Meet Tim, he reviewed the powerhouse $339 Crown XLS 1002 amp!

[@petermartin5728]

This is a fabulous reviewer. Totally professional, clear, and to the point. Great.

[@NickP333]

Great review, Tim. Thanks, man! If everyone else’s reviews are as concise and good as this one, we’re in for a treat. Steve, this was a great idea you had here. 👍🎶🔊

[@MrStingraybernard]

Man he was like a professional, very detailed review and well prepared 👍

[@Beyondabsence]

Great! Steve, this is quite a nice move to allow your audience to share their experiences.

[@timothylindsay3244]

Nice review…I’d like to add that Crowns have legendary reliability and durability. Case in point, I am still using a D150 amp (in stereo) and IC150 preamp that I purchased new in 1978 and have lugged around the world (over 20 household moves). No repairs, still functioning fine.

[@byrong1561]

Playing the trombone in concert hall as part of a symphony orchestra is quite different to sitting in front of a camera giving impressions on an amplifier. Nonetheless, Tim carries it off very well. He's clearly an intelligent and articulate man with a passion for music... and its a great value little amp by all accounts. Thanks for sharing.

[@timbathras2660]

Thanks! Yes, being in front of the camera is a very different experience indeed. Steve makes it look easy!

[@timbathras2660]

@@MichaelDavitt1 Thanks! Perhaps... I've been toying with it and have already been asked about a couple things to review.

[@Thetoysdays]

@@timbathras2660Hi Tim, thanks for the review. Could you please let me know how to use this amp as monoblocks? I have a 2502 model and planning on getting a second one. Thanks in advance.

[@d.r.martin6301]

I have the precursor XLS1000 and have been happily using it in my main system for going on 13 years. Driving custom-built monitors from my ARC SP9II. More power than I'll ever need and clean, neutral sound. Paid $250 for it at Guitar Center. Only downside is its unfortunate aesthetics.

[@mvanalst2003]

If fantastic review by a man that has only 220 subscribers as of February 8, 2021. I clicked over to Tim’s channel and I am now subscribed because of this video. Thank you all very much

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Nice job Tim!! I always thought of Crown as pro audio, not consumer audio per se. Nonetheless, it certainly sounds like a high value / power for home audiophiles to consider. Thanks for your efforts!

[@jcs480able]

Tim convinced me with his warm, professional manner and concise attention to detail. He could easily sell private jets with tremendous success.

[@nadiraudio]

Wow, great review! Tim should start his own channel. I've seen the XLS 1002s at Guitar Center and wondered how they might work as monoblocks. Good to hear from someone who has tried it.

[@christianolsson834]

Funny. I started looking for a monoblock audiophile amp for my bass guitar setup and lo and behold. Audiophile starting to use PA amps. 😅

[@hedley007]

Great review Tim, I bought 2 Crown1502 amps to drive Magnepans LRS crossed over at 70 cycles with MiniDsp , its very big clean sound with dual 12 inch subs, real hifi on a mini budget. these amps will freak out the snobs! peace! Also Thank you Steve!

[@highrantdistrict]

That was a really fantastic review by Tim. He clearly has the background to speak intelligently on the subject and his explanation of the benefits of certain features (such as the crossover feature) was wonderful. Well done. Cheers, Tom

[@StephaneVorstellung]

Love that this guy uses two crown amps to blare pipe organ music through Magnepans!

[@plaineaire]

A terrific and informative review! I really appreciated the observations pairing the Crown Amps with the Magnepans. Shout out to a fellow trombone player - great job!

[@anonmouse956]

The magnepan/crown combination deserves it's own review as a candidate for the best inexpensive high end rig.

[@ericnortan9012]

I like my Cerwin-Vega! /Crown combo. If your into rock, metal, rap, electronic, really anything, you can't go wrong. Maybe not audiophile grade Hi-Fi, but pretty damn good. I would call it awesome-Fi. 🤘💀🤘

[@willisbush956]

I'm using a Crown XLS 1502 (w/the preamp from a Harmon Kardon receiver) to drive a pair of Magnepan LRSs in a small carpeted room (12x15 with a 7 foot ceiling). It sounds fine, very quiet and clear, and capable of playing far louder than I'll probably ever ask it to do.

