Review and Measurements of Crown XLS 1502 Amp

[Frank207be]

I'm considering buying the XLS1502 instead of a XLS2502 for a dual 18" PA subwoofer in a home theatre. The Crown will be used in bridge mode @ 4Ohm and I won't need more than 1500W. Will I regret that decision? Then there is also the XLS2002 which is cheaper than the XLS2502.

I already have both XLS1002 & XLS2502 in bridge mode / 4 Ohm on comparable dual subs and they both work fine. The XLS1002 have clipped on a single 8 Ohm sub with a bit too much low end boost though.

 

[dlaloum]

I'm considering buying the XLS1502 instead of a XLS2502 for a dual 18" PA subwoofer in a home theatre. The Crown will be used in bridge mode @ 4Ohm and I won't need more than 1500W. Will I regret that decision? Then there is also the XLS2002 which is cheaper than the XLS2502.

I already have both XLS1002 & XLS2502 in bridge mode / 4 Ohm on comparable dual subs and they both work fine. The XLS1002 have clipped on a single 8 Ohm sub with a bit too much low end boost though.

If the 1002 clipped I would go for at least the 2002... or purchase a used 2500 ...
I found 2 2500's in good condition for US$250 each... - you can find bargains in the pro-audio marketplaces.... not so much in the audiophile ones.

 

[Deleted member 71304]

How audible is the difference between this amplifier and a Hypex when powering low sensitivity speakers (under 85dB) with minimum impedance of 3.1Ω and min. EPDR 1.4Ω?
The listening distance is 2-3m. and average SPL 80-85 dB in a 15-20 sq. m. room
Cheers in advance for any help

 

[peng]

How audible is the difference between this amplifier and a Hypex when powering low sensitivity speakers (under 85dB) with minimum impedance of 3.1Ω and min. EPDR 1.4Ω?
The listening distance is 2-3m. and average SPL 80-85 dB in a 15-20 sq. m. room
Cheers in advance for any help

Based on bench test results, there will be no difference for such use, if listen with ears only.

 

[Deleted member 71304]

Based on bench test results, there will be no difference for such use, if listen with ears only.

Thank you

 

[peng]

Thank you

You are welcome, just want to add that if you were to use speakers with higher sensitivity, say 95 dB/2.83V/m, then a good Hypex based amp may offer perceivable quieter noise during the soft/silent music or movie track passages. I should also emphasize that my comments were based on assuming you are going to the Hypex NC400 that Amir compared it to in his review. The NC400 does not offer more output into 4 ohms. If you are comparing it to a more powerful Hypex amp, then I would say there could be audible difference because in your use conditions, the CRDown audio XLS1502 could be clipping often enough for the distortions to be audible, but that also assume your speakers can actually handle >400 W peak without audible distortions, otherwise it would not make much difference as the speakers themselves may be the bottleneck. That's just of course my opinion, based on specs and available measurements, and again, your conditions of use.

And, in regard to EPDR, I would normally want to see the actual impedance vs frequency graph before saying anything, but the XLS1502 and NC400 (assuming it has real heatsinks) are good for 4 ohm speakers, so unless the EPDR 1.4 ohm is for a wide range of frequencies (I doubt that very much), it wouldn't an issue, even for class AB amps, let alone class D.

 

[Deleted member 71304]

Oh wait, I got that right here from Erin's Audio Corner (Wharfedale Aura 2, Erin emphasizes in his review that they have low sensitivity and therefore a powerful amp is required) Thing is, Hypex amps with such power are considerably more expensive - that's the reason why I am considering the Crown Audio

 

[peng]

Oh wait, I got that right here from Erin's Audio Corner (Wharfedale Aura 2, Erin emphasizes in his review that they have low sensitivity and therefore a powerful amp is required) Thing is, Hypex amps with such power are considerably more expensive - that's the reason why I am considering the Crown Audio

Thanks, I would consider those speakers hard to drive for sure, now I can see why you ask the very question you asked, but then if you look at the specs carefully, you would agree that the Crown audio amp is not going to be the weak link in terms of "power" output vs the "power" demand by the speakers.

Wharfedale recommended 25-150 W so the XLS1502 is actually a good match for them.

I would be more concerned about your 85 dB average at 3 m requirement, as you may risk a) damage to the speakers long term, and/or b) your hearing. 85 dB average, 105 dB peak is often referred to as "reference" level, surely you know that already, that is really loud, not too bad in a movie cinema as people don't go to movie cinemas often enough to get their hearing damage.

Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1M):	88dB
Recommended Amplifier Power:	25-150W
Peak SPL:	103dB

Iirc, @dlaloum has experience with those Crown audio amps and speakers that has tough impedance/phase angle similar to the Aura 2's, so you may want to run it by him too.

