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Crown XLS1500 DriveCore Series Power Amp

03 Nov, 2015

What was impossible is now possible

The Crown XLS Series amplifier provides many formidable, note-worthy features: It has XLR, 1/4" Phone, and RCA input connectors. The speaker output connectors are 4-pole Speakon, and Binding Post (for bare wire). This immediately meets the requirements of DJs, Gigging Musicians, and Live Sound Engineers. [Note: it is my understanding that the Binding Post Output Jacks commonly called "Dual Banana Terminals" (in the USA) are slightly different on the European models. In the European models, the Banana Terminal Access ports are plugged to prevent European power plugs from being inserted into these speaker output jacks]. The XLS Series amplifier provides a front panel accessible LCD Screen w/ associated controls to conveniently preset the amplifier to a Stereo, Bridge-mono, or 2-way Bi-amplified configuration. This certainly avoids having to feel around in the rear/dark side of an amp rack in a panicked attempt to get an amplifier(s) re-configured in time for the show to start... This Series features an internal 24dB per octave electronic crossover w/ a more than sufficient number of selectable crossover points. This feature avoids the requirement to purchase an additional external active crossover costing hundreds of dollars. The XLS Series amplifier further provides extensive protection circuitry to protect both the amplifier and the speakers. For many decades, the best deal a customer could hope for when purchasing a professional quality audio power amplifier was about $1 per watt. As such, 10 years ago, a high quality 1500 watt amplifier would have cost $1500; but now on ebay, a deal on a new Crown XLS1500 can be found at less than $0.15 per watt. This is pretty incredible considering that the roots of Crown International were formed in 1947 and their power amplifiers have clearly been the industry standard in the professional sound reinforcement, recording, and cinema arenas since the 1960s. Class D power amplifiers, like the Crown XLS Series, utilize a fast, switching power supplies that eliminates the bulky, heavy iron-core power transformer common to other class amplifiers. As such a traditional amplifier weighing 40 or 50 pounds can be manufactured in a Class-D design weighing less than 10 pounds (8.6 pounds for the Crown XLS 1500). Initially (1980s and 1990s), Class-D amplifier designs had some unfavorable sonic tendencies and several major amplifier manufacturers completely bailed on this technology. But today, the anomalies that plagued previous Class-D amplifier designs have apparently been resolved. Class-D has definitely found a strong customer base in both the professional and consumer markets. In particular, I trust the Crown XLS Series because of the Crown name and the Crown legacy of designing professional industry standard power amplifiers for 55 years. The XLS Series is Crown's most inexpensive series of amplifiers. This is Crown's budget series amplifier. They are made in China per Crown specifications. On an electronic test bench, I would not expect an XLS Series amplifier to measure up to the tight response characteristics and tolerances that are demanded of Crown's more traditional amplifier designs (amplifiers that cost and/or weigh much more). For instance, a typical output performance rating on a more expensive Crown amplifiers might be +/-0.1 dB from 20 Hz to 20 KHz at 1 watt. The Frequency response of the XLS Series is +0 dB, -1 dB from 20 Hz to 20 KHz at 1 watt. This 0.9 dB difference in response between the XLS amplifier and the more expensive Crown amplifier will probably "intellectually" bother the typical audiophile. ...But it is very difficult for the average human to distinguish a change in volume of 2 decibels; much less a decrease in volume of less than 1 decibel at the extreme lowest end of the spectrum for Human hearing. (As a reference: The energy of most Kick Drums peak between 60 and 80 Hz; not 20 Hz...). Simply ask, "Do I want to listen to this thing or fly it to the moon?" Another typical spec on a more expensive Crown Amplifier series is: X-number Watts into 2 ohms (both channels driven). This same spec on the XLS Series amplifier does not state "both channels driven." This is partially due to the fact that a Class-D amplifier tends to be more dependent on the instantaneous power that the wall power outlet is capable of delivering. Other amp designs have the heavy iron core power transformer with large filter capacitors that enable the amp to meet the demand for sustaining a greater continuous output over time. If budget and weight are not a serious limiting factor, then I would recommend considering a more traditional (heavier and/or more costly) Crown amplifier series. But if you are a 'get the most bang for the buck' consumer, then the XLS Series is a good choice.

2 of 2 found this helpful

05 Dec, 2010

Sigma has finallly done it!

