A vintage Crown stereo hi-fi preamp with exceptional build quality updated for modern performance.

A sleeper preamp. A beautiful classic that can easily be updated to have fully modern performance.

[@robertwheeler4068]

Hi Barry! I've been a Crown owner/user since the mid 70's! Absolutely love every piece I have! Matched with JBL's...well...you get the picture! Clean full sound as it was intended to be heard, year after year!👍

[@ericnortan9012]

Really cool. I own a Crown XLI2500 amp. Love that thing, have it powering my fronts in my living room. Really solid built amp, ton of power, clean AB sound and way less expensive than a "home HiFi" amp. My amp is supposed to be on the lower end of Crown's gear but I have a hard time finding a justification to replace it.

[@grob318]

Hi Barry, I've had an IC 150A since the mid 80s. I got it for $150 originally. 1 channel went out 20 years ago and I finally sent it out for repair. It was the op amp that died so he replaced both with modern op amps and repaired the power supply which was causing the failure. It cost $350, but the parts were $29. I can't honestly say it sounds better, being 20 years since I heard it, but it does sound great with my Hafler 200 and 500. He is supposed to send me a report on the parts and specs it is running at now. Being a keyboard musician I like the Aux 3 - 1/4” inputs on the front panel.

[@Barry-Watson]

Great! You could remove the cover and look at the number on the op-amp chip, it's probably labeled. I'd expect most any modern op-amp (that fits this application) to be a lot better than the original 1970s vintage IC.

[@grob318]

@@Barry-Watson I have looked at them, but can't make out the entire label... pretty small. I sent it to a real good shop that specializes in vintage audio gear. Aural Audio in Denver. They should send me a report. Thanks and good video.

[@steverosiefischer3334]

@Barry-Watson I have this pre-amp combined with a DC-150a power amp combo in-cabinet and would like to use it with some France brand vintage speakers that are 8 ohm. I have no idea how many watts the speakers are rated. Have you heard of France speakers? Also, what would be the advantage of combining the DC-150 amp with the IC-150a pre amp? I’m pretty much clueless when it comes to this stuff. This video intrigued me into wanting to restore and use this pre-amp for listening pleasure. Both the Crown and France speakers were inherited from family.

[@Barry-Watson]

I'm not familiar with the "France" brand of speakers, I know Focal... There are a number of respected speakers made in France, but I don't know any that go by that as a brand name. But, I don't know everything. For home Hifi use I wouldn't worry too much about using them with that power amp, unless you are the type to crank things to ridiculous loud levels. I'm sure it will be fine. For example, right now I have an amplifier that's capable of 500-750 watts per channel driving my bookshelf speakers (Yamaha P5000S). It could toast those speakers if I tried, but I just don't get stupid with the volume control. It works great, sounds great. Plenty of headroom ;) The DC-150 isn't really crazy powerful anyway. Remember, volume down, amps on last... amps off first. No pops/bangs that way. I think the Crown DC-150 is a solid performer, a good amp, assuming it's working properly. And, aesthetically it should match the preamp nicely. It's generally regarded as a good-sounding, reliable amplifier. But, there's nothing really special about that particular amplifier with that preamp, you could use any amplifier you like that can accept an unbalanced signal as provided by the preamp. Some audiophiles of the time thought that the IC-150 preamp had a hard, brittle, edgy, or overly clinical sound, and if that's your experience you can replace the op-amp IC as I talk about in this video and elevate the performance. That whole preamp is basically built around one IC with some minor support components. Op-amps have improved a lot since the early 70s. I'm using a pretty similar setup, and I really like it. Of course that equipment is getting quite a few years on it now, so if you experience issues with low level hum, it might be time to put some fresh filter capacitors into the power supply, maybe update some inexpensive signal coupling capacitors. I think that's great stuff, from a great era in audio. I would think a matching preamp, power amp, and the matching crown wooden case would be a pretty valuable setup on the vintage audio marketplace. Lucky you! Good luck, and happy listening! Hook it up, plug it in, and let us know how it goes.

[@MArk-yn4sp]

Hi Barry, is there a method you can suggest in identifying an amp/ instrument/ PA problem, and systematically working towards the root cause?

[@Barry-Watson]

Good topic idea. I simplify until it works, and then add one piece at a time until the failure occurs - and then you know where the problem lies.

[@KC2QMA]

What was the part number of the drop In Op-Amp you used in you IC-150?

[@Barry-Watson]

I'd have to double-check, I believe I used OPA134. The OPA627 may be an even better choice. With modern op-amps that have the ability to operate at very high frequencies, I'd consider placing a small capacitor (like 50pf) across R133 and R233 to prevent possible ultrasonic oscillation if it occurs (put a scope on the outputs and check for HF ringing). The OPA series are a little more expensive than some other good choices, but are well regarded for sound quality. There's an audiophile debate about the very best sounding op-amps. but the differentces are inaudible to most people. There are a number of op-amps that are suitable. I think a 5532 may also be a good choice, it's inexpensive and can drive moderate loads. To my ears they sound nice too. It's not hard to find a modern inexpensive op-amp that will vastly outperform the 70's vintage parts that were originally used.

[@chrisgalloway9531]

I have a Crown Straight Line ll preamp, can you do the same upgrade to it for me, I would like to get an advantage on the rest of my Dj competition?

[@Barry-Watson]

The SL2 preamp has a reputation for excellent sound. I doubt it really needs any modification.