Is Crown REALLY the answer? A Review of the XLS 2502 power amplifier!

Underappreciated or Overhyped?
Intro music by: Edgar Hopp - 'Skyfall'
Adoramas Crown XLS 2502 Product Page:
www.adorama.co...
#Crown #XLS2502 #ZeroFidelity
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Amps featured in this review:
Jungson JA-99C (Note: You will need to e-mail China HiFi to get the price of the amp by itself)
www.china-hifi...
XTZ Edge A2-300
www.xtzsound.c...
Denafrips Hyperion
www.denafrips....
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Speakers used in this evaluation:
Harbeth P3ESR
www.harbeth.co...
Dynaudio Evoke 10
www.dynaudio.c...
Buchardt Audio S400
www.buchardtau...
System Audio SA-Legend 5
system-audio.c...
Tekton Design Double Impact
www.tektondesi...
Klipsch Cornwall IV
www.klipsch.co...
Klipsch RP600M
www.klipsch.co...
ELAC Debut Reference DBR62
www.elac.com/s...
Triangle BRO3
www.trianglehi...
Triangle Australe EZ
www.trianglehi...

[@GregDrinkwater]

The rear speaker terminals DO take banana plugs, you just have to take out the little plugs that are in there for European safety standards

[@StrangerInParadise58]

Greg Drinkwater Agreed! I am using a pair of the XLS1502 in bridge mode, with Banana Plug 12awg cables, to power my Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers paired with dual SVS SB3000 Subwoofers and ... OMG! ... the artists are in the room with me! I am now a believer in the Crown XLS Drivecore 2 series amplifiers!

[@jimshaw899]

So THAT'S why those are there! PITA.

[@thecman26]

@@jimshaw899 that they are, a total pita!

[@trinhinc]

yep. i have one too. will accept banana plugs. you just have to remove the caps.

[@AndyBHome]

@Ikea Lamp agreed! I tried using drywall screws and it made my life a lot easier. You carefully drive the screw into the plug with a screwdriver and pull it out with pliers. It destroys the plug/cap, but I'm just throwing them away so it's okay. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3POm3qBoJ6SrsU

[@warrenosborne6044]

Back in the 80's-90's I played bass full time on the road. Our PA had 8 Crown DC 300 power amps. They never gave a moments trouble. Clean and knocked drunks off their feet. As far as I'm concerned Crown is the best power amp made.

[@timothymoorman7437]

When bridged you can use the Crown to go ahead and weld up the frame of your dragster...

[@pchlars5666]

Interesting review. I'am glad that you are not afraid of comparing pro gear to Hi -fi. As many of us know ZReviews use 2 XLS crowns in his main system. He seams to be pretty happy with them. Thank you for sharing your point of view.

[@hibbasc1]

I installed 2 of these in a professional fixed installation in a school gym. One powers 6 JBL AWC129 full range speakers and the other powers (2) double 10” JBL subs. Provides plenty of power and the dynamics are great - the amp doesn’t clip even when driven hard and stays cool as a cucumber. Great value

[@damnitdang]

What can I use to just power shelf speakers? And this crown on a 18" sub.

[@wm437]

I have 5 of these amps, 3 2502's and two 1002's connected to a Yamaha surround receiver. I'm running the 3 2502's in bridged mono mode, L/R - Sub, the 1002 for the center bridged mono mode and one 1002 for the rear in stereo mode. And let me tell you when these thing pound they literally take your breath away. This setup rivals that of many movie theaters. I have no need of going to the movies anymore although my neighbors wish I did, lol. I love these amps. Thank you for the great review.

[@bobpfeiffer9745]

Will V awesome!! What speakers are you powering with them? Thanks.

[@wm437]

@@bobpfeiffer9745 I'm using JBL's for the fronts and sub, Klipsch for the center and rear. No sides as my apartment is quite small and with this setup the walls want to expand on their own, lol. P.S. My neighbors really dislike the movie U-571🙉

[@esolo4751]

This is the comment I'm looking for. I have 11.4.3 and soon to be even more. I need more power for my lcr. I'm currently 10-12 feet away from them. The processor isn't enough to get the b&w 702 to a desirable immersion level. I need more chooch😅

[@drakedoragon3026]

My buddy has this amp connected to his Yamaha reciever running KEF LS50's and we both heard a HUGE difference. This is a beast and a great value.

[@buttonman1831]

@@crashkdw Funny, I did find it dry and thin but if you are used to a Yamaha Receiver it would sound much more robust.

[@sequentialgear]

I too have a pair of LS50's with an XLS1500, and it definitely works. Not a hint of harshness, bass has great control, sweet detailed highs, just the kind of power the Kef needs!

[@bilguana11]

I have had great results with the Crown XLS1502 powering my ELAC Adante floor standing loudspeakers: they are more dynamic and detailed than with a Class A/B amp - just what the audiophile doctor ordered.

[@substrate001]

This amp is *_INCREDIBLY VERSATILE_* and can be used to build anything from a 2-channel stereo to a Tri-amped, Band-passed set of three-way active speakers(via the built-in electronic x-overs!). For me, your review nailed the sound *perfectly.* It doesn't really have one, which is what I want. Sounds great with Magnepans for sure. Outstanding value, very balanced sounding. It will drive anything until either it fails or your ears do. I worked in the high-end audio business from 1980 til about 2000. The best way I can describe these is they give you about 90~95% of the sound of the "real" high-end at about 5~10% of the cost. Very honest review, thanks for that. Oh yeah, like every one else has said: banana plugs work fine. The manual tells you straight outta the gate to remove those little 'pins' so you can use bananas. It also explains the wide array of x-over configurations and different amp modes. Cheers!

