Preamp question

BamaJohn

heiney9 wrote: »

Good luck with your search and putting a system together. I have LSi's and they are fantastic speakers, especially when given quality amplification and source.

H9

FYI-Crown is not a mid-fi amp as you stated. It's a Pro amp and those aren't considered (by anyone I know) to be mid-fi.

Thanks all for your suggestions, help, and opinions.

In the interest of keeping things accurate, note that I didn't say Crown was mid-fi, but rather that I've had experience listening to several mid-fi bits of gear--and therefore I'm looking for reasons why a pro amp would be severly outclassed by the typical mid-fi amp.

For instance, is the Crown XLS series class AB or some inferior design? Does it use inferior grade componentry inside? I've yet to hear anyone break down real reasons, design decisions, AB tests, straight up listening tests on the same speakers, same day, same room, etc., where all the claims of pro=bad are coming from. I've heard analogies, I've heard opinions, but the only people I've heard who have actually tried this particular amp on this particular speaker over on the AVS forum (discovered today) are only concerned with some fan noise. That's a valid point. They've run Maggies, LSi9's, LSi15's, some have set up entire 7.1 systems with multiple Crown amps. Haven't heard them say "this sounds like utter crap and is unlistenable at any volume" but quite the contrary.

Well, the Crown rebate ends Monday so I'll make up my mind one way or the other by then. I'm certain to have a buyer for it if I later decide to upgrade, since they're so useful and well known in PA / Studio / Tour applications.

heiney9

Try it and see how it works for you........that's the only way to know. You've heard my opinion on the matter. They are not Class A/B they are what's known as class G or H. It's a cheaper amplifier using cheaper parts as well as a cheaper power supply.

I've heard Pro amps before and in my high resolution system they don't sound good at all and last I checked Pro amp design hasn't changed.

H9

F1nut

I don't think the weight of a given piece of equipment is a reliable predictor of the sound quality possible from it.

The weight in heavy amps comes mostly from the transformers and as it all starts with the power supply, therein lies your answer.

engtaz

H9
You did not read my reply quote. I quess you just like riping people.

heiney9

engtaz wrote: »

H9
You did not read my reply quote. I quess you just like riping people.

I wasn't trying to rip anybody. I didn't, and still don't, understand your reply. What does (1) letter (B) have to do with not being able to spell or type ?

Sorry bud you took it so personally, I just never understood what your reply was getting at. I see you went back and edited the post. I guess that's why I was confused cause I thought you would have fixed it (the one letter) long before I pointed it out.

engtaz

H9
I repect you alot and really appreciate your help. I really do type like crap.

NeilGabriel

"Well, for classic rock I like Eagles, Boston, ZZTop, Van Halen, Def Leppard. You know, super-high-quality engineering, top notch mastering... Dire Straits is good for that, at least."

I might have inserted the quote wrong, but what is a guy with 20+ yrs with the church PA system doing with VanHalen and Def Leppard? Lynyrd Skynyrd I could understand! Not that I would judge anyone mind you.

VR3

I run the Crown XTI1000 for my subwoofer....
I plugged it up to a pair of RT55 for giggles.

I sell Crown amps all the time for PA gear - but it is by far the worst sounding amp (as are all PA amps) for Home Audio.

EXTREMELY bright, veiled and overall BLAH. Boomy - just NASTY sounding.

Perfect for sub amps though...

The XLS series is not Class A or B - its like D or H or something like that.

dudeinaroom

Back in the day when I was in school i used to DJ the school dances. We used mainly home equipment with a DJ mixer. Well one day the band teacher told us if we wanted to we could use the the two amps they had, we were like woo hoo. One was a peavy, the other a yamaha. We usually used a pioneer receiver, and a yamaha receiver. We hooked every thing up and I went out to the middle of the floor so we could get every thing dialed in. My friend started playing one of our set up tracks and right away he said what do I need to do this does not sound good at all (which he never did before, I was the listening guy). The midrange was just so dry and the highs were overly bright. So I told him to lower the 7khz and 14khz bands on the eq, and bring the 500 and 1khz up. after a second I told him to bring the 7khz band up a little more, he said it was maxed. to make a long story short we went back to the receiver, set the eq back to flat and all was good.

Yashu

There is nothing preventing a "pro" amp from sounding good... it's an amp... as long as it has good clean power, low THD, and quick response, it will work. Actually, a lot of pro stuff works great in the home, for instance pro monitors like JBL 44xx series.

