Who No Crown Equipment?
- Thread starter Scorpion8
- Start date
Bone Yard
Super Member
Great photo's, interesting stories. Elkart IN....seems there were quite a few pro audio/video companies in that area of the world including EV in Buccannon MI, Heath/Zenith in Benton Harbor MI, etc. Crown (Japan) did make some semi-decent boomboxes in the early-mid 80's that the collectors like, other than that I would guess their name got bought by a Asian mass-merchandiser and reused, meeting the same fate of several other companies.
Crown Reference
Hi.
I found this thread while googling for Crown trivia
I can only recommend the Studio Reference series, which unfortunately was discontinued in 2006 iirc. The internal design is similar to the MacroTech (non-VZ version), but with less power and a different kind of feedback loop. I have the "small one", the Studio Reference 2 (360W/8Ohm), and use it full range in my home stereo.
Some people seem to write off pro amps for home use without even hearing one, I dont really get that. I asked for opinions in another forum a few days ago and the response was pretty negative.
Never mind the rag under the amp, I'm still looking for some suitable feet for it, suggestions are welcome
Hi.
I found this thread while googling for Crown trivia
I can only recommend the Studio Reference series, which unfortunately was discontinued in 2006 iirc. The internal design is similar to the MacroTech (non-VZ version), but with less power and a different kind of feedback loop. I have the "small one", the Studio Reference 2 (360W/8Ohm), and use it full range in my home stereo.
Some people seem to write off pro amps for home use without even hearing one, I dont really get that. I asked for opinions in another forum a few days ago and the response was pretty negative.
Never mind the rag under the amp, I'm still looking for some suitable feet for it, suggestions are welcome
willyrover
Super Member
I got a new avatar seince my old one scared people Into thinking I was Obsessed with Soundesign...so I went with a Yamaha PSS-170 keyboard which I own...
Wow! That was random...
Clmrt
Just thrilled.
Hi.
I found this thread while googling for Crown trivia
I can only recommend the Studio Reference series, which unfortunately was discontinued in 2006 iirc. The internal design is similar to the MacroTech (non-VZ version), but with less power and a different kind of feedback loop. I have the "small one", the Studio Reference 2 (360W/8Ohm), and use it full range in my home stereo.
Some people seem to write off pro amps for home use without even hearing one, I dont really get that. I asked for opinions in another forum a few days ago and the response was pretty negative.
Never mind the rag under the amp, I'm still looking for some suitable feet for it, suggestions are welcome
Great pic and system / room. Welcome.
70salesguy
Only 99 easy payments!
Hi.
I found this thread while googling for Crown trivia
I can only recommend the Studio Reference series, which unfortunately was discontinued in 2006 iirc. The internal design is similar to the MacroTech (non-VZ version), but with less power and a different kind of feedback loop. I have the "small one", the Studio Reference 2 (360W/8Ohm), and use it full range in my home stereo.
Some people seem to write off pro amps for home use without even hearing one, I dont really get that. I asked for opinions in another forum a few days ago and the response was pretty negative.
Never mind the rag under the amp, I'm still looking for some suitable feet for it, suggestions are welcome
Not to sound critical, but your post kind of sounds like "most Crown amps aren't very good except for THE ONE I HAVE".
I don't believe that was your intent, just sounds that way.
The PS-400 is an excellent performer as well, though not in the same class as the Studio Reference series.
What speakers are in the picture?
Sorry, that wasn't my intention. Of course I like to think that the studio ref. series _is_ the best sounding Crown, but that doesn't make the other ones bad -- and it doesn't make me right either
. I've briefly had a PowerTech 2.1 (also recently discontinued) in my setup a couple of years ago to try it out. It also sounded quite good. Some people say it's actually pretty close to the Ref. They are probably right, but it never whispered "buy me" like the Ref. did to me. That was partly due to the fan noise though -- the PowerTechs have a constantly running fan of a custom type that can't be replaced with a standard low noise type.
I've heard a Crown CTS3000 (2x1500W) play midbas/lower midrange in a tri-amped, four-way, all Crown system (Ref2 on upper mid/high and CE4000 on bass), and all did well. And yes, it was mindboglingly loud
The owner said the CTS was impressive full-range too, but we didn't try it out that day.I haven't heard the cheap (assembled in China?) XLS series etc, they are supposed to be very good for the price, but probably not in absolute terms (just my wild guess).
