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Pro Amps for Home Use?

Pro audio amps currently in use in the homestead:

My garage system is powered by an Alesis RA-100. No cooling fan, quiet, reliable, no complaints.

My basement system utilizes a QSC RMX 1850HD for the tops and a Crown Powerbase 1 (one channel is blown) for the sub. Since my basement is below ground, I can play this system loud without bothering neighbors. :D
 
I have two crown CL-1 amps with three stage fans, and actually, they arent that loud and dont usually run for very long. Couple that with enclosing them in a rack and when they are putting out triple digit decibels (like they should be) and you'll never notice em.
 
Certainly your choice...fans are easily modified, but the allure of high-end is there...I have one of the 100+ lb Levinson amps myself to prove it. If I could afford a rack full of Krell, Levinson, Pass, etc. sure, I'd be there even if there was no other reason than it would look more impressive.
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My listening situation has changed. While i'll still be happily using pro amps in my basement rigs, my listening nest has seen the high efficiency Altecs bested by some near/midfield reference monitors. The new monitors are not sensitive by any means, are 4 ohms nominal and warn of impedance dips to two ohms or less at certain frequencies. Driving these to any significant level for any duration will put any of my pro amps fans into high speed, so i don't think modding is an option. Silence between tracks is a luxury i've grown to enjoy in the "nest", and at this point i'm willing to sacrifice a stack or two of unused gear to keep it happening.

I'm not by any means going to buy a rack full, but i think i'll be adopting a Krell FPB-300 by week's end. Maybe i'll be disappointed, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. At the very least it'll take up less space than the idle gear it replaces.:D
 
I love my PA amps:music:

Im running a 7.1 HT setup, the heart of it is a Marantz AV8003 processor.

No amps in it and it has balanced XLR outputs:smoke:

My amps;

I have 4 JBL MPX series amps. They were made by QSC for JBL, they were intended for use in movie theaters, they are THX certified. I got them all used on Ebay:thmbsp:

They are very beefy designs with dual mono power supplies.

I have the MPX 1200-1200 WPC@4 ohms, 2 MPX 600-600 WPC@4 ohms, and a MPX 300-300 WPC@4 ohms

http://www.jblpro.com/pub/electronics/MPXseries.PDF

I also have an older USA made QSC 1400-300 WPC@4 ohm, nice sounding amp:yes:

I have 2 old Carver PM 350's, 1 finally expired and I don't trust the other one much... When the one died it put out a horrible loud sound:sigh:

They aren't as good as the QSC stuff IMO, the highs weren't bad but the bass just wasn't as good...

My other amps;

An old Carver 6250 receiver, 135 WPC RMS @ 8 ohms I think. I bought it brand new, I love the amp in this thing very nice sound:music:

Parasound HCA 1206, It weighs 80 lbs and it's rated at 1200 watts RMS into 6 channels, 200 WPC RMS. 4 channels can be bridged for 325 WPC RMS...

This is a pretty high end HT amp, it runs a high bias class A/B design and It sounds very good...

BUT the PA amps I have sound just as good to me as the expensive Audiophile gear I have:yes:

The fan noise doesn't bother me much, I usually have it up loud enough it's not an issue...

I just ordered 3 more Crest Audio pro amps, should be here Friday:banana:

CC 4000- 1350 WPC@ 4 ohms

http://www.crestaudio.com/assets/literature/specs/CFA-CC2800-AB_7628.pdf

CPX 2600 750 WPC@ 4 ohms

http://www.crestaudio.com/products/...r/CPX2600-AB/cat/444/begin/0/CPX(TM) 2600.cfm

CPX 1500 500 WPC@ 4 ohms

http://www.crestaudio.com/products/...99/number/CPX1500-AB/cat/444/CPX(TM) 1500.cfm

The specs look good for the $$$, I can't wait to try em:D

I have 4 Beheringer DCX2496 EQ/crossovers and a Behringer DEQ2496 RTA/EQ for loudspeaker management.

I can set gain, EQ and set phase and delay separately on every speaker...

Im running all Cerwin Vega 4 ohm speakers here;

2 CLSC 215's biamped, MPX 1200 running the 4 15" woofers as the LFE channel. The top end runs on the main channel with the Parasound running it. The Parasound will soon be replaced with the CPX 1500.

