Just got an amp!

Jyveturkey

Yesterday I picked up a used Crown xls202 pro amp and a couple xlr/rca cables. Total cost under 100 bucks. The amp is 200 wpc.

Hooked em up to my a9s and was really hoping I'd hear a major difference.

I didn't.

I've come to the conclusion that between my moderate listening levels (roughly - 15) and crossing the a9s over at 60hz (taking the burden of low freq off the avr and onto the subs) that my AVR really was sufficient enough for my setup to run the a9s.

Now I don't have the best ears and maybe someone with better could heat a difference. I just don't know.

Something I never did with the avr was turning off the sub and the rest of the speakers and just run 2 channel stereo. The crown was able to push the a9s to uncomfortable listening levels without distortion or clipping. I'm not sure the avr could do this but since I don't listen like that it's not a huge deal. I was also hoping for a little more bass response from the a9s in this configuration. I got good bass and occasionally could feel it but nothing even close to a subwoofer. Now I know that the a9s will never sound like a good sub but I did expect a bit more.

I'll hold on to the amp and kind of want 2 more to run all 3 bridged. 1 each for the 3 channel front stage cuz let's face it. It does look pretty cool having amps in the av rack ☺

So that's what I got. Any comments?

Jyveturkey

Everything I've read about pro amps in general and the crown specifically is that it's a solid clean 200 wpc. So I imagine getting a 'proper' consumer amp of the same watts will yield the same results.

tophatjohnny

nbrowser wrote: »

Should hear what a nice 205wpc Parasound can do to a pair of RTiA7 towers, the 4 7 inch woofers really like to dance effectively I must say. There is a difference between a pro amp designed to just play loud and a nice home grade amp designed for sound quality. I have a friend who owns the "big bad Cerwins" even admit my nice multiple smaller driver towers blow his speakers to bits SQ wise, then again the guy runs an entry level Sony AVR...enough said.

Same amp I got and it works well. I was running my 1B's with just the onk 805 and it was good, but when I hooked up the Parasound HCA1200II (with the help from people here) it was such a rich warm change that my old deaf **** ears perked up like a ___________ (you fill in the blank) Yes, quality is where it's at.

tonyb

Jyveturkey wrote: »

Everything I've read about pro amps in general and the crown specifically is that it's a solid clean 200 wpc. So I imagine getting a 'proper' consumer amp of the same watts will yield the same results.

Just simply wrong....on so many levels.

leftwinger57

I have to throw in my Adcom gfa555 @200wpc now we're talking clean neutral power. Guys around here in general do not believe pro amps have the same quality as a home amplifier. The Adcom @$300 was my best buy yet w using it 1st w/ my Yamaha rx-v665 avr and then as a 2chl only amplifier. Pro amps have their place in racks on sides of stages powering pa house sound systems and not audiophile quality sound in general. True again, your blatant statement of comparing both types of amps and concluding they are they same is wrong.

Jyveturkey

Gotta love the Internet. So full of opinions ☺

tonyb

Jyveturkey wrote: »

Gotta love the Internet. So full of opinions ☺

Eh...there is a difference with opinions. Those based on experience, and those without.

tophatjohnny

Jyveturkey wrote: »

Gotta love the Internet. So full of opinions ☺

hey jive turkey, this is the best audio forum on the net PERIOD!! Use your listening ears and learn from these cats! And remember Cats will eat birds everytime,,especially the Turkeys! lol

Jyveturkey

Pretty clear what I meant. There's a prevailing opinion here yet elsewhere there are differing ones.

Thank you all for yours.

soundfreak1

Just take a minute and think about how and what a pro amp is used for................
Bet you didn't even think of QUALITY, DETAIL, SOUNDSTAGE, ECT. They are used to fill a room with loud volume not high quality sound! Just saying. Might be ok for HT ( not that I would use for that ) but for quality music listening NOPE!.

leftwinger57

Jyveturkey, there was another Crown Pro thread posted under electronics a few days ago. I think Talon Sr. knew what he wanted in the Crown Pro and was given advice on how to use it in his system by forum members and not really shooting him down until and finally he relized it just wasn't for him for various reasons. I thought your Headline Post of "I got an amp exclamation point" and then was dissapointed was kinda oxymoronish.(if such a word exisits)

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?16-Electronics

Jyveturkey

Wow. I thank you for your opinions and advise and get belittled for it. Really appreciate it guys. I know where not to go next time.

Sure wish the Polk thread at avs was still active.

Mikey081057

It's not the difference between "Pro" and "Consumer" amps, but the difference between class A or A/B and D. Your receiver probably has class D circuitry. Not that it's bad, but Class A and A/B amps are designed to be more detailed and articulate. A 25 watt class A tube amp will blow the Class D away ... maybe not in SPL, but in sound quality...

Jyveturkey

Show me where I belittled your opinions. I simply stated that there are different opinions out there. Never did I say which was wrong or right just simply that there WERE.

Weirdos

tonyb

Chill everyone....

Most pro amps aren't used for home audio....and for good reason. Doesn't mean you can't however. If you want to know about what amps match up well with Polk speakers, your in the right place. If you want others to validate your decisions, your not.