[@stephenstevens6573]

I'm using the 1002 with my Maggie MGlls, my plan is to buy another and run them monoblock, just like the reviewer. Just running the one I have now at 350wpc, I couldn't be happier. The sound is full and detailed, and it seems to be quite neutral. It drives them yo really loud levels, without any appreciable distortion. I have tried several other amplifiers in this system, and this has been, by far, my favorite!

[@sdemosi]

Nice review Tim. Very clear & detailed. You clearly know your stuff and have added to the audiophile discussion of the Crown XLS series. Nice to see those Magnepans and I had also wondered about hiss on a very sensitive speaker like the Heresy III's.

[@cunningtim]

Thanks, Tim-great job!

[@robertdevoy3119]

My $4,000 Classe CA-D200 class D amp crapped out after only 4 years of light use. I bought the Crown XLS 2002 rather than repair the Classe. The Crown is rated at 375 watts rms into 8 ohms. Got if from Sam Ash with 45-day money back guarantee. To my ears it sounds just as good as the Classe for only $659 shipped free. It has nearly twice the 8-ohm power of the Classe. While the distortion specs may not be as impressive as the Classe, it really doesn't matter. This is because any speaker will have far more distortion than the amp. My equipment is as follows: Legacy Focus speakers, McCormack MAP-1 preamp, Oppo UDP-205-disc player, Coda phono stage and VPI Aries turntable. Everything sounds fantastic and the Crown XLS 2002 fits right in and sounds great. I have the input sensitivity set to 0.775 and the output controls set to the 11 o'clock position. With these setting I hear no hiss or buzz from my seated position about 10 feet away. If I place my ear about 6 inches from the midrange drivers, I hear a very low-level buzz. I had the same thing with the Classe. Although, the output setting of the Crown is at the 11 o'clock position I still get ample volume. I was worried the output controls would reduce the transparency, but I have found this not to be the case. It's only been 3 days since I put the Crown in my system, but so far, I am very pleased. I'm actually quite amazed, as I was expecting less bass definition and power, unconvincing harsh midrange and a tizzy top end. However, this is not the case at all. At this point, I seriously doubt this amp will be returned to Sam Ash. Give it a try as you have nothing to lose.

[@heathbar74]

Recently bought some Maggies. Was not sure how to power them, so I bi-amped with an old Yamaha to start. ~100 WPC, with 100 going to the highs and lows of each speaker. The speakers sounded great, but I suspected I was missing some power. Watched this video and immediately ordered the Crown you reviewed. Hooked it all up last night, and everything you state is correct. Quiet, clear, powerful. Speakers have a new found ceiling and floor. This review was perfect timing for me. I had the MG 1.6 for 2 weeks before this came out. Thanks!

[@ginopagnani7286]

Thanks Tim, great review !

[@planchernewfinish]

totally agree on what he said. i own 7 crown amps and love them!! match them right and they will reward you plenty!! nice review!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I have a slew of these Crown amps in my home theater, actively powering an L/C/R with JBL Pro 15” mid and 2” Compression Drivers with Bi-Radial horns. Great amps for a great price. But if you use these on your mains and they’re anything more than mildly sensitive (meaning, low-tier pro audio sensitivity), the low SNR - the “background noise” referenced in this video at about 5:16 - is a detriment to the sound. I can ignore this because I don’t use the setup for any sort of “audiophile” listening. But be warned if you plan to do this, the low SNR is a legitimate problem that many other than myself have complained about. Objective data also tells the same story. For this reason, I would not recommend for a critical listening situation if you have speakers with a sensitivity above the upper 80’s and plan to sit within 8-10 feet of your mains. My $0.02.

[@MichelLinschoten]

The 1002 is the lowest model in the lineup which has a higher thd.. still anything under 1 percent is inaudible . Not matter how some of these audiophiles, think they can hear it.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

Audio is not about noise or specs. It is about texture and the spatial interpretation of your ears. Most people, especially audiophiles can hear minute deviations in sound, but they have no idea what it is that actually offends them. This takes decades of professional training but, is totally unnecessary and irrelevant when it comes to enjoying your system. It only becomes a problem when that becomes your focus.

[@keithmoriyama5421]

@@MichelLinschoten Thank you.