Never heard a PS-400. It looks a little like a more modern DC-300A, when is it from?
Vienna Acoustics Mahler, http://www.vienna-acoustics.com
Dont say that, guess who makes JBL's high-end car amps :yes:
http://www.jbl.com/car/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=A6000GTI
Another "party trick" I've heard they do is to shoot bowling balls 2 meters in the air with a 15" JBL GTI woofer driven by a GTI amp. :scratch2:
There were two companies making equipment named "Crown."
One in Indiana, the other overseas.
You want the American made.
One in Indiana, the other overseas.
You want the American made.
Hmm, did you follow the link? Look at the photo of the amp, right below the JBL logo there is a Crown International logo (that's the american Crown, dunno if the Japanese one still exists?).
The "JBL Powered By Crown" A6000GTI is a $6000 high-end car sub amp. It's a BCA amp, similar to the Crown I-Tech, big CTSs etc.
It doesn't really say where it's made, so that could be either Crown or JBL or outsourced, but it's definitely a Crown design.
70salesguy
Only 99 easy payments!
You are correct, sir.
The DC-300 begat the DC-300A which begat the DC-300A Series II which begat the Power Line Four which begat the PS-400.
I myself would truly love to have a Studio Reference Amp, either model. But they are pretty rare and show up very infrequently on the bay. :drool:
Then again, I like JBL L-100 and 4311/4312 variants, so I might not be able to hear the difference anyway. :scratch2:
I do really like my Crown PSL-2, PFM-3 and PS-400. :yes:
The DC-300 begat the DC-300A which begat the DC-300A Series II which begat the Power Line Four which begat the PS-400.
I myself would truly love to have a Studio Reference Amp, either model. But they are pretty rare and show up very infrequently on the bay. :drool:
Then again, I like JBL L-100 and 4311/4312 variants, so I might not be able to hear the difference anyway. :scratch2:
I do really like my Crown PSL-2, PFM-3 and PS-400. :yes:
Crown DC300/DC300A
Back in the day, mid/late 70's, I can remember going to a showroom in Eatontown, NJ and droooooling over the 150's and 300's after listening to them (very understanding shop - I did buy a Thorens and some other stuff there). Couldn't afford them, the 300 was $650, I was still in college, owned a house, an was only working 35 hrs/wk. Then I'd go to concerts and look at the stacks of amps in front of the stage. Stacks and stacks of DC300. Didn't matter what sound company did the amplification - I remember Showco Sound as one of them - but boy, did the 300's sound great and pound out the DB's.
Back in the day, mid/late 70's, I can remember going to a showroom in Eatontown, NJ and droooooling over the 150's and 300's after listening to them (very understanding shop - I did buy a Thorens and some other stuff there). Couldn't afford them, the 300 was $650, I was still in college, owned a house, an was only working 35 hrs/wk. Then I'd go to concerts and look at the stacks of amps in front of the stage. Stacks and stacks of DC300. Didn't matter what sound company did the amplification - I remember Showco Sound as one of them - but boy, did the 300's sound great and pound out the DB's.
70salesguy
Only 99 easy payments!
Crown actually started building RTR machines. Their reputation built quickly and soon was stellar.
If you check out their website www.crownaudio.com you will find some interesting info. They eventually developed amplifiers, including the famous DC-300. At one time they built preamps, poweramps, tuners, output control centers, speakers and tape decks.
As their market reputation grew for power amps and later microphones, they eased out of what we would think of as consumer products in favor of pro products.
In the 60s and 70s, they were considered by many as serious competition to MacIntosh equipment. Their last consumer targeted line level products were the PSL-2 preamp and the PFM-3 tuner.
The Studio Reference Series amplifiers are pretty well regarded.
The same criticism has been made of Crown as has often been made about JBL speakers, and that is one of "harshness". That's actually pretty subjective since many people have gotten used to some particular coloration in their sound reproduction products.
Personal opinion here : I believe that Crown Audio saw where the market was going years ago and decided to focus on the pro market exclusively.