[@nathanloggins1721]

Correction it does accept banana speaker plugs I own two XLS 1502 amps they stick right in the middle of the speaker terminals.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

But in Europe, you need to remove a safety plug to enable the use of banana plugs. But it is removable plug, so you can use with banana plugs.

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

@@Gadgetdad007 That is just to tell that if you need tons of power, then XLS drivecore 2 might not be the best choice. But for most speakers they are more than capable.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

@@Gadgetdad007 Crown might be somewhat optimistic about the power rating, but they also have a power rating guide which tells for what kind of power you need, how much watts you need. And if you need 200 watts, you should have 400 to keep the sound quality as good as possible.

[@oysteinsoreide4323]

@land otter1 Crown gives hiss in the tweeter element. Unless you have a crazy efficient speakers, you will not be bothered about it. You have to take your ears close to the speakers to really hear it.

[@MotivatedMetalworks]

I've been running a Crown Com Tech 400 for my push-pull dual-12" Eminence Lab 12 sealed 3cf sub for about 18 years. It's rated 440w bridged and will blow your mind with how tight and musical it is in that application. I'd even say it rivals a servo sub for controlled punch, which is remarkable for an amp designed for retail PA applications.

[@RickMahoney2013]

Sean stay tough and keep Zero Fidelity going please.

[@CaptainCrunch823]

Thanks for the review! FYI - this works with banana plugs but you have to remove the small removable plastic covers at the end of the terminals (they were designed to come off). I connect my REL Subs to the bare wire connection points and then banana plugs for my KEF LS50 speakers connect to the ends of the terminals if you've removed the plastic plugs.

[@YitbosSwede]

How are the LS50's with the Crown? I am debating looking into LS50's as an upgrade to my current setup. Currently have SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers, Crown XLS 1502 amplifier, and a Schiit Saga tube preamp. I have just heard they are sensitive to their front end.

[@CaptainCrunch823]

YitbosSwede I have LS50 with Crown 2502 in two different rooms of my home so really like the pairing but they need a warm sounding preamp to make things sound great in my opinion.

[@YitbosSwede]

@@CaptainCrunch823 Thanks! I actually found a good local deal on them and am going to pull the trigger. Going to see if the tubes I have are enough to give some warmth. The SVS were fine with all 5 tubes, but I have been demoing ML Motion 35XT's and Triangle Titus EZ's, and they are more limited to what tubes, or if passive mode, sounds better. I was able to find favorites for them all, so I think I have a few ideas for when I get the LS50's hooked up this weekend.

[@qua7771]

@@YitbosSwede After these years, how did this system work out for you? I'm considering this set up.

[@ItalianCJM8232]

Sean I agree 100% that these are a monster value. The bass was very taught and full and the control of the 6.5” drivers on my JBL 580’s was excellent. My beef was the lack of a good center image and soundstage. Also with my JBL’s I found the highs a touch bright. I loved the power and the look, but in the end I swapped them out for Outlaw 2200 Monoblocks which are about the same cost. I love the outlaws they have the powerful feel and sound of the crown, yet the soundstage is great the highs are clear yet not harsh like the crown for me in my set up. Great review and Thanks for your contribution to the hi fit community!

[@07zx14White]

I agree as well. These sound surprisingly good and even better when price is considered. I was fairly impressed when my XLS 2502 was connected to a pre-out on an older Onkyo TX-SV7M receiver and out to JBL studio 590's. It sounded very good for the price. What blew me away is when I connected it to my PS Audio PCA-2 pre-amp via XLR cables and using a Marantz SA 8004 super audio CD player and again using the JBL Studio 590's. Clarity, dynamics, tight controlled bass, smooth clean midrange, and everyone that sits in "the seat" instantly starts searching for the non existent center speaker. Best center imaging I've ever had but I also used Paul Mcgowens book " The Audiophiles Guide" as reference for placement and setup. I really don't mean to boast so much about this amp but in my system it absolutely shines. It made me halt my purchase of a used PS Audio HCA-2 to match the pre-amp. Also the PCA-2 pre-amp is a big factor in this equation in that it is so life like, clean, delicate, crisp even at extreme volume levels. The HCA-2 for me removed the very tiny bit of shrill on the top end also. Well recorded live music almost truly feels like live music. For me there is no part of the sound spectrum that is exaggerated or lacking because of the amp. I'm not here to claim that the XLS 2502 is the best. I'm just saying that it matches extremely well with my modest audiophile set up.

[@temp7774]

Your reviews are the last bright spot in this hi-end, hi-fi, hi-bs review youtube world! Thank you.

[@cliffordcostley9798]

We need an "AudioSins".

[@kaneda7katsuragi]

Thanks for doing this review. I'm always surprised how many people write these amps off due to being pro-amps... It's an affordable option that sounds decent.

[@standutt932]

I have an older Crown class AB amplifier that has speaker terminals that look like those on the reviewed amplifier. Upon reading the user manual I discovered that the speaker terminals have small plugs in the end that can be removed to allow the user to plug in banana plugs. You may want to look closely at the speaker terminals.

[@Mad.Maxx.77]

I notice the "hiss" only when the gain is turned to its max level. I just keep the dials set at the 3 O'Clock position and there's no hiss or anything to spoil the sound. The XLS 2502 works great for my KEF LS50 Metas. Superb review, ZF!!

[@hermannmaischatz2695]

Thanks for the extensive detailed review. I highly appreciate it. I was always considering the Crown amplifier for my store and wasn't sure if I should keep it in my store to sell. But thanks ,yes you just gave me enough information to definitely sell it in my store. With me sitting in Windhoek Namibia ,Africa.It is always difficult to get access to an audition because my closest distributor sits 2,000 km away in Johannesburg South Africa. It might just be a bit more expensive here , but everything else is more expensive here anyway. Best regards Hermann

[@ThomasAndStereo]

Class D forever!! Maybe I should try this amp too.