[@shkermanshahi]

Thanks Steve, and a very good job Tim!

[@hunggiatran]

Totally true. I had it and i am really happy. Now i upgraded to XTI 1002 more than double the cost. Sound better and look much better too. Agree that XLS 1002 may be a start amp and also end amp. Great review. Thank you much.

[@ericnortan9012]

I own a Crown XLi2500 and really love it. It's an AB amp and doesn't have all the bells and whistles the XLS has. It's a straight up power amp, 2 gain knobs, 2 level/clip indicators and a power button with a very bright blue light (my only complaint). Massive amounts of clean, quiet power on tap. 🤘💀🤘

[@theebayhififanatic6002]

Very interesting review, not heard Crown amps but might check them out now

[@Theupgradeguy]

Crown amps have long been used in Pro PA use. That's why the SpeakOn connectors.

[@bryanherr1093]

Great job Tim and good job Steve for choosing Tim!

[@Guiltless765]

I run 2 Crown XLi 1500's on 2 sets of 15" Cerwin Vega's. Sounds amazing. Might give the XLS a try next.

[@caseykittel]

Yay. I use one of these bridged with an old velodyne sub. It’s really great. The built in plate amp died and this was by far the cheapest solution. Got one used for like $250 with shipping and tax. Plus with the built in crossover it’s perfect. Also, it has way more power and quality than most of the Chinese plate amps available. It’s a total no brainer. Really impressive bass. I ended up upgrading the 10” driver as well. It’s a total beast now. Easily 2x the bass and tighter too. Most people don’t realize. More power = more control of the woofer. Think about it. The amp is creating sine waves/AC current essentially - it’s pushing the woofer out and then pulling it back in. More power roughly = more control. It is tight and hits hard. I’m curious to try it on my moms heresy speakers, but let’s face it. She has an McIntosh mc2105. How could this cheap class d compare? Would make a great video potentially!

[@markclancy5371]

You tried it on your mums speaker yet or won't she let you😁

[@caseykittel]

Mark Clancy not yet. She’ll let me, but I have to drive a few hours to try it. Hehe.

[@markclancy5371]

@@caseykittelcool be interesting.

[@jasonm3871]

Great job Tim! I’ve been thinking about one of these. Like most teachers, I’ve had to shift to online lessons (due to recent events), and I can confirm that making a video is harder than it seems!!

[@lpspinners8736]

The last Crown amp I almost purchased was the Crown DC-300 in 1975. Never been a class D fan in the past, but I agree with Tim that class D is showing signs of promise in certain setups. Nice review Tim!

[@ythagakure]

Crown has always been my gold standard back in the days when I used to DJ in NYC. I definitely don't miss loading and unloading of my audio cabinet, it's speakers, and records in milk crates. Good Review!!!

[@twilolight]

I wish someone had a photo of the crown array that was at the Twilo club. It was actually on public display behind glass.

[@i1pro]

Highest respect for musicians that enjoy good gear... Great review!! Thank you

[@aaronmathias6739]

Now this is what I call an HONEST to Goodness awesome Review!!! Fantastic. I am now slowly becoming a convert to Class D. Specifically, Crowns.

[@lucacorso_audiosystem]

I have recently been using the XLS1002 model, I will need it for one of my projects. I don't know its frequency response curve, but listening to it it seems to me that on the low frequencies side, it tends to have a certain attenuation below 50/60 hz while in high frequency I believe that it “walls” in a decisive way above 20khz. The "grip" on the speaker is remarkable with a control typical of high-quality class D amplifiers. The soundstage in terms of dimensions does not scream a miracle and remains confined between the speakers, however it has a certain depth (which I did not expect). I realize that its context is not a hi-fi chain, but it can have its own reason for those looking for a high dynamic. The value for money, combined with the great flexibility of use, make the XLS1002 certainly a very interesting product that may surprise even some “audiophiles”. The fan does not turn on in normal home use and the fact that the various “lights” can be turned off does not make it look bad in a chain of Hi Fi products. The volume adjustment (even with the 0.7 adjustment) allows quite large adjustment steps, it would be better to use something else, to adjust the volume more finely. Overall a successful product that could also be a "link" between the world of HI FI and the PRO one.

