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Author Topic: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance  (Read 11254 times)

Allan James

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Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« on: January 09, 2011, 10:20:27 PM »

I have 2 EV Zx3s and 2 TH-Minis that I am looking to power with either a Crown Itech 4/5000HD, tops one side and subs the other or use two of the new XLS 2000 amps bridged, one for the tops and the other for the subs. For basic setup/protection and limiting, the Itech or XlS DSP would seem to be adequate, the main thing I would be missing with the XLS amps would be the ability to delay tops/subs. Is there anything I am missing or making the wrong assumptions about, including reliability of bridged amps. The XLS option would be cheaper. Thanks, AJ
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Ivan Beaver

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2011, 09:15:48 AM »

Allan James wrote on Sun, 09 January 2011 22:20

I have 2 EV Zx3s and 2 TH-Minis that I am looking to power with either a Crown Itech 4/5000HD, tops one side and subs the other or use two of the new XLS 2000 amps bridged, one for the tops and the other for the subs. For basic setup/protection and limiting, the Itech or XlS DSP would seem to be adequate, the main thing I would be missing with the XLS amps would be the ability to delay tops/subs. Is there anything I am missing or making the wrong assumptions about, including reliability of bridged amps. The XLS option would be cheaper. Thanks, AJ

Several years ago when the XLX first came out we installed a fair number of them.  We started having a lot of failures-so we stopped using them.  I don't know if they have changed anything or not in the current models.

I have very little experience with the Itech amps-except one situation that had a REALLY weird hum problem that I was not able to figure out.  I was completely stumped Confused .  But that is only my opinion based on very limited experience.
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Tim McCulloch

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2011, 11:09:14 AM »

We've been very happy with our I-Tech 6000/8000 and found them to be no more problematic than our MacroTechs.  Our old iron Crest 8001s, however, have been the most reliable amps we've owned.  To say we have dozens of each would be accurate.

You can't really compare the I-Tech to the XLS; they are leagues apart. If you're looking at IT5K-HD (or original IT), you should be looking right past the XLS Drive Core.  Also, I'm not a big fan of bridge-mode operation.  Get amps big enough to power your rig w/o bridging.  Power is cheaper than it's ever been.

Also DSP is relatively cheap now, if you went with plain amps, but for the price of re-certified I-Techs you get a very good amp with very good DSP.  If you go with Crowns, download and install Harman System Architect.  It has capabilities you'll never need/use, but it's masterful at setting up, monitoring and controlling your Crown amps and other Harman group products.

Have fun, good luck.

Tim Mc
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Steven Warner

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2011, 06:33:29 PM »

Ive always liked the sound of a crown even low line ones. that being said crown is the only brand of amps that have ever left me stranded mid-gig on several occasions. I have never owned an itech, I have read good things here on psw. If your going to go the bridge route stick to qsc or even if your not going to bridge you cant go wrong with qsc.
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thomas jones

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2011, 09:00:21 AM »

Am I hallucinating or are there alot of Crown failures? Maybe it's the odds because there are so many and the ones that fail are a small % of the number in use. I know everybody hates the B word but I have 2 EP2500's and an EPX 3000 and they work first time every time and I always get compliments on the sound from 2 old SR4735's & 2 SR4718's. I spend the extra money on hallucinogens.
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Chuck Simon

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2011, 09:29:11 AM »

I have been running a few QSC Powerlights for over 10 years now(maybe 15?), and amp failure is something I don't even think about.  Now, I don't run them bridged and rarely at 2 ohms.  I also have a few of the PLX series of various ages and again, no failures.  Needless to say I am a big fan of QSC amps and they are the only brand I will buy or recommend.
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John Roberts {JR}

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2011, 12:00:42 PM »

thomas jones wrote on Mon, 14 February 2011 08:00

Am I hallucinating or are there alot of Crown failures? Maybe it's the odds because there are so many and the ones that fail are a small % of the number in use. I know everybody hates the B word but I have 2 EP2500's and an EPX 3000 and they work first time every time and I always get compliments on the sound from 2 old SR4735's & 2 SR4718's. I spend the extra money on hallucinogens.


Don't read too much into a small sample of anecdotal reports (positive or negative). Any major amp manufacturer with significant product in the field and in use will experience failures.

Regarding your amps, they are based on a pretty well respected design, albeit somebody else's, so should sound ok. As long as your amps aren't clipping the "sound" should be dominated by the loudspeakers.

JR
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Greg Cameron

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2011, 12:19:36 PM »

Tim McCulloch wrote on Mon, 10 January 2011 08:09

Our old iron Crest 8001s, however, have been the most reliable amps we've owned.  To say we have dozens of each would be accurate.


Couldn't agree more. I have a love hate relationship with my 8001s. I love them because they're super reliable and seem to produce more burst power than the specs would indicate. IOW, they seem to have more punch than other similarly power rated amps for low frequency duty. I hate them because they're 80 lbs. each. At least now they have a home where they don't have to be moved Wink

Greg
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Moby (Mike Diack)

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2011, 02:08:45 PM »

John Roberts  {JR} wrote on Tue, 15 February 2011 06:00

thomas jones wrote on Mon, 14 February 2011 08:00

Am I hallucinating or are there alot of Crown failures? Maybe it's the odds because there are so many and the ones that fail are a small % of the number in use. I know everybody hates the B word but I have 2 EP2500's and an EPX 3000 and they work first time every time and I always get compliments on the sound from 2 old SR4735's & 2 SR4718's. I spend the extra money on hallucinogens.


Don't read too much into a small sample of anecdotal reports (positive or negative). Any major amp manufacturer with significant product in the field and in use will experience failures.
JR


I have come to the conclusion that the trick with Crown is to never buy anything in the first 2 years on the market - give them time to iron out the bugs on other guineapigs/customers/betatesters, issue the ECOs and get it right. I realise Crown has a huge amount of embedded customer loyalty in the USA (probably built up by the MA series bricks) and because the service turnaround is short and sweet, believers are prepared tolerate teething problems, but in other parts of the world, where shipping costs real money, the shine comes off real quick when a new whizzy amp like the i-Tech has close to a 100% failure rate (I know this because I'm the bloke who had to fix them)in the initial issue. This is NOT a small sample in my part of the world.
M
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jeff harrell

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Re: Which Amp/s for reliability/performance
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2011, 02:22:03 PM »

i have the antique QSC Series 3 3500 and 3800. no problems and i run them in bridged mono at 4 ohms. i know of some antique Crown DC300 amps still in use. i have ben told the Crest 8001 or something like that is very reliable. i saw a lot of "blode up real good" Phase Linear amps. i have heard that the crown macro tech acts weird when driving a 4 ohm load. i dont use crest, i use colgate with floride.
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