Crown Power amps.

F

FONSguy

Super Member
I wanted to start a Crown power amp discussion. I HAVE 3 examples: a D75a, a D150 IOC and a PSA-2. The PSA-2 has been recapped and tweaked up by Corey Holland at Music technology in Springfield, who does LOTS of repairs for Crown. It sounds very nice in my system (Think Synergy).

The D150 was rebuilt by Brett Mullens from Hi-Fi Heaven. He has passed, sadly. That is the best sounding D150 I've ever heard.

Finally this past march He tweaked the D75a which had a power supply issue and Brett recapped that amp.

All are late 70's designs. With the new capacitor manufacturing breakthroughs would it be wise to acquire late model DC-300a IOC and do a full recap and tweak? It that circuit too primitive or flawed to sound anything other than harsh or flat? The D75 sounds good even with my KEF 104aB's. Same with the D150. Is it the tweaking that makes them sound so good?
 
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Phil, @BMWCCA says the PS-400 is a big step forward from the DC-300a. But if you are trying to collect the amps available at the same time, the DC-300a is the one.

Did the IC µ7xxx get replaced in any of your D amps?
 
Even the DC300A Series-II would offer a newer platform, unless you don't like black!
I often recall this photo from a now-deceased member over on LH who got me started on the PS-series Crowns:

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I have had great success with the Crown XLI 800 amps. At least the equal of "audiophile" amps I have heard elsewhere. Great fidelity no matter what genre music and dead quiet when the music is not playing. I have yet to hear the fans which seems to be the objection to pro gear amps by many. If I buy more amps they will be the XLI line. I assume the 1500 would be just as good as the 800 and since I run mainly high efficiency speakers the XLI 800's 200 watts goes a long way.
 
superdog said:
What are the thoughts on the Power Line amps?
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Power Line were the consumer version of the PS series, and added a similar D75A to give them three-levels of Power Line from which to choose. The differences from the PS were use of RCA inputs instead of 1/4-inch jacks, and the addition of some LEDs on the front panel for level indicators beyond the PS-series IOC and "signal presence" LEDs. The Power Lines also did not include the connection for the PS-Mod/X adapters for XLR jacks. I believe the Power Line series also lost the three-prong AC plugs, dropping the ground wire. Other than that, I believe they were identical to the PS400 and PS200 in their performance but designed to work with the PSL-2 and Straight Line Two pre-amps and FM2 and 3 tuners to form a high-line "receiver" for those with the bucks to afford them. I have a Power Line Three, PSL-2, SL-2, and FM-Three.
 
I've always loved those "little" D45, D60, D75's, even though I've never owned one. I still have the D150A in my avatar. (With the kittens.) Love that thang. I also have an X1000. This is the Musician's Friend version of the XLi-800. Only the faceplate is different.

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BMWCCA said:
Power Line were the consumer version of the PS series, and added a similar D75A to give them three-levels of Power Line from which to choose. The differences from the PS were use of RCA inputs instead of 1/4-inch jacks, and the addition of some LEDs on the front panel for level indicators beyond the PS-series IOC and "signal presence" LEDs. The Power Lines also did not include the connection for the PS-Mod/X adapters for XLR jacks. I believe the Power Line series also lost the three-prong AC plugs, dropping the ground wire. Other than that, I believe they were identical to the PS400 and PS200 in their performance but designed to work with the PSL-2 and Straight Line Two pre-amps and FM2 and 3 tuners to form a high-line "receiver" for those with the bucks to afford them. I have a Power Line Three, PSL-2, SL-2, and FM-Three.
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Thanks for that info.I did pick up a Power Line Three a while back and appears to be a good performer.I'm not very familiar with Crown amps as this is my first.
 
superdog said:
Thanks for that info.I did pick up a Power Line Three a while back and appears to be a good performer.I'm not very familiar with Crown amps as this is my first.
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Yeah, basically the same as the PS-200, less the differences mentioned in my last post. I have several of those, too. Great sounding and quite the workhorse.
 
superdog said:
Interesting...do tell.
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He told you. For the Crown amps he has heard those are the ones he likes. I doubt they are his go to amps except maybe for the bottom end, knowing David the way we have over the last 15 years.

I had a PSA-2 recapped except the big boys in an amp listening session, ADS L710 because they are neutral and the other listeners were familiar with them. The tube amps, McCormack, Citation all sounded better the PSA did bass very well and beat out the Hafler DH-200. Haven't used any of the newer Crown amps but familiar with the PSA and the D-150 and DC-300a.
 
vinyldavid said:
The PS, PSA, PL, Macro Reference, and PowerLine series are the best sounding Crown amps to my ears.

For what it's worth :)
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I have an original D150 (no front plate) I've owned since new, several D150A-II and DC300A-II, four D75A, two D45, three PS-200, two PS-400, a PL3, and a Studio Reference-II. I can tell you all of them are wonderful but I use the PS in my main system (bi-amped) only because I don't have two Studio Reference-IIs. That is the finest Crown amp I have ever heard. It will wake up nearly every speaker I've hooked it to. I bought it for my 250ti but have yet to get them in the same house to try them out! :dunno:
 
Blue Shadow said:
Better hurry. The longer you wait the more help you will need moving those things.
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:D When I first got the 250tis, my wife and I lugged them upstairs in the old house still in their original boxes. That was far from easy maybe ten-years ago. I doubt I'll be able to convince her that coming downstairs will be any easier! I still have one car in the garage that needs to migrate, as well as four under the carport (well three Isetta and one 1600 Convertible), as well as maybe ten Crown amps and various Soundcraftsmen pieces to move. Not to mention the Mac C20 I've had since about 1970, and seven or eight other JBLs. As well as this stuff I need to find a good home for:

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