That said, the A9's won't give up what they are capable of without a decent amp. Also, we all hear differently too so nothing is written in stone. All we can do here is offer advice to get the most out of the speakers you have. Whether or not your receptive to that advice is up to you.

F1nut

You ask for comments, get some damn good advice, then poo-poo that advice and end up insulting the good people that gave it to you. Yeah, you will go far in this hobby. :rolleyes:

Jyveturkey

I'm not sure if it's some weird form of narcissism or what but please point out where I made snide comments or poo pood anything?

I simply mentioned the differing opinions of the Internet and all you nut jobs immediately jumped on the defensive thinking I was shooting down yours.

Wtf is wrong with you people

Dropthebeat

I have used the crown xls802 I believe was the model number , something crazy like 400 watts per channel . I hooked it up to multiple speakers that own and my 1980s nad amp smoked it on every level . The bass was definitely lacking with the crown .

michaeljhsda2

Been there, done that with Crown XLS 602D pro amps. My 50 watt tube amp sounds infinitely better than the Crown.

Dropthebeat

Hopefully he doesn't take these comments the wrong way , I definitely didn't mean it to come across as belittling . Learn from mistakes and find a descent 2ch amp . I picked up one of my amps for 170 on ebay definitely worth the money .

F1nut

Stop belittling him...

That made me laugh

michaeljhsda2

Lol...

michaeljhsda2

Seriously, even though the Crown had a lot of power it didn't translate into better sound. Nuff said. Peace

tonyb

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

Seriously, even though the Crown had a lot of power it didn't translate into better sound. Nuff said. Peace

.....and that's why most don't use them for home audio.

I can never understand why some spend a good amount of coin on speakers, nice speakers, then want to find the dirt cheapest alternative to power them....hook them up with the cheapest cable possible.

The Op stated he wanted to try them in bridge mode too. I hope he understands in bridged mode the amps won't like dips below 8 ohms....which his A9's will do.

michaeljhsda2

tonyb wrote: »

.....and that's why most don't use them for home audio.

I can never understand why some spend a good amount of coin on speakers, nice speakers, then want to find the dirt cheapest alternative to power them....hook them up with the cheapest cable possible.

The Op stated he wanted to try them in bridge mode too. I hope he understands in bridged mode the amps won't like dips below 8 ohms....which his A9's will do.

The sound quality will be worse in bridged mode, even if he doesn't crank it very much.

soundfreak1

We all learned our lessens along the way, hopefully this will be one for the op. I would imagine we all have been thier at one level or point in our journey.

Msabot1

Had to get in on this one...couldn't resist...Man...you are comparing apples to oranges here...it is not the issue of which amp is better...it is which amp is better suited for the application that you have in mind...seldom will an amp that is suited for sound stage reproduction produce the desired effects in a controlled environment such as a tailored room in a home...that often more resembles a pro studio.....with that said,just remember...it's all in the application...what equipment to use and where...

Jyveturkey

Those last few responses were insightful. Thank you for them.

In the case of buying expensive speakers but not spending the money for power. I don't have the money for a consumer amp right now and really the only reason I have this high a quality of speaker now is the deal that fell in my lap for em. 475 for the pair of a9s and 480 for the csia6 and pair of a3s.

I do hope to at some time check out a real home amplifier and if a deal happens to fall in my lap I'll jump on it. I just figured from what I had read about pro level amps 80 bucks was worth the gamble to check out. I'm pretty sure I can get my money back selling the crown at some point.

PS. I don't have any real desire to do the 2 channel thing. This is for home theater exclusively.

Thanks again for the advise

ROHfan

I was never as happy and as satisfied in this hobby as the day I embraced the idea of high quality cables and a quality tube preamp. Made my speakers sound completely different and in a good way. Dude, I was like you. Scrimping and saving, watching my $ like a hawk, but in the long run I found out I had to pay for quality (even though I was being told that right here on the forums which I chose to ignore). Creeping up on the sound I was looking for almost made me broke. Wish I had done it right the first time, but at least it was a fun ride. Listen to the folks here and keep an open mind. If not, you're only short-changing yourself.

Jyveturkey

I only listen to music in my jeep. And that is pretty rarely. I've heard nothing but good things about pairing parasound and Polk. Almost able to snag a 205 wpc Para for 300 buy was unfortunately outbid.

oldrocker

JT,
When I joined this place way back when, I had recently acquired a set of SDA’s, knew nothing about them, started asking questions. I had been using an old sony receiver, it did not work well. After time I assumed I needed a more powerful amp, I ask questions here about crown amps and others like them, I got quite a response. I bought one anyway and yes it is very loud. However, after time of visiting here, reading all the comments then really listening to how it sounded, I came to the conclusion of all those “unfavorable” original responses to my questions were in fact correct. Don’t get me wrong the crown amp I bought does have a lot of power and if that’s what you want, by all means go that route, its your equipment and your ears.
However, I decided to follow the advice of the room and bought some parasound equipment. Let me tell you, those folks here are right. The sound is beyond words for me to describe and I haven’t even completed any modifications yet and can’t wait to do so.
So best wishes and welcome to the room and remember, these folks DO know what they are talking about and can be a wealth of knowledge.