Crown XLS1002 Two-channel, 350-Watt at 4Ω Power Amplifier

This Crown amplifier, as well as an Emotiva XPA 2 and a vintage Denon POA 2200, are all in my collection. My primary interest is in listening to music, particularly vinyl, so amplification for home theater viewing (if at all) is only a secondary concern for me. The Crown is a distant third in terms of music amplification, and I agree that it lacks the power of the other two amplifiers, despite the fact that the Emotiva is 300WPC into 8 ohms and the Denon is 200WPC, and the Denon still outperforms the Crown in my opinion. I also had a ground loop problem with the Crown that I traced to an HDMI connection to my flatscreen that I didn't have with the other amps. I believe the Crown would be a good choice for home theater amplification or powering another zone (assuming no ground loop issues), but it lacks the chops for pure listening enjoyment.

Savannah Morrow

| Sep 29, 2021

This is an incredible amp with insane power. br>I compared it to my emotiva xpa gen3 (899$) and found it to be far superior in every way (sound quality, 'power' weight, etc. ). heat. Despite the fact that it is nearly half the price, I believe it is the best amp in the world (both in terms of price and performance). without a competitor) wise Get it now if you want to do yourself a favor. br>br>Note from the throne: br>br>"By selecting ", the INPUT SENSITIVITY feature allows the amplifier to be driven to full power from sources with inherently low output levels. " 775 - HIGH. " For optimal system performance, it is recommended that this be left at the default NORMAL setting for all other audio sources. " With source devices that use RCA connections, the HIGH setting is frequently used. "br>br>Recently updated: (17/12/2016)br> I've tried it with (Pioneer Elite sc-) and (Pioneer Elite sc-) and (Pioneer Elite sc-) and (Pioneer Elite Onkyo tx-95, 95, Onkyo tx-95, 95, 95, 95, 95 Yamaha rx-rz800, Yamaha rx-rx-rx-rx-rx-r a3050, Marantz 7010) by selecting " 775 - HIGH". br>They all work perfectly and without a hitch.

Rylee Nolan

| Mar 24, 2021

I bought these to use with my 11-inch MacBook Pro. 2 surround speakers for Dolby Atmos, Dolby DTX, and Auro- Formats for 3D surround sound. Almost all of the machines are currently running at 1/4-power. Because they are more powerful than most of my speakers (Polks), I set them to 1/3 power. Because the amps aren't being pushed, the fans are rarely turned on and remain cool. There will be no distortion as a result of this. As far as audible hiss goes, I've had the previous generation of these amps in my DJ system and it's much more noticeable in PA speakers. The noise level is the most important factor to consider. The 1502s have a 6dB lower noise floor, making them nearly silent when compared to Polks. With its Trizac horns and increased sensitivity, a Klipsch might get a little louder, but it's not unbearable. I noticed it the most with my vintage LaScalas, but they have a sensitivity of 103dB, which is a very high standard. Another feature I like is the ability to use both balanced and unbalanced inputs, which I prefer because my preamp supports them and because they have a lower noise floor than RCA inputs. These are fantastic amplifiers, and if you end up with power hungry beasts like the 12RTi speakers, you'll be in for a treat. They're no match for the Crwon 2502 drive Core 2's performance. Finally, those items came to life! I like that they can be mounted on a rack- see pics. I keep them sealed inside with open ventilation at the top, bottom, and back, as well as other fans moving air around all of the components. You can't go wrong with this, and you'd have to spend three times as much to match the results.

Frankie Ayala

| Jun 26, 2021

This is a fantastic small amplifier. I'm using it to power a pair of small but surprisingly powerful speakers (Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 350s). They're listed as "compatible" with 8 ohms, but what they really need is something that can drive 4 ohms). When I turned up the volume on my receiver's internal amp, it was clear that the speakers were taxing it - It wouldn't clip hard, but it'd lose bass response and sound "screechy. " The Crown loafs along effortlessly at any volume level I've tried, indicating that it has plenty of reserves. Long before the amp fails, my ears will fail. I don't feel the need to go any louder, even with the input gains set at 3 o'clock and the preamp volume at noon, and the input level hovers around - What's the catch? br>br>So, what's the catch? When the amp is turned on, there is a slight but audible hiss. It is unaffected by gain or input (I tried it with my receiver turned off and the hiss was still present). It can be heard in music and movies during quieter sections. It's not unpleasant, and it sounds a lot like good master tape hiss, but - It might get stuck in your craw if you're a little OCD about your audio. I asked around, and it appears that this is typical of these amplifiers - I suppose it's just the cost of having a lot of cheap energy. I'm not deducting a star because the amp is designed to be used at output levels that would mask the noise in the first place, but it will definitely make itself heard if you use highly sensitive speakers; I'm not deducting a star because the amp is designed to be used at output levels that would mask the noise in the first place. It's just something to think about if you're a home user. I've never heard the fans, but as I previously stated, I've never pushed the amp to its limits.

Gordon Stevenson

| Dec 31, 2020