In Reply to: Crown XLS DriveCore Amp Craze on YouTube........ posted by Todd Krieger on March 25, 2020 at 02:33:27:
I have been using one intermittently over the past 2 years, for the "best" performance you need to use the xlr inputs and speakon outputs, the rca inputs and banana outputs sounds awful. Also you need to use decent footers and place about 9-12 lbs weight on the top panel.
My take is that it's a decent amp for the price but has its limitations, the most obvious is the midrange, very thin almost "sterile" in comparison to my tube amp and crowns xti line..the top is laid back in the configuration I mentioned(vs. splashy using rca/banana), the bass is tight and a little lean.
I usually use the crown xti 1002 on the twin bass drivers of my biamped speakers with my tube amp on the midrange/tweeter crossed over @320Hz./24db.(see my setup in profile). However, summertime I switch to all solid state due to the humidity of NYC. Previously I used an Exposure amp for the mid/hi but sold that and bought the xls to see what the craze was all about figuring I could use the xti on the mid/hi with the xls on the bass...the xti is pretty good full range, meaty bass, solid body in the midrange and kinda relaxed upper range, only lacking that 3D imaging of a tube amp.
My take is that it's a good deal for the performance, however you need to use the aforementioned connectors to get the best results. If you open it up and look at the signal paths of the input/output connectors you will immediately see why xlr/speakon are the better way to go.
It's been a over a year since I tried it full range, and since I no longer have a full range speaker, I may not have the means to revisit that experiment.
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- RE: Crown XLS DriveCore Amp Craze on YouTube........ - JoeKool 03/25/2021:04:41 03/25/20 (0)