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Crown dc300 or d150?

Carbsandcaps

Carbsandcaps

Super Member
I recently got a crown ic-150 on the cheap and love it. I figured I’d give a crown amp a try with it for my garage system. I’m looking at the dc300 or the d150. Does anyone know if these are similar just with lower wattage or is the sound quality affected too. I don’t need a ton of wattage so the d150 would be plenty but if the 300 is that much better I’ll just save my pennies for that.
 
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I ran a D150A with my IC150 and really enjoyed it.

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I have read that the DC300 circuit is almost identical to the D150 - albeit with twice as many output devices - so I would think the sound should be similar, but I can't say for sure.
 
I bought my first D150 sometime around 1970—and it's still going strong. I've had several D150-II and PS-200 since. I've also had DC300A-II and PS-400, in fact I have a bi-amp system that for years used D150-II and DC300A-II and the blended just as you'd think they would. Same system now uses PS-200 and PS-400, which are really just updated versions of the D-series amps. You won't regret it.

I've heard more complaints about the lack of "musicality" for the IC150, particularly the early version in your photo. Never owned one so can't comment. My first D150 was mated to a Mac C-20 for over 50-years. I still have the Mac, too, but currently use Soundcraftsmen Pro-Control-Four and Crown PSL-2 pre-amps.
 
Carbsandcaps said:
Well I found a beat up d-150a on the bay for cheap so I’ll do some rebuilding and let you know how it all sounds!
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Might I suggest you see what it sounds like before you start ripping into it.
My 50-year-old D150 was sent back to Crown for repair once when it was still under its 3-year warranty. Plugging along just fine ever since. It's the original version without even a face-plate which minimizes the visible cosmetic abuse.
:beerchug:
 
BMWCCA said:
Might I suggest you see what it sounds like before you start ripping into it.
My 50-year-old D150 was sent back to Crown for repair once when it was still under its 3-year warranty. Plugging along just fine ever since. It's the original version without even a face-plate which minimizes the visible cosmetic abuse.
:beerchug:
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I've seen the main caps dead short, and the electrolytics they have inside are awful quality.
Does it function, sure, but is it functioning well? Nothing wrong with some upgrades.


To the OP - all of them have the ua739 which isn't a great IC to begin with, and if it dies, you're basically stuck with a paperweight.
 
eizner23 said:
I was looking at a DC300 to compliment my IC150 but was told the DC300 is not very musical.
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And who told you that BS tidbit of misinformation ?

I`ve successfully used both D-150 & DC-300A in multiple stereo applications since 1977, with the last uses was 3 amp stereo configured used with my Mc. tri-amplified XRT-30 speaker system, with the same amps used, but mono configured in the XRT-22 speaker system`s line array that preceded the 30s for over a decade for HF, then, and MF/HF line array use with the DC-300 SERIES II non mono configured for the 30s until I bought 4 MC 275LEs for the same duty, but tube amps.

Money was never a concern since 1990, so if the DC-300A/IIs didn`t make the grade, or didn`t "sound musical" for 2 decades of use in my living room`s reference system, I assure you I would have replaced them with something else.
Of course, I made sure all my purchased used audio equipment met or exceeded the factory specs, before placing it into service, or I repaired it to become so.
 
I haven’t received it yet but this is the picture of the inside so…. Im definitely going to try it out after I clean the dust out but a full recap will be in order as soon as I can get it on the bench. The main caps are already on their way and I have the rest in “stock”.
 

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ivandezande said:
I've seen the main caps dead short, and the electrolytics they have inside are awful quality.
Does it function, sure, but is it functioning well? Nothing wrong with some upgrades.


To the OP - all of them have the ua739 which isn't a great IC to begin with, and if it dies, you're basically stuck with a paperweight.
Click to expand...
trust me I am in no way happy about an ic anywhere near my audio equipment I much prefer discrete but these upgrade/replacements for the ua739 are an option. IMG_0879.jpeg
 
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