2 CLS 215's running on the front channel with an MPX 600 for now... They will soon be biamped with the CC4000 and MPX 300

Also on the front channel are some E waved 15" woofer 317 P's that will be running on the CPX 2600

The center is a pair of 12" 3 way RE 30's that will run on the QSC 1400

Surround is a pair of RE38 15" 3 ways running on an MPX 600, and an Ewaved pair of RE 30's running on an MPX 600 stacked.

Rear surround is a pair of CLS 6C center channel speakers running on the Carver PM 350 amp...

So we have 14 big ass CV speakers here, 12 15" woofers, 4 12", 4 6.5"...

6 horn/waveguide dome tweeters, 4 E waves...

4 6.5" waveguide loaded mids, 2 6.5" mids and 4 5" mids...

I have it all up and running right now and to say it was a challenge to get it all to work together would be an understatement:sigh:

It does all work all work very well though, but it should be even better with more power:yes:

The CV's love clean power!!!

I love the sound, look, and feel of quality pro gear, and for the $$$ I feel it's the best value out there:smoke:

I will soon have 8800 watts running on 3 separate 15 amp circuits running up the electric bill:nutz::nutz:

So put me in the AK pro amp club:thmbsp:
 
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What about using a professional mixer as a preamp? If you had multiple sources, they could be placed on separate channels, EQ etc bypassed, and then out to a pro power amp.
 
Is it generally regarded as being sonically inferior?
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Probably by those not "in the know" or who don't have any first hand experience. There are some very good sounding and affordable mixers out there.

In some systems and listening environments the issues with using a mixer in place of a stand alone pre will be more about visual impact/WAF than anything else. I won't use a mixer in my living room as i simply don't want to look at one in that setting.

At the end of the day much will depend on the specific mixer used.

IMO, a "good" mixer, used properly, can equal or exceed the sonic performance of many preamplifiers. I know we have at least a few members here who appreciate the excellent sonics in addition to the flexibility a good mixer can offer.

Consider that most of the music we listen to has already passed thru at least one mixer before the signal ever hit tape, then probably again during production and mastering. If you're listening to a live DJ FM broadcast, add another lap thru a mixer before it ever gets to your system.

Just my 02..................
 
therealting said:
Is it generally regarded as being sonically inferior?
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I've got 3 mixers that I use.. well.. I don't have the third in use, but I will...

Just something to think about, if it's good enough to use in the studio and use for final mixing of a master, then why wouldn't it sound good in the home? Of course it depends on the quality of mixer you're buying..
 
Can't think of anyone who would pass up a vintage SSL mixing board added to their system. I know I wouldn't if I had the money. I would make the space somewhere and do it tastefully.

Phil
 
I'd probably be more inclined to pass up a vintage board...lots of use on those controls and sliders.

I picked up a NIB Yamaha MG16/4 not long ago. Got a good deal on it, IMO. Sounds pretty good connected to my PA gear.
 
Unless you happen to get lucky like I did and find a really great shape and higher end board for a really nice price..
 
similost said:
Unless you happen to get lucky like I did and find a really great shape and higher end board for a really nice price..
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I had a 24 channel Peavey Mark IV back in the day - bought it brand new. I really want to find one of those again, but only if it is a great example. It is a big board, though. I will probably end up with a smaller mixer. Right now, I am in the process of narrowing down my active crossover choices - that is my next piece of equipment.
 
I'd take a vintage SSL board out of Abbey Road Studio 1. Or one of the Ones used by George Martin from Air Studios. I'm sure they were very well looked after...along with some vintage DBX rack mount stuff too..and a Revox open Reel..etc..et al. :music:

Phil
 
I use a Yamaha P2100. This thing is super clear, super dynamic, never harsh, never wimpy sounding, never unmusical, never...anything. It just amplifies.

If you plug something crappy into it, you will know. I am going to get a P2200 some day to drive Magnepans and use the P2100 to drive a DVC subwoofer.
 
Alot of vintage amps were the pro amps of the day,. the crowns, macs, bgw,phase linear ,etc.. and many home/pro amps that came later on derived from these earlier models.
I know of someone that has 6 QSC pro amps in their HT setup and it sounds as detailed as any consumer product out there,
its personal choice really
 
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