[@nathanjones4039]

Thomas & Stereo it be interesting since you had that video of that killer home theatre that you reviewed where he used a few Crowns, but the noise floor issue would be a no go for me, and those terminals 🤮

[@progressiveguy9959]

Hi Thomas. I enjoy your reviews.

[@tee-jaythestereo-bargainph2120]

😥 Class Distrotion hahaha 😆 😆 just kidding with ya Thomas-N-Stereo ! Maybe the 👑 will drive those badass Focals you have with decent headroom , may sound like a snake in your listeing area though lol Its Been awhile buddy , Would love to hear your tale of the take on the Crown amp 😆 but me very curious of the Peachtree class D , I will buy a peachtree amp this year ! Me On that 6 figure pay this year 😆 And no more student loans ! APPRICATE all your all's help Thomas and Sean more than you both know !!

[@audiofun999]

Please do review it!

[@eltonc1505]

@Thomas & Stereo..... Can't wait to hear your take on it... !!!

[@RickMahoney2013]

Sean I love these kind of reviews, Thanks.

[@audiorick841]

Sean I own this exact same amp and I can say that you absolutely nailed it on every aspect. Great review! I feed it from Allo Boss directly using Roon, no preamp. I use the gain controls to cap the volume so I don’t blow my Wharfedale speakers by mistake. I was not too keen on the aesthetics so I put it inside a cabinet and I was worried about the heat but this thing runs absolutely cool the fan hardly ever comes on. I don’t hear any noise floor but my speakers are not that efficient. Now you have me curious, I’m going to have to hook it up to my Tekton DI’s and listen for hiss. If it sounds great on the DI’s, my Stellar stack might get booted out and the Crown promoted to the living room LOL

[@ericperry72]

Hey can you post your findings here please.

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@robertoruizantonetti6385]

I have a 1502 driving Martin Logan ESL speakers. It drives them well and matches the look of the speakers.

[@kenlemieux855]

Hey Roberto Shinjiro Ruiz Antonetti I have the same amp and speakers. I measured them using Dirac Live and noticed an audible rising response in the treble which I was able to measure using Dirac Live. I’ve read this can happen with electrostats when there is not enough current (not watts). I am now using an Adcom 5500. It sounds smoother and measures flatter. You might want to try a high current class AB amp. I am keeping the crown however because it is great to have around!

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@marianneoelund2940]

@@kenlemieux855 Adcom GFA 5500 has instantaneous output current limiting set to 27A (peak) which allows about 19A rms. That's the same as the Crown is spec'd for. Some Class D amps do have a high-end peak in frequency response but that's due to the output filter and feedback design - nothing to do with current capability.

[@arifnizami3378]

​@@marianneoelund2940kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

[@truthseeker6649]

this is probably the 3rd time I click the subscribe button. being an honest reviewer must be hard. keep up the good work !

[@peted7619]

Very accurate review. I have the xls2002. Absolutely kills my 5x price Parasound Halo Integrated. One thing you didn’t mention is it’s neutrality regardless of volume. Others amps usually have a sweet spot in volume, Crown stays refined low or high volume. It is a bit lean on bass though! Luckily I have a separate Sub. Only amp I have that can make any speaker sound great.

[@coguglielmi]

Gosh, that's interesting. I'm concerned about how different it sounds in terms of muscularity. Got the Hint too so that's why (and I've noticed the left channel has clearly become louder than the right, which really bothers me a lot...).

[@Ylojaketz]

Sean, you are the most authoritative reviewer out there. I too bought a pair of the Crown XLS 1502 to run bridged for powering my LSiM 707's. Couldn't be happier! Maybe you could do an item on how to properly set gain controls for us who are electronically challenged.

[@Alex-ov3bz]

Hi Zero, Just an FYI you can use banana plug you just have to pull out the plug in the center of the speaker cap. I use 12gauge with banana plugs.

[@b.a.2335]

That's what I thought! Thanks

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

Can't believe he wouldn't know that

[@b.a.2335]

Zero, I wonder if he'll comment and edit the review with sub titles giving you credit. When I looked at it I thought the same because I had to pull the same type of caps off my speakers. They're some kind of safety feature other countries require/use from my understanding.

[@mgsboedmisodpc2]

And of course angled pin SPEAKER connectors can be used

[@rafaelruiz-tagle358]

Such an awesome presentation. Thanks Zero Fidelity! Really good comparison as well. It really helps me think about my future purchase.

[@tomhalbouty3653]

These are very good sounding amplifiers for hi fidelity use and the power makes them sound effortless. I have other amplifiers with slightly different sound characteristics but frankly if you don't do direct AB comparisons, looking for differences, the Crowns really do a superb job.

[@zefrog7482]

Yeah, dynamics are amazing. People often forget that if they are listening at say 85dB, there could be dynamic bursts of say 30dB. If running a 50w speaker, even with 100w amplifier the dynamic range is really stunted by the power requirements needed for those sudden dynamics. Not a problem for the Crown whatsoever. Even with A/B comparisons, to my ears nothing really warrants the outlay over this thing to my ears, some do things a lot better at higher prices, but not that's made me think I need to buy them. And I think a massive part of that is due to the dynamic range, not something many will have experienced to the same degree unless they have ran amplifier's with so much headroom. Lol, imagine trying to have that dynamic range with the typical Audiophile recognised brands, would need to spend 10's or even 100's over the price of the Crown.

[@tubaphonium]

Thanks for a very thorough and thoughtful review! Your advice is much appreciated. Like you said, the ultimate call is mine, but you’ve saved me a lot of time by highlighting what to expect. Awesome review!!

[@kenlemieux855]

You can also adjust input sensitivity which can impact noise floor as well.

