great match. My 4311s really came alive with a friend's DC300. 
