Powering with non-HT amps..like Pro PA/DJ Amps?

It is debatable on whether an amp like the Harman DriveCore class-D technology (Crown XLS2500) reproduces music better than an amplifier intended for the home market. However, I doubt you would find better sound quality for the power, for the price. I would also point out that the Lexicon DD-8 uses the same DriveCore amplification for that home theater amp.

They will insist that any "musical" amplifier must be hernia-inducing.

Wrong. There are many musical home audio amps that don't weigh a ton.

Others with a similar opinion will insist upon "popping the hood" of your pro amp (voiding your warranty in the process)

Well, it is a good way to see the quality of the parts. Doing so also voids the warranty on any piece of home audio gear, so what's your point?

to show you that it doesn't have transformers as big as their 85 lb "HCA-3500," or require 2 20-amp circuits to heat your domicile. Most are quite proud of the fact (and well they should be) that they can now own what was FOURTEEN years ago a $2500 state-of-the-art audiophile-quality (certified by Sterophile's Robert Deutsch • Published: Jan 5, 2000) which can now fetch $1450 via CL

Neither Tony or I own said amp.

I bought the TOTL Yamaha P7000s, which F1nut would rate as "a waste of $," & then later admit, as did tonyb, they hadn't heardYamaha's 21st century exclusive EEEngine amplifier driving technology

I've never heard a Yamaha product that sounded musical, so based on their house sound I wouldn't expect your amp to sound any different, but as you noted I haven't heard your amp. Since you brought it up, if your hearing loss is in the upper range I could understand that you don't notice certain things.

At the end of the day use whatever blows back your skirt, and listen to whatever you like regardless of format, compression, etc as long as it speaks to you.

Everyone else can kiss it.....

But dont expect everyone to agree with your opinion.

1Nut, you can address my by Joe.

I singled you & tonyb out because both of you are often the most adamant that pro amplifiers are "not musical" &/or "a waste of $." I might point out that everyone's music appreciation is based upon what's between their ears. I might note that I was required to take Music Appreication 101 to fulfill the liberal arts requirement for a BS in Biology. I later ran the sound board for Jazz Appreciation @ Wichita State. In both, the profs were accomplished Wichita Symphony musicians/conductors. I learned that the appreciation of music required understanding the concepts of the particular genre, before deciding it was not for your own tastes. I have no idea as to the amplicifaction used in those auditoriums; but I'm pretty sure the speakers were Altec Lansing Voice of the Theatre systems. As they were in the 5 theaters I worked in, or managed, 1969-1974. I was Asst. Mgr of the Uptown Theatre, designed for Cinerama (& where I viewed a 70mm Super Panavision 70 mm print of 2001: A Space Odyssey at the age of 15).

http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/wingcr6.htm

At this point in time, 61YO, & based upon my meager education, experience & $, I've adopted the philosophy that "musical" amplifier is an oxymoron (Webster's: a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings). I come from the point of view that it's possible that a particular amplifier may not integrate with a certain source component, or speakers, but that it is more likely that it enhances flaws already present, particularly when it comes to speakers.

It the process of infinite Googling of the topic of amplifier topologIES, I came across a Q asked re: a certain new topology of an audio reviewer. His response was that, in his experience, audiophiles would progress through a succession of "ever better" amplifiers rather than switch speakers.

When I started browsing here on Polk (& other fora) in 2009 (having owned RT7s since since the early 90s; & many Polk component car sets) there was a fellow, Cornhulio (?), who was desecrating the RTi series by swapping out the "bright" tweeter (please correct me IF I'm wrong).

IMHO, the problem with the RTiA9s "bright" tweeter & overall sound was too little amplification. But, I don't recall anyone pushing the amplification power like current (pun intended, again) owners. I do recall what Cornhulio brought upon himself in his attempt to make the RTia line more "musical."

I think the Merry-Go-Round of eternal upgraditis is facilitated by ones access to equipment. IF you live in the "sticks," like I do, it really isn't easy to get on, or off, the ride.

I brought up the HCA-3500, because it IS often mentioned for POWER (350 wpc) appropriate for RTia9s (thinking neither you, nor tonyb, own those either, please correct me IF I'm wrong). From my Googling on pro amplifiers, I frequently saw the suggested ratio of watts:rated wattage as 1.5 to 1, or 750 wpc @ 8 ohms for the RTia9s rated 500. Further research led me to believe the price of admission for that wattage level (outside of the pro amp circuit) was astronomical. AFAIK, there are only 2 forum members who have stepped beyond the often cited 350 wpc, using Emotiva & in my case QSC & Yamaha. Again, I do not accept the concept of ""musical" amplifier" used to denigrate anyone using either brand.

http://www.google.com/#q=Cornhulio+site%3Apolkaudio.com

RE: my hearing loss in uppser frequencies

This became apparent 4-5 years after I spent the years 1992-1998 in classrooms (kindergarten, band, shop = you get the idea, w/out hearing protection).

