Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Pros / Cons of the Crown XLS DriveCore Amps

This is topic Pros / Cons of the Crown XLS DriveCore Amps in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 12-18-2013, 09:37 PM:

I have always have very good luck with Crown products from way back in the day when the AV Dept at Notre Dame outfitted entire two entire studios with Crown amps and tape transports. That's when the factory was right next door in Elkhart IN. Their amps are work-horses that we could drive hard, plus I never had to complain about the sound quality from them either and so over the years I have stuck with them in many situations.

MCM has Crown XLS units now on sale with these holiday black this day and black that day BS, at nearly half price and I am in need of two for a home theatre installation. I am not personally familiar with the XLS series. Anyone have any strong thoughts pro or con about this particular Crown line?

Give a shout. Thanks.

Posted by Steven J Hart (Member # 2340) on 12-18-2013, 10:15 PM:

I've got a pair of them in a road case that are used along with a dbx drive rack to power a pair of Bag End portable speakers for portable PA. So far, So good after a year of use. A Lot of bang for the buck & really light weight. Sound quality seems fine. It bothers me that these are Chinese manufactured, but thus the price I guess.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 12-24-2013, 11:26 PM:

Thanks Steve. Had no idea Crown now farms their products out to Chinese manufacturing; not surprising, though -- the surprise would be if they didn't come out of China. It was always so neat and a kind of matter of pride to think quality electronics were manufactured locally right next door to us and that the university supported Crown by using their products almost exclusively.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 12-25-2013, 07:39 AM:

Hey, QSC DCA amps (and the pro stuff in the same line...like the CX) are still made in the good old USA! I'm sure Crown has their USA made stuff too.