[@schemkesa]

Can we agree that a power amplifier does not need to have a "sound", but just amplifies the signal to drive your speakers? Nothing to add or subtract or change to the sound. Than the Crown is a steal and a no brainer to me. I'v got 2 of them driving my fronts L/R and my sub. Great amplifiers for a fraction of the price you pay for a stereo home (audiophile) amplifier. And... it will last forever, is compact and weights nothing and doesn't need a lot of power in standbye mode and doesn't need a pair of cooling fans, because they're already in it and you will never ever hear them. Absolutely love them

[@craighoffman6876]

Pretty darn impressive clean/neutral sounding and crazy powerful amp for the money. Good thing I did not have one of these in college, would probably be deaf now - LOL

[@ZeroFidelity]

So about those speaker terminals. Yes. I heard you all the first 100 times. Apparently they are EU plugs that can be removed via: a screw. So why didn't I catch that? Because I've yet to encounter anything like this. When I attempted to remove the caps via: a dental tool that's worked for me on literally every speaker and amp I've used it on, the plastic terminal posts began to crack. I then tried tweezers and got nowhere. Naturally, this led me to believe that the caps were never meant to pop off in the first place. Should I have dug around for more info? Sure. But I didn't, as my focus is more on the performance of this amp than on the speaker terminals. As for the noise floor: As mentioned in the review, this will be heavily influenced by the included gain controls. If you do encounter noise, that means you either run highly sensitive speakers or that you tilted gain beyond the half-way point. Otherwise, most of you won't hear any audible hiss coming from average efficiency speakers, especially at a distance between 4ft from the drivers.

[@BFArch0n]

You should really post something during your mentions of no bananna plug support to clarify for future viewers as it's not accurate. Regardless of your inability to perform the steps during your testing.

[@ZeroFidelity]

@@BFArch0n The post you're commenting on is my 'something'. Anybody who scrolls down into the comments section will get the idea that I'm the one who had an issue with the posts. Otherwise, the assessment of the amps natural performance, which is the focus of any of my reviews, should be reliable.

[@jamesbrotherton5487]

All we want is everything.

[@timbathras2660]

I own a pair of 1002’s to drive my Maggie’s and to remove the banana plug caps, I inserted a screw into the small hole in the center, tightened the screw and then pulled it out. Prying did not work at all.

[@wannerweiposse]

Great detailled review, Zero. I wonder if sound can be influenced in a positive way by hooking up a warm sounding pre-amp (tubes) ?

[@fendergibs9098]

@Richard NZ yes right around 500 hz, listen to Tube amps and compare VTL. Conrad Johnson, Lamm Audio

[@marianneoelund2940]

Yes, if you like tube character, that is one way to accomplish it.

[@ericnortan9012]

I own a Crown XLi2500 and really love it. It's an AB design, runs quiet and cool. It's a straight up amp, just 2 gain knobs 2 signal/clip indicators and a way too bright blue power light. It allows you to set the input voltage to match consumer equipment, the XLS has that same option. My XLi is rated at 500wpc 2 channel 8ohms. Great amp for the money, less than $500. And yes you can use banana plugs, you can on XLS too I'm pretty sure.🤘💀🤘

[@AndyBHome]

Yes. I wonder what Sean would think if an XLi series amp.

[@ericnortan9012]

To be honest I don't know, I'm not an "audiophile" I just love playing music and rockin' out. I know the sound they describe the seem to be searching for I have, maybe to a lesser extent. It's an AB and performs like an AB should, quiet, clean power. No added noise that I can detect. I think he may like it's performance. Especially with bigger 3-way fronts or passive subs

[@dilbyjones]

I’m in this camp.

[@ericnortan9012]

@@dilbyjones 🤘💀🤘 it's a good camp!

[@DonLee480]

Thank you for the awesome review. Hope you can review more class D amps like Apollon, Nord, etc.

[@juliangst]

Yeah, he really has to test those amps. Hypex modules are really well regarded in the audiophile community, I probably will end up with a pair of NC400 monoblocks which seem to outperform most of the stuff in that price range

[@tassostsoutis601]

@@juliangst I am looking into the NC400s too. Any input on pairing them with JRX215s or any other pairing?

[@juliangst]

@@tassostsoutis601 I never had jrx215 sorry xD

[@tassostsoutis601]

@@juliangst thanks for the reply

[@Xx-xd3zo]

Thanks for the review, Sean! Another peach, of course. Been wanting to see Crown's reviewed a la YT. You rule! Anyone checked out their XLI's? The Class A/B? Heard only so much about it.

[@amazoidal]

I hope Gene at Audioholics gets one of these to use his test equipment on.I would really want to see the true RMS output and THD.

[@Merlin-wo1kj]

@@rudtuc007 Now here's some usable information.. Thanks!

[@Woofy-tm8si]

Just note that class D distortion ratings are significantly different compared to class A or A/B amps. This is typical issue with pulse width modulation (class D) amp's switching gain stage, even the best of them.

[@ronaldhickman9953]

@@Woofy-tm8si so true ...but not realized.,.

[@Gary_M]

Maybe Gene can try it with those $50K RBH speakers he brags about in every video lol.

[@jcbrownfield4005]

@@Woofy-tm8si not really. It would be amp specific. Old myths die hard.

[@rotaks1]

Got the amp from Amazon. Thanks for your recommendations. You are accurate on all fronts! You are also right about the background noise that is controllable by keeping the gain at 50%. BTW, my DIs have never sounded the way they do with this amp. More bass and well controlled too. Also, the sound stage is eerily enveloping. Thanks again Sean for spotting these gems.

[@rotaks1]

@Ratt Wood love it! Listening right now. Schitt Freya and Zu DW. Blissful.

[@rotaks1]

@Ratt Wood i don’t have any knowledge of your gear. Amazon has a nice return policy though.