[@troybakker7628]

Does it decrease power below 50/60hz because i was looking to buy one for a subwoofer build but if the power drops below 50-60hz i might have to look at another way to power the subs

[@orwhat24]

Tim’s system is very close to my wishlist. Nice review!

[@josephcorreia3116]

Great job Tim. Extremely informative. One of the best reviews I've seen on the Crown XLS.

[@pyrolinn2088]

I have 5 of these XLS 1002 and 2 XLS 1502 in my home theater setup playing Anthony Gallo AV1 for LCR and some Adiva TI playing all the surrounds in a Auro 3D setup. Couldn't be happier with and would recommend to anyone looking for amplification without breaking the budget. All amps have a power conditioner inline and using XLR cables and there is ZERO noise. I also like the Speakon connectors and they make hooking up the speaker wire connections a dream.

[@mnoble247]

Been using the XLS 1502 for years now. One word description: Transparent

[@truckyouable]

I've had a 1002 for about a year thanks to Andrew Robinson's review. The question that is often raised is what preamp. I tried a homemade passive pre, not loud enough. Then used Schitt SYS and was pretty happy. Yesterday I tried a FX Audio Tube 01. WOW, you want volume try it! and perhaps it gives a bit of tube warmth to Class D for $50.00.

[@djclass005]

Great review! interior design committee at home! :-) funny and nice way to handle the topic.

[@wm437]

*** Warning *** Do NOT buy these amps! These amps are monsters. They destroy speakers! I have 5 of the XLS 2502's and these things have tremendous power. I have them set up for home theater, 4 of them briged across the subs, left, right, and center speakers and one for the rears in stereo. Maybe an overkill but I have the gain turned way low so that I have ZERO hiss, hum or buzz. These things are super quiet. I have a Denon receiver using the pre outs and the sound is amazing. When the need for power is called for in a movie scene these guys deliver. They will literally knock the wind out of you, I love them. So if you're not careful and bridge these into an unsuspecting speaker you will smell your mistake, you have been warned.

[@bilguana11]

I love the detailed sound of my Crown XLS 1502. It isn't noisy and sounds great.

[@icarosanchez5113]

con cuales parlantes lo usas

[@bilguana11]

@@icarosanchez5113 Translation?

[@JC.LC.]

What a great review!

[@quitmanlott7394]

The XLS Crown is a great class D amp. It has three variable band pass filters, it sounds precise, it’s very adjustable and is easy to use, it’s efficient and very powerful, and I’ve never heard its fan or any other unwanted noises. I am using pair of mono-blocked Crown XLS 1002s @ 1100 watts each to drive a set of Skar DDX15-D2, 1000-watt RMS sub woofers in my home theater. Even though the XLS series of Crown pro amps have RCA ins and a sensitivity adjustment, using them only gives about 60% of the rated power. I needed to run the Crown at full power. So, to solve this issue, I used an ART Cleanbox Pro between my theater amp and the two Crowns. I am also using a Crown XLS 2502 as a mono block to drive another sub. But in this case, the cleanbox is not needed. As this amp alone has plenty enough power to drive any sub or set of standard home speakers.

[@b.a.2335]

Nice review 👍🏽 Steve I think these are great and you're pretty cool for giving your fans the opportunity. You know (as you would say lol) I think if you followed up with your opinion on the product it would solidify and add credibility one way or the other because your comments are important too. Just a thought...

[@gabrielmease1169]

Thanks Steve! Hi Tim! Great video, I'll buy one to try. I'm ready to try uber power to see what watts really do for my speakers. This sounds like a good first step.

[@JohnDoe-np3zk]

Good job Tim. Thanks man.

[@chevyimp5857]

Love this format... Great review. Thanks

[@kingtubby999]

Excellent review, Tim clearly understands music reproduction

[@jacquelamontharenberg]

Very good review. Clear and concise.

[@geoffreyvanhouwaert8677]

yes, a great review, nice and calm, not too long, great job dude

[@nostro1001]

Thanks Tim....excellent review man - very enjoyable 😎. Pleased some here willing to step up....no doubt, not an easy task,, especially as a newcomer. Just one thing...everybody should be signing off as per Steve......after all...it still is the audiopheliac daily show. 😆😆😆

[@joseph-ow1hf]

Well done sir. Might have to try one of these for my Maggie LRS. My Vidar doesn't cut it. When I was doing semi-pro FoH live sound....Crown ruled.

