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Crown power amp for studio and hifi use

ToneAlive

ToneAlive

Active Member
Hey everyone, I am looking to pick up a crown power amp to use in my recording studio for reference monitoring as well as for listening to music for pleasure. I am looking to spend no more than $300. It looks like there are a few options available..vintage and new. What do you guys recommend? New or vintage? ..and so far, these are the models that I know to look for:

D-75, D-150a or d-150a series II, ..i also see some new ones in the xls series that are in my price range.

Also, I am not dead set on Crown if there is a better option.

Btw, I am aware of the fact that most of the options are going to be considered pro audio gear but am under the impression that these options are kind of sleepers in the hifi world..and that for 2-3 hundred, I could get something on par of a pioneer spec-2 or similar ultra high end hifi gear that sells for double what I could spend in these crown amps.
 
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Can you give us some more clues. Do you need balanced inputs or is a fan cooled amp a
problem. Other Crowns that fall in the price range DC300A and series2 PSA2, PS200, PS400. Also JBL 6260 or 6290
 
Powerman:

balanced inputs..hmm well, I do not care what input type it it as I could just solder my own cables. But I will be using it out of a regular preamp in one case (unbalanced I think) and out of pro tools speaker outs in another (balanced I think).

The fan cooled issue. Probably would prefer not fan cooled as it will most likely will end up in the listening room.
 
What kind of power requirements do you need and listening distance. Or just for near field monitors. Check out Crown models PS200,PS400 which are 90 and 165 WPC
Also the JBL 6260 can be had for not much too. It's 150WPC@8ohms
 
I want to be able to use it for more than just near field monitoring..I want to be able to fill up a family room size room for sure... But wont be using it for any kind of live sound applications. You think the d-75 is borderline too small? Right now I am using boston acoustics a150s for speakers, but will upgrade at some point.. So i dont just want to pick the amp for these speakers only.

I definately want to favor sound quality over higher wattage though-how does the ps200/ps400 compare to eachother as well as to the D series? How about to the JBL 6260?
 
All the Crowns mentioned are good options and get a lot of respect around here. I'd also suggest some Yamaha amps to look at as well, if size and weight aren't an issue:
P2200 (meters)
P2201 (no meters)
PC2002M (meters)
PC2002 (no meters)
all heatsink cooled, 200~230wpc @ 8 ohms
 
I've used a lot of the amps mentioned so far, and tried each of them powering near-fields in my home studio as well. Here's a quick rundown from memory:

Yamaha P2100 - love them, have used them as primary near-field power amps for 20+ years (I own four of them). ~95 WPC 8 ohms, no meters, no fans, unbalanced 1/4" and XLR inputs, rated for 8 ohm minimum load. Have a "bridge" mode switch inside, check before using. Quiet, accurate, durable, but you need fairly efficient monitors to make the most of the available power.

Crown DC300A - solid, neutral, durable as hell. Sold mine to a friend to use in his recording studio. ~100WPC 8 ohms, no meters, no fans, unbalanced 1/4" inputs, rated for 4 ohm loads. Some have stereo/mono switches.

Crown PS200 - just started testing/using one, liking it a lot. ~100WPC 8 ohms, no meters, no fans (some commercial-use model have removable fans added on), unbalanced 1/4" inputs, rated for 4 ohm loads. Has a stereo/mono switch that might need cleaning if faulty.

JBL/Urei 6260 - another durable workhorse, the one I have can be a little on the noisy side if you don't match the gain settings correctly. 150+WPC 8 ohms, no meters, no fans, unbalanced 1/4" and XLR inputs, rated for 4 ohm minimum load. Have a stereo/linked mono/bridged mono mode switch. I use mine for PA use instead of near-field.

je
 
I bought a Crown CT200 which is rated at 110 watts at 8 ohms to power my Yamaha NS10m's and really like it, I need to wait til we move to really properly test it. It uses barrier strips, no jacks! makes me feel manly stripping wire and attaching it with screws. I bought it on ebay and got a terrific deal, $ 77.00 + $22 for shipping. Bargains are out there.
 