[@mrq1701]

I just bought an XLS 1502 to run my Polk Audio LSiM 705's. I am streaming Spotify through a Raspberry Pi 4 with an Allo DigiOne Signature top hat. I'm feeding a Topping E30 DAC with Coax and the DAC feeds the Crown 1502. Everything sounds great! I am running the Streamer and DAC off battery power and the Amp is plugged into a Furman Power strip/filter. I don't hear a background hiss. The noise floor sounds very low.

[@robertdevoy3119]

If the output/gain knobs are set to the 12 o'clock position will that reduce the available power to less than the rated power?

[@666PANDEMONIUM]

I use a Crown 2502 with my Wharfedale Jade 7s. I must say that it's the best amp that I've ever heard on them. Yes, I've had high-quality, vintage, expensive, class A amps before. Actually, the amp that I was using before this Crown was the Quad 405-2. The Crown beats the brakes off of the Quad in every way including finesse and resolution. The bass opened right up on my Wharfedales; tons of headroom. I use it with a variety of sources but my main source is balanced xlr out of my Emotiva XDA Differential Reference dac. I must say that this is pretty damn close to endgame for me. I'm thinking of picking up a Schiit Freya tube pre and calling it quits. Or maybe I'll spring for an Aesthetix Calypso. The only gripe I have with the Crown is a bit of tweeter hiss but that is standard fare in an amp this powerful and is not at all perceivable at the listening position. P.S. It does have banana plug inputs, you need to unscrew the terminals.

[@arkadiuszmikina4563]

Hey It's been a year since your comment. What do you think about Crown 2502 now? Do you still regard it as the best amp you've ever had? Many thanks

[@bobpfeiffer9745]

Thanks for a great review! You have to consider it if it doesn’t sound like a typical pro amp.

[@goffe2282]

This amp accepts banan plugs just fine. You need to remove the small plastic cap in the back of the terminals, but that's no problem. I use banan plugs myself.

[@mnoble247]

I'm active in many audiophile communities and I don't see people saying it's the end all be all. It's a solid amp for the price and has spec's that exceed the distortion levels of many speakers. NCore is where it's at as far as linearity and low distortion. The XLS series is in one word: Transparent.

[@flashhog01]

Terrific video! Looks like a great piece, pairing it with some Maggie LRS would be dynamite for someone beginning the audiophile journey.

[@scottpeck1149]

Hello there, thanks for the review, I have a rack system and am going to purchase one, I asked about pro audio on your live feed, you just answered it, thanks buddy for your expertise.👍

[@jhschmidMD4]

I know you address the wiring issue in your pinned comment, but since the use of Banana plugs and low gauge wiring is very important to me (and many folks), I feel the need to set the record straight. You CAN USE BANANA PLUGS on the Crown XLS amplifiers. You can use 10 gauge, or even lower gauge wiring with plugs. Since these amplifiers are sold world-wide, they ship with European-style protection plugs installed. You can easily remove the plugs (as I did) with a small screw and a pair of needle-nose pliers. You also did not mention that the amp has a normal/high sensitivity setting (1.4V vs .775V) to help deal with the hiss you might encounter when using high sensitivity speakers, and/or low consumer level pre-outs voltage. Yes, it IS a giant -killer, but I understand why you and other reviewers can't actually say that. In all other respects, a fine and fair assessment of the Crown XLS 2502.

[@ericnortan9012]

After owning an XLi2500 for a while, I don't think I would consider anything else. I love the sound, the power is awesome, can't beat the price for a 500wpc AB amp

[@CC6_Fanclub_President]

I have a little Denon AVR feeding this 2502... I use an Art Cleanbox pro between the AVR and Crown to convert unbalanced to balanced... This amp gives me plenty of power to push my 10" subs... Love this amp so far!

[@JinxCanada]

A few things about your review (and I have 2 of these ampl9ifiers..and have had many more of their other lower powered amps) first YES you can use banana plugs. There is a small plastic insert that is easily removed if you feed in a small screw and then pull it out. Second, the "hiss" is because you have the gain too high. Gain is NOT volume control. Third, you really should mention that you can adjust the input sensitivity from 1.4v to 0.775v to match up better with home audio gear. 1.4v is standard "pro" gear. This is a BIG improvement over the xls2500 where you would need something like an ART CleanBox Pro to adust the output power to match up with a pro amplifier to make it work properly. Yes...it will work without one BUT....the volume won't be there because home gear just doesn't put out enough volts to drive a pro amp normally. As for looks...well that's subjective. I think they look amazing especially in a rack system. The sound...well that's easy enough to EQ to adjust to a person's preferences. I'm very happy you reviewed this amplifier and I wish more reviewers would. It is absolutely in my opinion a "giant killer" and if set up correctly will blow your mind. I would suggest, and this is not meant to be negative at all, but I suggest you do a little more research on the product before doing a review so you truly know the in's and out's of the amplifier and all it's capable of. Thanks for the review!

[@markstill8258]

@Mark Godfrey Dude a lot home A/V's don't put out enough voltage to power pro amps it is a known problem. He is talking about the voltage going out of the RCA output not the wall. My 1502 driving a sub is completely anemic without boosting the pre amp output of my Onkyo even on the most sensitive setting. Why throw out the insults when you could respectfully disagree?

[@Gary_M]

Nice review. I was wondering how this one was going to go. Good to know it's not all just hype.

[@Bob-yl9pm]

I just got a XLS 2502 yesterday, and it sounds GREAT!

[@duken4evr]

A buddy has a pair of these (total overkill, but whatever) to drive his two 15" subs. No kidding, when he cranks it, the hit can alter your heartbeat and dust starts coming down from his popcorn ceiling - LMAO. It is freakin' visceral - potential death by subsonic...

[@anatol1204]

hiss?