Consumers inevitably fall into the trap of becoming hyped by "This one lens has a zoom range from 10mm to the Hubbell Telescope!!!" Specifications can often be misleading and deceptive. The one problem that plagues lenses (particularly in the 10-70mm range) is pillowing and/or pincushion distortion. Pincushion gives an image a "bloated" look (i.e. the onset of a "fish-eye" lens effect). This effect initiated the saying, "The camera adds 10 pounds to a person." Pincushion is the opposite effect. Pillowing and/or pincushion distortion is easily seen by viewing a 30-day calendar & rotating the zoom ring on the lens. Observe the outside vertical & horizontal lines of the calendar & note if these lines are not perfectly straight (or that they begin to bend somewhere in the zoom range). You can also look at a vertical edge (i.e. edge of a door frame, corner of a wall, or structural beam). Place this vertical edge at the right or left extreme of your camera's view finder and rotate the zoom ring. You will probably become just as discouraged as I have been for the last 5 years when you begin to ask yourself, "Am I looking through a quality lens or at a "fun house mirror" at an amusement park?" For example of Pillowing Distortion (See): http://www.photos-of-the-year.com/barrel-distortion/1.jpg For examples of Pincushion Distortion (See): http://www.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&aq=0&oq=pincushion&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4FUJA_enUS332US332&q=pincushion+distortion&oi=image_result_group&sa=X An excellent Lens Review Resource (See): http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/ For years, I have periodically examined and studied review after review in-search of a lens for a Digital SLR camera that has a zoom range of 18-200mm or 18-250mm that is not plagued by pillowing and/or pincushion distortion . . . I have never found it (at least not available for those of us who fall short of a budget like N.A.S.A.’s - - - or, more accurately, the budget they used to have…) The alternative is to break up the desired “zoom spectrum” with 2 lenses (or 3 lenses). Because of the smaller sensor in most Digital SLRs, there is a magnification factor of 1.5X or 1.6X which causes a loss in wide angle (i.e. a 20mm lens on most DSLR cameras is actually 20mm X 1.5 = “30mm”) The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Lens is the first lens that I have discovered in this zoom range that provides acceptable pillowing and/or pincushion distortion. It is actually quite phenomenal in this regard. To this collection I have added the Sigma 10-20mm EX DC Super Wide-Angle Lens (excellent architectural lens; as long as the lens is perpendicular to the subject) and I plan on purchasing the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG Macro Lens to finish the set.

05 Dec, 2010

Sigma has finallly done it!

Consumers inevitably fall into the trap of becoming hyped by "This one lens has a zoom range from 10mm to the Hubbell Telescope!!!" Specifications can often be misleading and deceptive. The one problem that plagues lenses (particularly in the 10-70mm range) is pillowing and/or pincushion distortion. Pincushion gives an image a "bloated" look (i.e. the onset of a "fish-eye" lens effect). This effect initiated the saying, "The camera adds 10 pounds to a person." Pincushion is the opposite effect. Pillowing and/or pincushion distortion is easily seen by viewing a 30-day calendar & rotating the zoom ring on the lens. Observe the outside vertical & horizontal lines of the calendar & note if these lines are not perfectly straight (or that they begin to bend somewhere in the zoom range). You can also look at a vertical edge (i.e. edge of a door frame, corner of a wall, or structural beam). Place this vertical edge at the right or left extreme of your camera's view finder and rotate the zoom ring. You will probably become just as discouraged as I have been for the last 5 years when you begin to ask yourself, "Am I looking through a quality lens or at a "fun house mirror" at an amusement park?" For example of Pillowing Distortion (See): http://www.photos-of-the-year.com/barrel-distortion/1.jpg For examples of Pincushion Distortion (See): http://www.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&aq=0&oq=pincushion&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4FUJA_enUS332US332&q=pincushion+distortion&oi=image_result_group&sa=X An excellent Lens Review Resource (See): http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/ For years, I have periodically examined and studied review after review in-search of a lens for a Digital SLR camera that has a zoom range of 18-200mm or 18-250mm that is not plagued by pillowing and/or pincushion distortion . . . I have never found it (at least not available for those of us who fall short of a budget like N.A.S.A.’s - - - or, more accurately, the budget they used to have…) The alternative is to break up the desired “zoom spectrum” with 2 lenses (or 3 lenses). Because of the smaller sensor in most Digital SLRs, there is a magnification factor of 1.5X or 1.6X which causes a loss in wide angle (i.e. a 20mm lens on most DSLR cameras is actually 20mm X 1.5 = “30mm”) The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Lens is the first lens that I have discovered in this zoom range that provides acceptable pillowing and/or pincushion distortion. It is actually quite phenomenal in this regard. To this collection I have added the Sigma 10-20mm EX DC Super Wide-Angle Lens (excellent architectural lens; as long as the lens is perpendicular to the subject) and I plan on purchasing the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG Macro Lens to finish the set.

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