Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

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Dubmaniac
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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by Dubmaniac » Fri Jul 17, 2020 11:13 pm

Ten years later, I stumbled upon this thread. Since then, I've tried a couple of amps, including a Stewart PA200 that never quite worked right, and a Hafler P3000 that would heat up my control room whether I wanted it to or not. Now I'm using a Crown D75 that's on loan from a very generous friend, but I think I'll end up buying it from him. It's less power than the other amps, but I don't care. it's PERFECT for me. It only takes up one rack space, it runs cool and it sounds amazing. Turns out an old(er) Crown was just what I needed.
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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by The Scum » Sat Jul 18, 2020 1:01 pm

Crown D75's are a staple in FM broadcast. Every control room had one driving the "mains". I think the 1 RU, no fan thing was the big selling point - power, sound, & impedance ratings were secondary. The SM57 of power amps.

Apparently they're no longer in production? They had a remarkably long run.

I've got a D60 that I use for my secondary monitors. One of the first "real" pieces of gear I ever got in about 1990. I've abused it, and it's still going strong, though the neon bulb died sometime recently.
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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by drumsound » Sun Jul 19, 2020 12:32 pm

I went through a couple of amps a while back. My Rotel integrated amp blew one side, and I got a cheap Alesis to replace it, and it also fried. I ended up calling my buddy at SW, and studio type power amps aren't really a thing any more in their line, because most everyone buys active monitors (which is what I'd pull out if necessary). I ended up with a modern Crown XLS (I think that's the name-it sits under the console and just works). It sounds damn good. I don't use any of the built in DSP, just an amp. There is a fan, but its got a thermostat. I've heard it about 10 time if 3-4 years. Even then I don't think its ever run longer than 90 seconds at a time.

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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by jimjazzdad » Sun Jul 19, 2020 3:26 pm

ART SLA1 or SLA2 should be readily available in North America and the price is right - currently $240 at Sweetwater and usually less than $100 on CL or Fleabay. I have 3 of these little suckers. They put out an honest 100W a side (200W for the SLA2), take up 1RU and can run w/o the fan unless driven really hard...I have used for everything from driving studio monitors, running of a bass preamp, and as a micro PA amp. Kind of a swiss army knife of power amps and a worthy successor to the D75.
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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by apropos of nothing » Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:31 am

D-150 has been my main amp for 25 years. It has been on much of that time. I've done many horrible things to it, and it has never once complained. Hope never to need another amp.

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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by trodden » Tue Jul 21, 2020 1:47 pm

Funny this thread shows up.

I've been using a Crown COM-TECH 410 since 2003 along with KRK 7000's from the 90's.

Recently, the right channel has been lower than the left. I'm still working on tracing it down, but i'm pretty sure it's the amp that's doing this and nothing upstream.

I know nothing about power amps since this one and a Crown Com-Tech 210 (for second monitors) have been my two studio power amps for almost two decades.

If I get another Com-Tech, it's going to be OLD.

What's something made in the last 10 years that would be a good replacement?
I see a Crown XLS 1002 for $289.
Any other brands that are maybe "better" sounding but in the $400 or less arena?

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trodden
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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by trodden » Tue Jul 21, 2020 1:59 pm

That Avantone CLA-100, one rack space, is looking NICE, but $500.

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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by drumsound » Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:08 pm

trodden wrote:
Tue Jul 21, 2020 1:47 pm
Funny this thread shows up.

I've been using a Crown COM-TECH 410 since 2003 along with KRK 7000's from the 90's.

Recently, the right channel has been lower than the left. I'm still working on tracing it down, but i'm pretty sure it's the amp that's doing this and nothing upstream.

I know nothing about power amps since this one and a Crown Com-Tech 210 (for second monitors) have been my two studio power amps for almost two decades.

If I get another Com-Tech, it's going to be OLD.

What's something made in the last 10 years that would be a good replacement?
I see a Crown XLS 1002 for $289.
Any other brands that are maybe "better" sounding but in the $400 or less arena?
My XLS1002 sounds really good. Better than the stop gap Alesis, and probably better than the Rotel integrated amp I used for years.

As to the The CLA amp is probably $500 because CLA gets $375 of it.

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trodden
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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by trodden » Mon Jul 27, 2020 9:33 am

drumsound wrote:
Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:08 pm


As to the The CLA amp is probably $500 because CLA gets $375 of it.
God dammit.

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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by drumsound » Mon Jul 27, 2020 12:34 pm

trodden wrote:
Mon Jul 27, 2020 9:33 am
drumsound wrote:
Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:08 pm


As to the The CLA amp is probably $500 because CLA gets $375 of it.
God dammit.
And he's never used one.

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trodden
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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by trodden » Mon Jul 27, 2020 1:47 pm

drumsound wrote:
Mon Jul 27, 2020 12:34 pm
trodden wrote:
Mon Jul 27, 2020 9:33 am
drumsound wrote:
Tue Jul 21, 2020 10:08 pm


As to the The CLA amp is probably $500 because CLA gets $375 of it.
God dammit.
And he's never used one.
I know you're more than likely right about all of this.

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Re: Replace my monitoring amp with an old Crown?

Post by drumsound » Mon Jul 27, 2020 2:08 pm

trodden wrote:
Mon Jul 27, 2020 1:47 pm
drumsound wrote:
Mon Jul 27, 2020 12:34 pm
trodden wrote:
Mon Jul 27, 2020 9:33 am


God dammit.
And he's never used one.
I know you're more than likely right about all of this.
A few years ago at a Waves sponsored event, when someone in the audience asked him about one of his signature plugins he said "I don't use that shit, I've got the real thing."

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