[@Wynnytsky]

Love what you did from 19:40. Relative comparisons like that may offend vendors but it's pretty much exactly what the in-the-market-consumer needs to hear.

[@russmaleartist]

I am using a different model: the Crown 1502. With my DBX DriveRack PA2, I am able to make my speakers work with my room and adjust the sound of my speakers to MY TASTE which to me, is ultimately the goal -- not to suit an audio expert's bias, etc. In other words, my money, my time, my choice!

[@jimnagel5611]

THERE'S AN ONLINE REVIEWER (I CALL HIM LORD POTATOHEAD) THAT SWEARS HE CAN HEAR THE IMPROVEMENT OF $40,000 INTERCONNECTS IN A $650,000 SYSTEM ! THEY'RE ALL FULL OF SH1T & NOTHING MORE THAN SNAKE OIL SALESMEN -- IT'S HORSE CRAP -- IF IT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME AT THE TIME - IT'S THE BEST IN THE UNIVERSE -- MY CROWN SOUNDS TERRIFIC TO ME TOO ! 😱

[@amirjubran1845]

With the way modern music is mastered and EQ'd (compressed sound, exaggerated bass) I think it's becoming more and more important that equipment remains relatively neutral. I'm curious to try this amp through the pre-out of one of my integrated amps. Crank the gain on the pre-amp and keep the gain low on the Crown to keep the noise floor down. Thanks for the review.

[@aceofspades6667]

Thoughts on pairing this with something like the Maggie LRS & .7 s ? The Maggies are inefficient 86db so the noise floor shouldn't be a problem. Maggies love power so it should be a decent pairing.

[@filippiasec]

1/ Jacks can be used as inputs! 2/ Fan turns on mostly due to dust on radiators inside. 3/ Bananas you know already :)

[@DvjLuna]

I have the Crown XLS 2502 along with the 1502 and the 1002 to run various different speaker components within my home theater and I will tell you this... The sound quality is way better than what I expected and these amps can deliver the goods. My custom built speakers handle them very well and these amps makes it much more easier to fine tune the details of the signal to the different speakers that I have to get the absolute best potential within my theater. What I am trying to say is... I AM VERY PLEASED WITH MY CROWN AMPS!

[@d.r.martin6301]

An XLS1000 has been in my main system for over 12 years and it's never given a lick of trouble, while providing clean, listenable sound. It honestly conveys the signal my Audio Research SP9II sends it. And new it cost only $250. So long as you're feeding it a pro level signal, it's all that you would need.

[@kevonmanuel]

Crown has better AMPs. Correction - The Crown can use banana plugs. I own the XLS amps. Crown XLS review and measurements XLS 1502 www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-and-measurements-of-crown-xls-1502-amp.6062/ XLS 2502 www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/crown-xls2502-stereo-amplifier-review.10627/

[@royrodriguez4779]

NewYorkBlack yes, I believe you have to remove a plastic thingamajig from the center

[@ZeroFidelity]

Actually surprised by the measured power output of the 2502. I expected it to be (significantly) less. If I get to hang onto this for awhile, I may measure it myself to see if my results match up to theirs.

[@Xx-xd3zo]

NYB - You checked out the XLI - their class a/b? Heard it's better than the XLS...

[@licanueto]

Came to say the same thing about the banana plugs haha

[@ericnortan9012]

@@Xx-xd3zo I own XLi2500, great amp. I commented about it

[@NosEL34]

You put the banana plugs right down in that speaker wire hole. Fits like a glove. These amps are pretty good. I had no issue using these in a 2.1ch stereo.

[@kccryptkeeper4874]

Crown has been making some of the best amps for more than 35 years so I'm not surprised if it is a great amp.

[@caseykittel]

Sammy Licata making power amps since 1959

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

No they don't.

[@caseykittel]

carlos oliveira - they have made piles of junk too, but have made some really powerful and high quality amplifiers as well. I have the power base series that came out in the 90s. Damn thing fried a tone of my speakers when the output transformer melted. That was my friends fault really though. He fried it by playing it too loud for too long. Still don’t like those amps though. It’s like when someone drinks too much of something and then they don’t like that one drink any more.

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

@@caseykittelCrown has never made an amp I would use in my main system. I remember the Crown Macro Reference from the early 90s which was good and powerful but not great. They have mostly done pro gear which has different priorities. Even so I don't think they have the experience or audiophile mentality to build something that can compete with the upper echelon of amps made today. Most audiophiles just have no experience with high performance audio yet they partake in armchair reviewing incessantly. I've seen many reviews proclaiming the Crown XLS amps as audiophile quality but it just isn't so. They are best suited to power subs for Home Theater due to the watts per dollar ratio but even then they are a little weak on the bottom end but great for an average user. I'm 58 years old and have designed and built many Home Theaters and have owned and borrowed really high performance gear since I was 18 years old.

[@cablebrain9691]

@@carlosoliveira-rc2xt Have you heard this particular series of Crown amps? If so, how do they differ from an "audiophile" amp in the general vicinity of price?

[@caseykittel]

I used one of these for a velodyne sub after the plate amp blew. The original amp was lower wattage and way more expensive to have repaired. This is way better than the original amp. Ended up upgrading the woofer too after I blew the original woofer. Now it’s a total animal. I have no idea about using as an “audio file” amp, but the built in crossover is key to use with a sub.

