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Looking for amp to power JBL B460

N

nimM

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
I recently acquired the monstrous JBL B460 18" passive subwoofer. This thing is the size of a small refrigerator and can take up to 800W. I do have the accompanying BX63A active crossover. I'm looking for recommendations on what to power this beast with. New or vintage is fine. Budget about $1k. First one I thought of was the Adcom GFA-555 MkII which can put out 600W in mono config. Yay or nay?

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Kudos to you! I have one too, and use a Harman Kardon Citation 22, bridged to MONO (est 600watts) that runs it quite nicely.
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Many have found some of the new and unbelievably inexpensive Crown amps work well for subs.

FWIW: I have the same driver in my 4345 JBLs where they are crossed much higher and I run two of them as loud as I ever want to with an old Crown PL400 rated at about 200-wpc bi-amped so it only drives the 2245H. The 2245 has essentially the same motor as the 15-inch 2235 but the 45 has a longer voice-coil, is more efficient, and handles a bunch more power. It isn't particularly hard to drive. What a great find. I hope you like it.

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nimM said:
I'm curious about your placement since it's ported on the right side of the enclosure. Does having it right in the corner impact the sound?
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There is actually clearance with the wall on that right side - and I have not noticed any impact to the sound due to that placement.
It functions as the sub in a 7.1 sound system and is quite impressive for music, movies and TV.
Its paired with 4 UREI 809A coaxial monitors, and a pair of DCM TF-600s for rear channels.
It's amazing.
 
I have a 4645C, not the handsome as heck B460, but probably similar results.
I'm using a Crown 1502 bridged, to drive it. It was inexpensive, and has built in (DSP) filters. Certainly provides the dynamic range desired :->
However, if I had a larger budget, or more rack space, or was starting fresh, I think I'd give one of the hypex or purifi mono amps a good hard look, too.
For example:
https://www.buckeyeamp.com/shop
I have one of his 4ch 252s bi-amped mains, and have been very pleased with it.
 
If you wanted something "period correct" and also very high performance to drive that- a bridged JBL/Urei 6260 would do very well...

Technically a pro amp- you would need plug in RCA to 1/4" input adapters- but its bass performance is surpassed by very few amps at any price. Rugged, super-clean, very tight control. It would also do about 600 watts bridged into the 8 ohm load of a B460.

https://jblpro.com/en/site_elements/6200-series-information

Regards,
Gordon.
 
GordonW said:
If you wanted something "period correct" and also very high performance to drive that- a bridged JBL/Urei 6260 would do very well...

Technically a pro amp- you would need plug in RCA to 1/4" input adapters- but its bass performance is surpassed by very few amps at any price. Rugged, super-clean, very tight control. It would also do about 600 watts bridged into the 8 ohm load of a B460.
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I have one of those driving a pair of L5s in my "Library". Wonderful amp. I think I paid $100 for it several years ago and it has operated perfectly. To my ear, it is a functional equivalent to my Crown PS400s and I found it hard to pass up when it appeared in a local Craig's List ad.
 
The Crown K2 in stereo mode is something that I wanted to try when I owned one of these.
 
My experience over the past year with a Crown Studio Reference-II would cause me to give it a truly heartfelt endorsement for that duty . . . or any duty!
 
BMWCCA said:
My experience over the past year with a Crown Studio Reference-II would cause me to give it a truly heartfelt endorsement for that duty . . . or any duty!
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Just try to find one. The PSA-2 is a step down, but at least is possibly obtainable.
 
Looks decent but according to this, there is a caveat:

"Crown Studio Reference 1 amp pulled from working studio. Monster Hi-Fi amp, sounds great, often used for mains because of its balance of clarity and power. Requires a 30amp circuit, hook it up to your Augspurgers and blow your hair back."

It is also listed at $2K.
 
toddalin said:
Looks decent but according to this, there is a caveat:

"Crown Studio Reference 1 amp pulled from working studio. Monster Hi-Fi amp, sounds great, often used for mains because of its balance of clarity and power. Requires a 30amp circuit, hook it up to your Augspurgers and blow your hair back."

It is also listed at $2K.
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I foresee someone reconing a bunch of TAD 1601s or 1603s (depending on which one a particular pair of Auspergers are loaded with), if they take that recommendation literally... :D
.
Regards,
Gordon.
 
toddalin said:
Looks decent but according to this, there is a caveat:

"Crown Studio Reference 1 amp pulled from working studio. Monster Hi-Fi amp, sounds great, often used for mains because of its balance of clarity and power. Requires a 30amp circuit, hook it up to your Augspurgers and blow your hair back."
Click to expand...
That's why I own a Studio Reference-II
:beerchug:
 
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