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Crown XLI vs XTI and other budget amp

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Dave Duff:
HI guys, getting ready to do a skating rink install consisting of 6 JBL SRX815 and some custom subs (I have a pair of 22 cuft cabinets to retrofit with some drivers, It will look more impressive than it will sound and with residential less then 100' behind the building they will never get pushed anyway. I was planning on using a better amp on the subs or a pair of XTI series bridged into 16 ohms). I originally was going to use 2 XTI4002s to drive the 6 speakers but for the same money I can get 3 XLI3500s and have more power and still keep them at a reasonable 8 ohms. Either configuration costs about $2k. My concern is reliability. Having 3 amps means 1 or even 2 can fail and the show still goes on but I don't want to be replacing amps every 2 years if that is the expected life span of the XLI series. I will be using DSP so it is not needed in the amp. Any opinions about the XLI series or any other budget recommendations would be appreciated.

doug johnson2:
I have used the XLI amps in a few installs and have not had any issues with them so far.  I also know company that does a lot of church installs and has been using them extensively.  They have not had any issues with them either.

John Schalk:

--- Quote from: Dave Duff on March 22, 2023, 06:57:18 PM ---I will be using DSP so it is not needed in the amp. Any opinions about the XLI series or any other budget recommendations would be appreciated.

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I wasn't familiar with Crown's XLi series so I looked up the Power & Thermal draw charts for the XLi amps and compared it to the XTi series, which I have researched before.  I focused on the lines for 1/8 power into a 4 ohm stereo load for the XLi 3500 as compared to the XTi 4002 and found them to be almost the same.  After allowing for the fact that the XLi 3500 has a slightly higher rated output at 4 ohms, I'd say that these two model lines have very similar amplifier topologies so the main difference must be with the DSP features in the XTi series.  Since you don't need amps with built in DSP, from a "line current draw" perspective, the XLi should be just fine.  Note that Crown's I-Tech series amps (original and HD) are more efficient but since you're working on a permanent install you can calculate your current needs and don't need to pay for that increased efficiency.

Dave Duff:

--- Quote from: John Schalk on March 23, 2023, 11:17:40 AM ---I wasn't familiar with Crown's XLi series so I looked up the Power & Thermal draw charts for the XLi amps and compared it to the XTi series, which I have researched before.  I focused on the lines for 1/8 power into a 4 ohm stereo load for the XLi 3500 as compared to the XTi 4002 and found them to be almost the same.  After allowing for the fact that the XLi 3500 has a slightly higher rated output at 4 ohms, I'd say that these two model lines have very similar amplifier topologies so the main difference must be with the DSP features in the XTi series.  Since you don't need amps with built in DSP, from a "line current draw" perspective, the XLi should be just fine.  Note that Crown's I-Tech series amps (original and HD) are more efficient but since you're working on a permanent install you can calculate your current needs and don't need to pay for that increased efficiency.

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Thanks Guys, that is what I wanted to hear. Glad to see they don't draw excess power either. I was originally planning on needing only 2 20amp circuits but I will make sure I have 3 to prevent tripping breakers. 

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