[@dimitrismilios6483]

Put the gaim controls at max volume. Dramatically lower your pre amp volume.. See the quality increase. Your welcome

[@bassmandudge]

I am a bass player and have recently bought the crown 1502 XLS and use it as a 2 channel power amp for my bass rig with 2 different preamp pedals on the floor. It's quoted as 300w per channel at 8ohms and 550 at 4 ohms. I was running through 2 8 ohm cabs. It's not 300w.....maybe peak but definitely not RMS... The unit was running at 9 on both channels in order to keep up with 2 guitarists in a heavy rock band ... Now that's not to say it didn't sound good.....oh it sounded just fine and dandy and I couldn't be happier...but I nearly bought the smaller 1002 and that would have been a disaster. So if you are looking for real volume make sure your into 4ohm cabs or better still buy 2 and bridge them. In this day and age where every bass player and guitarist seems to have at least one preamp pedal this is a brilliantly economical , and incredibly light, solution. The 2 bass heads it is replacing weigh 40kgs for the pair...this thing is just under 5... So result. Lastly...before moving it to my bass rig I had it as my power amp running with a HK citation 11....Heavily modded Sansui sr222 mk 2....into monitor audio bronze 5s and playing eat to the beat by blondie had my wife shout....god that sounds lovely..... She has literally, in 40 years that I have known her ever commented on how music sounds....so there you go.....properly good and super versatile. Genuinely thinking of buying another....

[@aravindmj920]

For a moment there, I wasn't sure if I was watching a wine tasting/review.

[@b.a.2335]

Great job dude! Happy you reviewed this product 👍🏼 Thanks

[@GodfreyMann]

10:51 “smooth treble”, so does this mean it’ll be a good match for the KEF LS50s, whose metal tweeter can sound harsh with the wrong gear?

[@TheDancerall]

Hello Sean, I find your reviews refreshing and honest. I was wondering if you have considered reviewing D-sonic amplifiers? I have for a while been very curious about that brand, and I'd love to hear what you think of them.

[@akr01364]

I'd love to know how their class AB XLi 800 amplifier sounds compared to this?

[@eltonc1505]

Thanks so much for the awesome review.... Heard a lot of good reviews of this amp and was dying to hear your take on it....!!! Think m gonna buy one soon...

[@Alpha8713]

Would be interesting to hear your opinion of QSC amplifiers, particularly the CX series. Many of us find them to be superior to Crown's offerings.

[@pjo1964]

I have a QSC GX3 and i just compared it today to my Bryston 3bst on B&W606 speakers and a 10" sub driving it with a Rotel preamp and Rotel cd player. Wasnt as refined as the Bryston but it wasnt embarrased either, especially for 1/5th the price. Many people could be very happy with it.

[@ufarkingicehole]

I've gone through insane amounts of equipment. If you buy any of these crown xls amps... 10000% buy a Geshelli Lab J2 Dac. I didn't like this amp with almost a dozen different pre amps and DaCs. I almost sold it but I decided to try the Geshelli j2 and holy cow. It takes all the things I don't care for and corrected it perfectly. I have spent way too much on the quest of figuring out what makes the best Synergy with different components and the Geshelli j2 is no BS the answer to this amp series. I went from a little dry and still sounded like class D to me to holy cow this legit sounds like a traditional AB with insane Soundstage.

[@droski33]

This will convert rca to xlr? Thanks

[@thecman26]

You can totally use banana plugs. Theres a plug in the center of the binding post heads. Pull those out and banana plug goes there. I have a Crown amp and use banana plugs.

[@CDAWWGG43]

Just want to add a note here, you can also use speakon to banana, speakon to spade, and speakon to speakon cables for the speakon out (circle connectors next to the banana plugs)

[@lphaski9778]

I'd love to hear your take on the Schiit Vidar and Aegir. Or is there a reason you're not reviewing Schiit products? Thanks for all you do Sean!

[@epi2045]

lphaski totally agree with you

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@rickhayes]

These are VERY good amps!! I had an XLS-1502 that was amazing!! Power and clarity!! And....the banana plugs are accessible by removing the small plugs in the center of the wire terminals. Just take something small like a pocket knife and pry them right out. Easy peasy!!

[@ericnortan9012]

Get drywall screw, poke the plastic plug, give her 1/2 a turn and they pull right out

[@tedwasileff512]

You can use banana plugs. I had a hum with the one I had. Had to send it back.

[@Nostaljack]

Yes, you can. I thought I was crazy for a minute. When you get it, there are little thin plugs in each one of the holes near the terminals that need to be pulled out (NOT easy) but once gone, banana plugs can indeed be used. I used to do it regularly. HA. I now see many of us are saying this.

[@cliffordcostley9798]

What was the tune?

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@souloftheage]

NOTE: This CROWN amp series DOES accept banana plugs in the back besides bare wire. But banana plugs work best unless you have Speakon connectors. The latter being best as they're screwed in tight to the amp. You can get Speakon connectors on 25 gauge insulated wire that has banana plugs onn the other end to connect to your speakers. I have this and it's wonderful

[@chuckwilliams999]

I love my xls 1002. Have it hooked up to a pair of CST-1 towers and it sounds amazing. Enough power to drive them. I also have a pair of KEF reference 102/2's re-engineered by Danny at GR Research and they sound great. FYI, take out the plugs in the speaker binding terminals and banana plugs will work. Overall good review.

[@clinteastwood7198]

Hi, I also have the Kef Reference 102/2 and didn't think they could be improved, so I'm interested in what Danny did and how different they sounded afterwards.

[@Fortnitekidjj]

@@clinteastwood7198 He redesigned the crossover network for the speakers. Changed all of the Caps, coils to better quality. They do sound better. Total cost was about 200 with poly caps. Give him a call and he may have the kit already and you want have to send in the speakers. GR Research has a video on my speakers, one of the first speaker upgrades, but I can't find it right now.

[@SuperAudionut]

worth checking out the prior version Crown 2500 which can be found closer to $450. Fantastic option to driving subwoofers instead of plate amps. My only issue is fan noise. Great job on the review. 14 gauge works fine for me.

[@rndm4642]

Great review! The 1502 is cheaper and has plenty of power for nearly all speakers as well.