As to your "I've never heard a Yamaha product that sounded musical, so based on their house sound I wouldn't expect your amp to sound any different,"

I first owned Yamaha starting with a CA600 in 1972. And certainly thought Yamaha sounded musical, then & now. Recent reviews of the A-S2000 certainly seem to indicate that Yamaha, a manufacturer of musical instruments, maintains a "musical house sound." Again, that perception lies between an individual's ears & to each his/her own perceptions.

I plan on having KSU's audiologist test my hearing again soon, & will be glad to post my hearing frequency chart (have been searching for previous tests). Would you be so kind as to do the same? Take this as a good-natured challenge, to quote Joni Mitchell:

"Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone"

*The Cinerama projection screen, rather than being a continuous surface like most screens, is made of hundreds of individual vertical strips of standard perforated screen material, each about 7/8 inch (~22 mm) wide, with each strip angled to face the audience, so as to prevent light scattered from one end of the deeply-curved screen from reflecting across the screen and washing out the image on the opposite end. The display is accompanied by a high-quality, seven-track discrete, directional, surround-sound system.

IF you haven't seen 2001: A Space Odyssey in 70mm, let Jack Benny in an exit door to avoid the SRO lobby, or put your ear up to the common door of your hotel room to eavesdrop on The David Grisman Quintet jamming after the concert . . . . well, you've missed out on some of the experiences I've collected in this lifetime. Collect & enjoy your own!

tonyb - heard some nice comments on Butler

I enjoy gigging you guys, I would guess we're ~ same vintage.

Are you attending http://www.axpona.com/exhibitors.asp ?

4xoddic aka "Little Joe" IF you're old enough to remember Bonanza, that was a complement at one time.

villian wrote: »

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that not a prejudiced statement made on your behalf.. And quite a foolish looking one now? Understandably so, but I'd like to see you admit it first

LOL...of course it's prejudiced....based on personal experiences though, not something read on the web. Whats so foolish about not liking the way something sounds....with any piece of gear ?

Like F1NUT stated above, car audio and home audio are 2 different animals....pro audio being another. Maybe you missed the part where I said "who cares" ? If it floats your boat then roll with it, but for me...personally...you couldn't give me one for free.

villian wrote: »

This type of comment is exactly why I created this thread..........................Thank you all for showing up to class today, but I have to wipe this chalk off my hands and get to bed

At least you are right up front about being a troll. Most deny that they ever meant harm. The first couple of posts are always made to appear as questions about Polk gear comparing different models, and once replies are coming regularly, the pro-amp vs home amp, car sub slam vs HT sub depth, car amp with battery/charger/converter vs home amp threads start to drop.

Take a number and stand behind those that paved your way........most can be identified in forum searches for the same types of questions and many of those that joined for that purpose will now have the word "banned" under their screen name in red.

Did you grow up criticizing your new friend's momma's living room furniture on the first visit to his house or wait until the second week?

Oh yeah, please excuse my rudeness.......welcome to CP. now where is that ignore button again?

I decided to put my money where my mouth is (has been), and picked up a Crown XLS1500. On my 4ohm speakers, this amp puts out a conservative 500wpc, runs very cool, and the fan has not turned on once; the amp is enclosed in a A/V cabinet and left on 24/7. Driving it with a B&K PT-3ii, there is plenty to gain, no buzz/hum/hiss, and the sound is not bright or harsh. Maybe it's the combination with the warm B&K, but the amp is clear, clean, and dynamic. It only has a few hours on it, but I'm already impressed by how much clean power you can get for the money.

Face wrote: »

For 2 channel I would lean towards a home based amp as Crown's higher quality offerings will cost just as much if not much more. Plus with a home amp, there will be issues with gain structure(single ended to balanced), remote turn on, etc...

Good point, although it is a lot of power for the money. Right now I have the XLS1500 on a pair of inefficient Jamo HT speakers driving above 80Hz, and it's a good pairing. However, I'm sure the frequency cut-off helps keeps the fans off, and I do have the gain on the amp set at 3 o'clock with the preamp hovering around -30dB for average listening. That preamp will give another 40dB in volume, so I may readjust the two again, but I've haven't bothered because there isn't any noise.

^^^4xoddic^^^How do you power the remaining channels of your HT?

No April fools.

4xoddic wrote: »

The CSia6, 2 FXia6 & 2 rear RTia9s are all powered off the Pioneer SC-07. No sub. Jeff Beck Live @ Ronnie Scott's blu-ray is FANTASTIC.

That disc is the worth the price of admission just to see Tal Wilkenfeld on the bass for a couple hours.

I was using an old Crest Audio Professional 4000 amp to run my side surround channels feeding Polk LS50's . That amp has a fan that is actually fairly quiet. Usually when I'm viewing a Blu Ray I've got the volume up around 85 to 95 dbs so I only hear the fan on the most quiet parts of the movie, since the amp was only sitting about 10 feet away out in the open on a pedestal. I sometimes have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth , I'll try to avoid that more in the future guys.