I have several complete set-ups consisting of a Crown PSL-2 preamp, PFM-3 tuner and various Crown poweramps including PS-200, PS-400, DC300AII and Power Line Four. I find that they pair well with JBL 4311/4312/L100/L200 speakers.
I find the sound to be "revealing", and not harsh unless the source material is.
Just my humble opinion.
I know that I have been happy with the JBL and Crown combination for quite some time and can recommend that given the opportunity to acquire a good Crown poweramp, you should try one.
I have no personal experience with any of the pro-oriented units, just the units mentioned earlier.
If you check out their website www.crownaudio.com you will find some interesting info. They eventually developed amplifiers, including the famous DC-300. At one time they built preamps, poweramps, tuners, output control centers, speakers and tape decks.
As their market reputation grew for power amps and later microphones, they eased out of what we would think of as consumer products in favor of pro products.
In the 60s and 70s, they were considered by many as serious competition to MacIntosh equipment. Their last consumer targeted line level products were the PSL-2 preamp and the PFM-3 tuner.
The Studio Reference Series amplifiers are pretty well regarded.
The same criticism has been made of Crown as has often been made about JBL speakers, and that is one of "harshness". That's actually pretty subjective since many people have gotten used to some particular coloration in their sound reproduction products.
Personal opinion here : I believe that Crown Audio saw where the market was going years ago and decided to focus on the pro market exclusively.
I have several complete set-ups consisting of a Crown PSL-2 preamp, PFM-3 tuner and various Crown poweramps including PS-200, PS-400, DC300AII and Power Line Four. I find that they pair well with JBL 4311/4312/L100/L200 speakers.
I find the sound to be "revealing", and not harsh unless the source material is.
Just my humble opinion.
I know that I have been happy with the JBL and Crown combination for quite some time and can recommend that given the opportunity to acquire a good Crown poweramp, you should try one.
I have no personal experience with any of the pro-oriented units, just the units mentioned earlier.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Hi all,
Crown in Elkhart, IN was founded by Clarence Moore. Mr. Moore was a missionary and broadcaster. He began modifying tape recorders for the rigors of missionary work. By 1956, Clarence was producing tape recorders under the Crown name as part of the International Radio & Electronics Corporation.
Crown then expanded into high fidelity and was a pioneer in high power solid state amplifiers. You know these as the D and DC series. When introduced, the DC 300 was the most powerful solid state stereo power amp made. The company also made preamplifiers, tape recorders, equalizers, microphones, and FM tuners.
Crown International made tape recorders until 1977. In 1965, Crown sold more recorders than Ampex and get their reputation really established. In 1980, Crown bows out of the high fidelity market. Crown was later sold to Harman International. There is one vestige of the Crown classics still available. The D 40 and D 70 power amplifiers have been re-introduced and are still made the old way.
International Radio & Electronics Corporation is now Crown Broadcast. They manufacture excellent quality FM transmitter equipment. They make units up to 5 KW. These units are very much influenced by Crown amplifiers and Clarence Moore's bomb-proof designs for missionary work.
This post is meant to provide a capsule history of Crown of Elkhart, IN.
Crown in Elkhart, IN was founded by Clarence Moore. Mr. Moore was a missionary and broadcaster. He began modifying tape recorders for the rigors of missionary work. By 1956, Clarence was producing tape recorders under the Crown name as part of the International Radio & Electronics Corporation.
Crown then expanded into high fidelity and was a pioneer in high power solid state amplifiers. You know these as the D and DC series. When introduced, the DC 300 was the most powerful solid state stereo power amp made. The company also made preamplifiers, tape recorders, equalizers, microphones, and FM tuners.
Crown International made tape recorders until 1977. In 1965, Crown sold more recorders than Ampex and get their reputation really established. In 1980, Crown bows out of the high fidelity market. Crown was later sold to Harman International. There is one vestige of the Crown classics still available. The D 40 and D 70 power amplifiers have been re-introduced and are still made the old way.
International Radio & Electronics Corporation is now Crown Broadcast. They manufacture excellent quality FM transmitter equipment. They make units up to 5 KW. These units are very much influenced by Crown amplifiers and Clarence Moore's bomb-proof designs for missionary work.
This post is meant to provide a capsule history of Crown of Elkhart, IN.