[@ericnortan9012]

I have 15" 8 ohms mains and would go with the 2502. I have an XLi2500, similar specs, and it's a great match with plenty of headroom. I'm sure the 1502 could do the job though, it's pretty powerful.

[@rndm4642]

eric nortan I have two 1502’s. Each is bridged to run sealed 18 inch ultimax subs. I have tried the amps out for the mains and they definitely can do the job. I prefer the Adcom for my mains, likely because of its desirable coloration. To me, the crown was a bit sterile sounding. But with a tube preamp it’d probably be great. Either way, an awesome value and disrupter for sure.

[@ericnortan9012]

@@rndm4642 that's why I got the XLi, AB sound is time tested while I was a little scared of the D. I'm very happy with the XLi, I like it's simplicity, I'm simple.🤘😃🤘

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@rndm4642]

Gadgetdad I don’t trust that review at all. What I do trust is my house rattling while these things don’t even break a sweat.

[@hans4me2]

For even lower budget, get the Behringer A800. I bought 3 of them in Europe for 151 euro each. Incredible value. It can be compared to my XLS1502, only doesn't have DSP.

[@kevonmanuel]

Next review - Crown I-Tech 5000 - The amp JBL pairs with the M2

[@SBentleypayk]

Yes, that would be nice

[@BastianUllr]

JBL is all about measurements. Class D amps measure fantastic, so!

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@kevonmanuel]

@Jeremy Mettler What? what? what? are you talking about?

[@ron101346]

It might be worthwhile to compare the Crown XLS 2502 with the Crown XTi 2002. The latter is a class AB amp and does not have a low frequency rolloff which may make it better sounding.

[@BFArch0n]

That's not the shielded "input section", that's the power supply.....or it seems I am wrong...never heard it called an inout section. Input as in power input.

[@NikolaiBeier]

The *mains* input section. Looks like a good EMI low pass filter to reduce electro-magnetic interference exiting out of the unit via the power cord. (Not the core of a power supply, but important nonetheless)

[@paulstubbs7678]

Not quite right, it is the "Power input section",or filter, the power supply is between & including the two capacitor banks in the central area. The big caps near that 'input section' are the 110/240 V filter caps that hold rectified mains power. The whitish transformer is a switch mode transformer, and the caps near the heatsinks are for the plus & minus main DC supplies to run the output stages.

[@BFArch0n]

@@paulstubbs7678 interesting.

[@sherpadelgatos]

wow seems like a great amp. thanks for another quality review

[@reviewchannel9871]

you can actually use bananas with that amp. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3POm3qBoJ6SrsU I might try crown amps with bridged mode sometime this year. Thanks for the review.

[@gerryk3114]

I’ve Been Living with a Crown DC300A for over forty years driving my Infinity QLS-1 Speakers !! I absolutely Love the performance !! Never tires me. Years ago, the issue with driving my Infinities was that they are nominally 4 Ohm speakers and most amps would overheat, especially when driving them hard. To turn on my speakers, it takes about 65 watts RMS

[@ufarkingicehole]

People really should watch the video before asking questions. Most of the answers are in the video.

[@terryhk99leung36]

As always, really appreciate your thoroughness and trying so hard to address the product from multiple taste and setup angle....meaning..always have the audience's welfare in mind..

[@TheDashiell11]

Neutral should be the foundation of every amp. I would love to know what amp is better that I could pick out 90% in blind testing

[@sidvicious3129]

Hi Sean, in my DJ days, I only used crown amps because of the power, warranty and sound quality along with Peavy Speakers. I never had problems during my gigs with either clipping or sound quality. As you go up in Crown gear you get crazy amounts of power.

[@sebulbathx]

Where can I get the diffuser that you can see in the background in the first couple of seconds in the video?

[@robh9079]

That is the most interesting reviews ever posted! - Little reviewed aspirational top value gear for 'real world' budgets in direct comparison. Top banana ;-) Bet there are some meaningful refinement mods for the 2502 given it's 'workhorse' nature...

[@brainache555]

Sean you forgot to mention that you can change the input sensitivity on these amps.

[@ericnortan9012]

That's what makes them a really nice alternative to overpriced HiFi amps

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@eddyleehall347]

The 1502 is the best that I've found under 5000$ I have 2 of them and I love the versatility and power. They blow my mind every time I listen to them.

[@zefrog7482]

Yeah, I've demoed against a few £2000-£3000 amps here in UK, and literally nothing so far has done anything good enough to get me to part with my money or the Crown. Best Hi-fi purchase I've ever made.

[@stanislasflipo7214]

look some more, try a 3000$ mc2 and you will be surprised

[@eddyleehall347]

@@stanislasflipo7214 I have a Kinky Studio sitting in my basement collecting dust:(

[@johanneswolff6732]

You can use bananaplugs you need simply to remove the plastic the binding posts

[@johanneswolff6732]

nice to know

[@Gadgetdad007]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKu8i4yXhZVgbK8

[@ChicagoRob2]

I'm running the XLS 2502 with a Sonic Frontiers tube preamp. The sound is extremely impressive. No criticisms, whatsoever.

[@Telemed911]

There are many high-powered D power amplifiers at this price point

[@MichelLinschoten]

Gerry Higgins name them that can push 2400w and has build in high , band and low pass crossovers per channel .. I’ll wait ... and don’t say berhinger that’s pure garbage, come with similar quality

[@shaolin95]

@@MichelLinschoten he is still looking for one lol

[@patherl1]

I use banana plugs in my crown XLS 2502 into my KEF r300...you just need to take the blockers out! using a smsl su v2 to run balanced into 1 crown for kefs and the rca into another crown for my DIY Dayton 15" ultimax, I challenge anyone to have a better system for the price. Got the kef 300s for 600£ brand new as old stock. Thanks for the review!