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Crown Monster Amps vs Audiophile Monster Amps

lico said:
Uh yeah, pretty sure over the course of my lifetime at concerts, etc. :)
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You heard pro amps at concerts, but not listened to one in particular within the context of the premise that the OP proposed. Take a listen and let us know of your impressions.
 
MannyE said:
SHHHHHHHHHHHHH! You're already raising the prices!!!! :)

Kevzep! Awesome post! thanks for taking the time to write it up. Now the search begins (for funds) to add this to my system! and BMWCCA, there is no substitute for actual experience. If I get one soon I want to see if the local HiFi shop will allow me to A/B one of these beasts next to a mega-buck amp. I'm really not making any pre-judgments here. Sincerely curious to hear if there is a difference.
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One thing you will have to consider with a 5000/5002VZ is that the US ones come with a 32amp Hubble power connector. Remember, this amplifier can produce 2500watts per channel into 2Ω, its capable of pulling huge power....
Here in New Zealand, at full power on 230V I measure a max current draw of 13.4amps.
So, at 120V obviously you have a near 30amp potential.
You will not necessarily ever need that much current reserve, but just an indicator of what to expect.
 
kevzep said:
One thing you will have to consider with a 5000/5002VZ is that the US ones come with a 32amp Hubble power connector. Remember, this amplifier can produce 2500watts per channel into 2Ω, its capable of pulling huge power....
Here in New Zealand, at full power on 230V I measure a max current draw of 13.4amps.
So, at 120V obviously you have a near 30amp potential.
You will not necessarily ever need that much current reserve, but just an indicator of what to expect.
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I have a dedicated sub-panel for the HT/2-channel room with 20 amp fuses (the same ones I use for the central A/C) and I could conceivably add a 220v outlet (like the ones used for electric stoves) so I think it will work out. As I read up however, aside from being fascinated by all the options, I see that many of the big Crown amps will generate enough power so I can drive any speakers I can get my hands on. It's a very interesting new "frontier" that opens up the "mega amp" to us mere mortals.
 
sfox52 said:
I always wanted to try one of the Elkhart built, heavy iron Crowns- almost snagged an old SA - 400? or similar at an AK gathering a few years ago- Blue Shadow ended up with it (he was the right one to get it- he knew how to clean it up & refurb it.) They are holding their value well for being 40 years or so old. I do have one of the modern switching Crowns with the built in DSP- makes a great subwoofer amp and it weighs about 11 pounds.
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The amp I picked up was a PSA-2 the pro version of the SA-2 Distinction Series amp (actually the SA-2 was the home version of the pro amp). I did a couple posts on it showing the filthy radiator fins on the power pack transistor modules and a clean up of whatever that stuff was on the faceplate and all the dust and other debris the fan threw into the unit while it was used without an air filter.

lico said:
Disallowed by FTC? Kind of makes my point. I might use a Crown amp for a subwoofer... but I really don't think they are in the same league as most "audiophile" amps based on specs for home audio applications. Not saying specs are all that matters, but you get the point.
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I don't see how Crown redacting nominal diagrams from their manuals proves your point about Crown. You say that they don't have specs in the league of the audiophile amps and this just indicates you may have too much emphasis on specs as my best sounding amplifier has the highest THD of any amp I own, a number that is distinctly not audiophile. But those amps sound great.
 
All
MannyE said:
I have a dedicated sub-panel for the HT/2-channel room with 20 amp fuses (the same ones I use for the central A/C) and I could conceivably add a 220v outlet (like the ones used for electric stoves) so I think it will work out. As I read up however, aside from being fascinated by all the options, I see that many of the big Crown amps will generate enough power so I can drive any speakers I can get my hands on. It's a very interesting new "frontier" that opens up the "mega amp" to us mere mortals.
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All Macro-tech 5002VZ's can have the voltage changed over, on the backside of the lid is the diagram you need to do the conversion.
 
MannyE said:
I have a dedicated sub-panel for the HT/2-channel room with 20 amp fuses (the same ones I use for the central A/C) and I could conceivably add a 220v outlet (like the ones used for electric stoves) so I think it will work out. As I read up however, aside from being fascinated by all the options, I see that many of the big Crown amps will generate enough power so I can drive any speakers I can get my hands on. It's a very interesting new "frontier" that opens up the "mega amp" to us mere mortals.
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FWIW, in my garage system I use two Crown CE4000s in bridged mode on a pair of subs, 2800W each, on one 20A circuit. I'm not implying this facilitates the maximum possible output from them, but I can and have reached pretty astounding levels without tripping any breakers.

The super heavy current draws typically come from bench testing. Musical playback just can hit high, but normally not sustained, peak demands. As mentioned earlier, a typical breaker will pass multiples of its rating for some period of time. For example, the trip curve for a Square D QO breaker 15A, suggests it will pass 45A for somewhere between about 4 and 9 seconds before it trips. One can do a lot of high power musical pounding and stay out of a trip. Even more can pass without trip for shorter duration or (of course) less for longer duration.
 
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whoaru99 said:
FWIW, in my garage system I use two Crown CE4000s in bridged mode on a pair of subs, 2800W each, on one 20A circuit. I'm not implying this facilitates the maximum possible output from them, but I can and have reached pretty astounding levels without tripping any breakers.

The super heavy current draws typically come from bench testing. Musical playback just can hit high, but normally not sustained, peak demands. As mentioned earlier, a typical breaker will pass multiples of its rating for some period of time. For example, the trip curve for a Square D QO breaker 15A, suggests it will pass 45A for somewhere between about 4 and 9 seconds before it trips. One can do a lot of high power musical pounding and stay out of a trip. Even more can pass without trip for shorter duration or (of course) less for longer duration.
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My amp being so powerful it's tripping my breakers is a problem I want to have! :)
 
Samokan said:
That’s a good problem while eliminating the question whether you have ample power for a particular speaker.
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Many, probably most, consumer grade speaker will be destroyed before reaching the level of output an amp of this size can sustain.

I'm fairly sure even with my "small fry" 600-700wpc amps I could bake pretty much any speaker I have, except for the pro gear in the garage, with anything more than a short burst of WFO.
 
whoaru99 said:
I'm fairly sure even with my "small fry" 600-700wpc amps I could bake pretty much any speaker I have, except for the pro gear in the garage, with anything more than a short burst of WFO.
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I have a QSC PLX2402 power my 30w dayton full range. Power are for responsible adults.:biggrin:
 
PLX2402. Tasty.

I have two PLX3402 and two PLX2402 powering my main HT system. All four modded with low velocity/quiet fans.
 
whoaru99 said:
FWIW, in my garage system I use two Crown CE4000s in bridged mode on a pair of subs, 2800W each, on one 20A circuit. I'm not implying this facilitates the maximum possible output from them, but I can and have reached pretty astounding levels without tripping any breakers.

The super heavy current draws typically come from bench testing. Musical playback just can hit high, but normally not sustained, peak demands. As mentioned earlier, a typical breaker will pass multiples of its rating for some period of time. For example, the trip curve for a Square D QO breaker 15A, suggests it will pass 45A for somewhere between about 4 and 9 seconds before it trips. One can do a lot of high power musical pounding and stay out of a trip. Even more can pass without trip for shorter duration or (of course) less for longer duration.
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I'll post a video of the Macrotech racks at a show next time.....they absolutely can and do run sustained high levels at full power, often in current limiting mode as well....
You'd never do that at home, but occasionally when I have run my system up to extreme levels, the load indicator does light up which indicates you are starting to draw significant current...
Good luck blowing my speakers up!!
 
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