I would definately look at finding a pre-amp that is going to inject the "character" you want into your system, because the amp, being for pro use, is not going to have much "character" of it's own. Pro stuff is designed for flat response and often sounds cold and clinical in the home, but if you attach a tubed preamp, you could get the best of both worlds. Check out Bottlehead preamps like the Foreplay... if you don't mind going without a remote. I am assuming this system is for 2 channel. Bottlehead has a huge following on other forums and is regarded as true hifi tube hardware on a budget.

If you think it would be easier to just nix the amp and get a good integrated, I would 2nd the NAD suggestion. You can pick up something like a c372 or c352, or c325bee, or older models with similar power. NAD makes a good pre c162, but I would not recommend it for the pro amp.

F1nut

There is nothing preventing a "pro" amp from sounding good... it's an amp... as long as it has good clean power, low THD, and quick response, it will work.

being for pro use, is not going to have much "character" of it's own. Pro stuff is designed for flat response and often sounds cold and clinical in the home

Your word for today is contradiction.

heiney9

Yashu wrote: »

Pro stuff is designed for flat response and often sounds cold and clinical in the home, but if you attach a tubed preamp, you could get the best of both worlds.

By all means.......get it then, sounds like a winner.

tonyb

F1nut wrote: »

Your word for today is contradiction.

Jesse.........your the King of this shite.....
and I mean that in the most positively funniest way.

W WALDECKER

As said before Pro Amps are good for powering Subwoofers. they lack the desired refinement to successfully power Loudspeakers without severe degradation in sound quality.Do yourself a favor, save your money and buy a Good quality Two Channel Power Amplifier. thanks....WCW III

dudeinaroom

if he wants a pro amp let him get one, He said no one could provide an account with experience, and I did. So if he buys a pro amp, and likes the pro amp then let him do it, It's not like we have to listen to it.

WilliamM2

He said no one could provide an account with experience, and I did.

He asked if anyone had heard this amp, in a home system, not some old Peavey at a school dance.

The only real way to know, is to try it out. Personally, the fan noise would drive me up the wall, but I hear that can be corrected.

Bill Ayotte

I am sure that this amp is not as horrible as some people make it out to be, but for a MSRP of $460.......Or even the deals I found for $299.....You can do better sound quality wise.....That could out you in a nice integrated that would power those LSi9s.....Maybe a nice used Rotel or NAD amp......It won't be my ears bleeding though, so I don't give a ****.

VR3

I provided an experience of in home use of a pro amp.

It sounded like REAR. BUTT.

Absolutely nasty sounding, and I have the amp above yours.

tonyb

If the man likes pro amps,let him have a go at it,he may like it.Do whatever sounds good to your ears.
That being said....I hope your next post isn't one looking for
a replacement tweeter for your speakers.

BamaJohn

Thanks all for the constructive posts and otherwise. I do indeed appreciate them. Ok, so the Crown rebate deal is over now, and I haven't bought anything yet. Suppose I find the LSi9's on an even greater discount today (Wednesday 5/2), and suppose I'd prefer if possible to buy a new integrated amp, many have suggested Rotel and NAD. What can be had from them, new, with warranty, under say $500, or is that range used gear only?

surfntomm

i just wanted to chime in and say that a pro amp isnt as bad as you guys make it sound i have lsi 7's for my pc rig on a passively cooled pro amp and i think it sounds fine, i did just buy a rotel 980-bx so ill see if there is indeed an upgrade in that department but from what i hear right now its definitely not ****, although i have a feeling there will be some improvement....at least i hope so. The one thing i have learned from pro amps is that power isnt anything when it comes to judging amps, i only got it cus i thought my speakers needed more power (rti70's at the time) but now i feel that quality is more important that wattage ****. anyway ill let you know how the new amp sounds and if you havent bought anything by then ill be able to give you my two cents. ps the amp is a samson servo 550

audioblonde

1111

reeltrouble1

BamaJohn wrote: »

I don't think the weight of a given piece of equipment is a reliable predictor of the sound quality possible from it.

Yikes:eek: no check that double Yikes:eek:

RT1

audioblonde

1111

reeltrouble1

We really do appreciate your stopping by to set us all straight about pro amps and the marvelous wonders of science they really are.

RT1

F1nut

Nothing random about that thought.

audioblonde

1111

reeltrouble1

F1nut wrote: »

Nothing random about that thought.

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaa:D

RT1

zombie boy 2000

You young punk, ya...
Take your ball and get off my lawn RT.

Whippersnapper.

reeltrouble1

oh yea, well I tripped on your grass cuz you did not cut it, my dad is a lawyer and will be in touch.

RT1