 

[rvsixer]

Thing is, Hypex amps with such power are considerably more expensive - that's the reason why I am considering the Crown Audio

A 500W stereo Hypex is around $700, the Crown is about $550. In the world of audio, I don't think of $150 as a considerable difference (and for tech specs the Hypex is far better than the Crown)?

 

[Deleted member 71304]

A 500W stereo Hypex is around $700, the Crown is about $550. In the world of audio, I don't think of $150 as a considerable difference (and for tech specs the Hypex is far better than the Crown)?

I would be very thankful if you could point me to a Hypex Amp with that power for 700€

 

[rvsixer]

I would be very thankful if you could point me to a Hypex Amp with that power for 700€

From the US:
https://www.buckeyeamp.com/shop/amplifiers/hypex/nc502mp/2_channel

In Europe I would usually go to Audiophonics, but for some reason they appear to be out of stock on NC502 now

 

[peng]

I would be very thankful if you could point me to a Hypex Amp with that power for 700€

That 500 W is for test at 1 kHz, 1% THD+N and if he referred to the buckeyeamp (I have one), then for your kind of use, I would suggest you use an ext fan to help cool it. Those amps rely mainly on the enclosure/chassis for cooling. I am also not sure if you can buy the buckeyeamp in Europe, but you likely can get the Audiophonic, or Apollon.

AUDIOPHONICS LPA-S500NC Power Amplifier Class D Stereo Ncore NC502MP 2x500W 4 Ohm - Audiophonics

Stereo amplifier based on amplification module Hypex Ncore NC502MP with RCA and XLR inputs.

www.audiophonics.fr

Hypex NC502MP Module Stereo Amplifier | Apollon Audio

Hypex NC502MP NCore Stereo Amplifier delivering power for the most demanding studio, PA or audiophile speakers with amazing clarity & brutal honest linear sound

apollonaudio.com

 

[peng]

From the US:
https://www.buckeyeamp.com/shop/amplifiers/hypex/nc502mp/2_channel

In Europe I would usually go to Audiophonics, but for some reason they appear to be out of stock on NC502 now

You beat me to it.

 

[Deleted member 71304]

Cheers to both of you!
It's great to come here and find friendly people

 

[dlaloum]

The Crown will do the job without any trouble - my speakers are 86db/wm (according to spec sheet... actually 2.83v) - and drop down to 1.6ohm - so not dissimilar in terms of how hard they can be to drive.

In value terms, it can be highly geographic.... what is available and economical in your area, may differ substantially from the pricing and availability elsewhere.

About 12 years ago, there was much talk about the Crown XLS series, at the time there were deep discounts available particularly in the USA, and a lot of people also bought them for their garage bands... which typically don't last too long, and end up reselling their kit used.
Hence I came across a pair of XLS2500's for US$250 each (I had to pay a substantial amount to get them shipped to australia!)... on a pro-audio associated forum - not on an audiophile forum. They were 110V (US Standard) - and required a minor modification (jumper on the power supply board) to reconfigure them for 230V... - Which I had to do research on before committing to the purchase.

In any case, in this relatively complex manner, I managed to get a pair of XLS2500's for less than 25% of the local new price.

They are in daily use now, and running perfectly more than 10 years later.... (and were purchased used!)

Robust, reliable, oodles of power and current - what's not to like!?!

No, I have not compared them to current SOTA ClassD amps - my comparisons have been to Quad 606 / 707 power amps, and the onboard power amps for Onkyo SR876, Integra DTR70.4 and Integra DRX3.4 AVR's.

Without going full double blind... I could not confidently tell you that the Crowns are better or worse than the Quad's or the SR876/DTR70.4.... they are substantially and noticeably better than the DRX3.4. (but the DRX 3.4 does not like speakers with impedances below 4 ohm... so it was no surprise!)


The key point here is this - If you can get a used XLS in your region (or outside your region if you are willing to take the risks) - especially from pro-audio environments, they can be fabulous value.... on the other hand, there may be alternate options that are better value where you are.

Any of the Quad power amps (606/707/909, and later) are unconditionally stable into any load... and have been on the market since around 1986.... - bargains can sometimes be found there too - for those of us with "difficult" speakers.

Nothing against the Hypex amps - I have looked at them a few times... but have no reason (other than curiosity) to get another amp!... and although they are decent value (for new amps), they are not cheap.

Best of luck.

 

[Deleted member 71304]

The Crown will do the job without any trouble - my speakers are 86db/wm (according to spec sheet... actually 2.83v) - and drop down to 1.6ohm - so not dissimilar in terms of how hard they can be to drive.

In value terms, it can be highly geographic.... what is available and economical in your area, may differ substantially from the pricing and availability elsewhere.