Sorry ToneAlive, while Pioneer Spec 2's are very nice amps they really don't qualify as "ultra" high end. Try Wavac, Goldmund, MBL, VTL or some Krell or Levinson monoblocks. There are many others. If you are curious check out www.higherfi.com

BTW: I use a pair of bridged Crown XLS402's to drive my subs.
 
2

I have the D150A and DC300A.
I've played with them a bit in home hifi setting.
They seem to be plain, simple, straight up amps.
Clear and clean, whatever goes in, comes out with power.
From what I've read, you can't hurt them. They sure seem to be built to run hard forever.
 
I've got a bunch of Crown amps, mostly in the D-series, and they are decent. I recommend a PS400, for I think it will fit your needs the best.

I have to echo JoeESP9's comment, though. While nice, the Spec-2 is not ultra high-end. In fact, I'm not sure Pioneer ever made anything that would qualify as high-end.
 
Crown are good amplifiers but sound wise I'd go Yamaha. Look for the P series for Professional Amplifiers. i.e. P2200 etc...
 
powerman said:
Can you give us some more clues. Do you need balanced inputs or is a fan cooled amp a
problem. Other Crowns that fall in the price range DC300A and series2 PSA2, PS200, PS400. Also JBL 6260 or 6290
Click to expand...

By all means look for a PSA-2. It is only second to the Crown Studio Reference at 1/4 the price if you can find one. If you check specs, it leaves all of the other vintage Crowns (except the Strudio Reference) in the dust.

This is a special PSA-2XH (eXtended Headroom) made for ShowCo that I picked up for $230 several years ago. It needed a cleaning is all.
Crown_Face.jpg

Crown_Back.jpg


Refence to vintage Crown amps and their specs.

http://www.crownaudio.com/gen_htm/legacy/legacamp.htm

PSA-2 Specs.

http://www.crownaudio.com/pdf/legacy/k1071-8.pdf
 
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Well, jeez, I have a whole list of things that look like great options. So what is the experienced word on how "consumer products", things like a Pioneer Spec 2 or a McIntosh power amp, stack up against this "Pro Audio" stuff we are talking about right now? - At least for at my price point of @$300. because the consumer stuff goes for WAY more money.
 
ToneAlive said:
Well, jeez, I have a whole list of things that look like great options. So what is the experienced word on how "consumer products", things like a Pioneer Spec 2 or a McIntosh power amp, stack up against this "Pro Audio" stuff we are talking about right now? - At least for at my price point of @$300. because the consumer stuff goes for WAY more money.
Click to expand...

Try a vanilla Crown XLS202 which makes an easy 200 wpc. Compare it to a Spec and I think you will be very surprised. Factor in price difference and I think you will have your answer.
 
McIntosh amps are used in many a recording studio and even broadcasting facilities to boot. So are Bryston amps. But it takes usually much more than $300 to buy even used ones. Crown makes nice sounding, indestructible amps which are excellent. I like the DC 300A series a lot
 
SoCal: Yours is the first mention of something from Crown's new product lines I think. But I don't see anything about "vanilla" only the normal XLS 202, 402, etc. How does their new SS stuff stack up against the vintage models that have been mentioned already like the D series, or P series..or Yamaha's vintage P series vs their new options?
 
The newer stuff typically has fans. Most of the older ones mentioned do not.

I'd think for studio use you'd not want fans than come in the typical PA-type amp if the listening level may be low. That said, there is the possibility to modify the amp with slower-speed/quieter fans for $10, give or take. Sonics aren't the issue, IMO.
 
I have a minty DC300A that I've used to drive many different speakers. It's rated at 155 WPC at 8 ohms, but these have tested out to about 200 wpc. I had the 1/4" jacks replaced with RCA jacks, but I'm presently not using it for anything. It's a legendary amp that is almost bullet proof.
 
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