About 12 years ago, there was much talk about the Crown XLS series, at the time there were deep discounts available particularly in the USA, and a lot of people also bought them for their garage bands... which typically don't last too long, and end up reselling their kit used.
Hence I came across a pair of XLS2500's for US$250 each (I had to pay a substantial amount to get them shipped to australia!)... on a pro-audio associated forum - not on an audiophile forum. They were 110V (US Standard) - and required a minor modification (jumper on the power supply board) to reconfigure them for 230V... - Which I had to do research on before committing to the purchase.

In any case, in this relatively complex manner, I managed to get a pair of XLS2500's for less than 25% of the local new price.

They are in daily use now, and running perfectly more than 10 years later.... (and were purchased used!)

Robust, reliable, oodles of power and current - what's not to like!?!

No, I have not compared them to current SOTA ClassD amps - my comparisons have been to Quad 606 / 707 power amps, and the onboard power amps for Onkyo SR876, Integra DTR70.4 and Integra DRX3.4 AVR's.

Without going full double blind... I could not confidently tell you that the Crowns are better or worse than the Quad's or the SR876/DTR70.4.... they are substantially and noticeably better than the DRX3.4. (but the DRX 3.4 does not like speakers with impedances below 4 ohm... so it was no surprise!)


The key point here is this - If you can get a used XLS in your region (or outside your region if you are willing to take the risks) - especially from pro-audio environments, they can be fabulous value.... on the other hand, there may be alternate options that are better value where you are.

Any of the Quad power amps (606/707/909, and later) are unconditionally stable into any load... and have been on the market since around 1986.... - bargains can sometimes be found there too - for those of us with "difficult" speakers.

Nothing against the Hypex amps - I have looked at them a few times... but have no reason (other than curiosity) to get another amp!... and although they are decent value (for new amps), they are not cheap.

Best of luck.

Thank you very much for your response. It is indeed enlightening (sorry if my vocabulary is not accurate, english is not my mother tongue)
Considering that Thomann has a generous return policy I think I'll try the XLS - atlhough it doubles the maximum power that the speaker can handle I will certainly not feed all of it (among other reasons because that would not be a pleasant experience)
However having all that extra power can be good, right? (I think the key concepts in this regard are "headroom" and/or "dynamic range", saw Erin's video a while back but forgot everything jajajaja)

 

[dlaloum]

Thank you very much for your response. It is indeed enlightening (sorry if my vocabulary is not accurate, english is not my mother tongue)
Considering that Thomann has a generous return policy I think I'll try the XLS - atlhough it doubles the maximum power that the speaker can handle I will certainly not feed all of it (among other reasons because that would not be a pleasant experience)
However having all that extra power can be good, right? (I think the key concepts in this regard are "headroom" and/or "dynamic range", saw Erin's video a while back but forgot everything jajajaja)

My XLS2500 is rated 440W.... in normal listening I average 1W and seldom go over 4W.... and have never used as much as 16W.

But they handle everything with "ease"

(Yes I could drop down to an XLS1500 without any concern at all.... but I bought them used, and for a lot less than the XLS1500 would have cost me!.... "nothing succeeds like excess" )

 

[peng]

My XLS2500 is rated 440W.... in normal listening I average 1W and seldom go over 4W.... and have never used as much as 16W.

But they handle everything with "ease"

(Yes I could drop down to an XLS1500 without any concern at all.... but I bought them used, and for a lot less than the XLS1500 would have cost me!.... "nothing succeeds like excess" )

Buying something like the XLS2502 is a great idea, as those things were truly built like tanks.

 

[rvsixer]

Y'all worry too much imo. My measured 82dB sensitivity speakers work fine on both my XLS1502 and even my lowly Denon X4800 driving a 5.x.4 system at 75-80dB (~95-100dB peaks). In room MLP THD figures for both iirc were fine for either at loud listening levels. I do have a relatively small room though.

Even a Hypex NC252 would likely be overkill (which is my next purchase just to unload the Denon a bit, and it will of course it will sound much much better due to placebo effects since it has overall much higher performance metrics than the the Crowns lol). Moral of story = the Crown might leave you wondering if its good enough, Hypex = no wondering for only a Benjamin or so more = no upgrade needed later just buy it for life.

 

[MediumRare]

How audible is the difference between this amplifier and a Hypex when powering low sensitivity speakers (under 85dB) with minimum impedance of 3.1Ω and min. EPDR 1.4Ω?
The listening distance is 2-3m. and average SPL 80-85 dB in a 15-20 sq. m. room
Cheers in advance for any help

With a room that size and your moderate listening volume you will rarely use more than 5 watts continuous, 50 watts for dynamics. So as the earlier commenter pointed out, under these conditions there will be no audible difference between any modern solid state amp at all. The Hypex NC252 is an exemplary option, but no need to spend that much if money is a consideration. http://www.hometheaterengineering.com/splcalculator.html