[@SuperRede4u]

I started a DJ business 5~6 years ago and went with the next step up in the Crown line up - the XTI series 2002. Being in multiple venues on a regular basis I went with the XTI for its monitoring capabilities. I have been very pleased with them and truly believe that as well as bang for the buck that the sound is hard to beat. Great 1st time review.

[@Big_ol_bass]

Love my 6002s for HT sub duty. On 240V, they drive my 4 18" Eminence Tours just fine.

[@onsafari]

After reading and researching for ages I recently took the plunge and bought 2 of the 1002 amps. I have not yet been able to connect them up as I have to wait for a set of new rubber surrounds for my old Tannoy speakers that I ordered from China a few weeks ago. So you can imagine my eagerness to get them all plugged in and working. Thank you Tim for your valuable input. I too have a likeness for classical music and hearing the bass from acoustic instruments is not always something easily achieved. I am confident that with my limited budget I have made the right choice.

[@RP-mm9ie]

Tim you just started a revolution.Magnepans for everyone.Other reviewers please try this setup.

[@clemmtec9506]

I have the xls 1502 this amp is as light as a feather but it plays almost like my mark livenston ml 23. The power is ? the fan has never come I have the maggie mmg, and wilson audio. This is an amp to behold

[@jC-kc4si]

I wonder how much more advanced drive core 3 amps will be?

[@isaacsykes3]

Bravo, Tim!! Steve, I think he's coming for your job...lol!!

[@memcdm]

I have used a Crown XLR 2002 power amp with Maggie LRSs, B & W 703s, & a pair of Monitor Sound Silver 10s. For years I had been using a very heavy dual mono, high current AB amp putting out 150 watts into 8 ohm with a power band with of 20-20,000. The amp will do 300 watts into 4 ohms again from 20-20000. This is not a guess but an actual measurement. The amp always sounded very good. I had auditioned several Class D amps including one that cost north of $1,500. I hated it! The highs were harsh . . . and splashy. I took it back in a week after trying all sorts of ways to improve the sound. Also, I had a bias against "commercial" amps since I had tried several with disappointing results regarding the sound. The point here is that I had a strong bias against the sound of the Crown XLS amp. After hooking this thing up to the LRSs and listening to a number of my "reference" recordings I was shocked. The balance was wonderful. Great detail. Great imaging. The highs were detailed and smooth. I was shocked. Next I tried the Monitor Sound Silvers. They came alive and sounded better than even. Moving to the B & W 703s (older model without the carbon tweeter) and I was simply blown away. I heard no hiss from any of these speakers. (If you have a speaker into the 95 to 100 db efficiency range you might hear some hiss with you ear close to the tweeter but I doubt it will be an issue I drove the LRSs into the mid 90s on peaks (DB, A weighted meter; very uncomfortably loud for my ears) and the amp was just coasting. The same was true of the other 2 pairs of speakers. The 2nd level! of the meters didn't ever light up! No heat. No fan noise. Didn't blow any fuses on the speakers. I had told my salves rep to expect the Crown amp to be returned. After 10 days of enjoying the music with this amp, I called and told him I was not going to be returning this amp.. No problems after about 18 months of every day use. (Not sure what the power band width is on these things since I cannot find that spec on the Crown info but it has more than enough power. Most folks would be happy with the smaller XLS 1002 if the noise isn't an issue.

[@stevenjackson8226]

Imagine that. A Crown amplifier that sounds good, and Class D, too. We are living in good times where you can get this kind of performance and package at this price. I never care who makes something, just that it does what I want to do at my price point. I did have go-to brand leanings, but this was because I found them reliable to go to for good performance. I have a Class D amplifier. The first Class D I've used in a serious system. The NAD D 3020 - now almost an antique - is often mentioned to have good synergy with the KEF LS50. And sure enough they do get along very well. I also have some nice Class AB desperate amps. Compared with these, the NAD/KEF synergy stands up well, and for the convenience of the little NAD it's even more attractive.

[@thegroove2000]

There is defo snobbery with certain audiophiles..

[@davidhoover2446]

Well, I mean XLS amps are good for the money, I agree. I'm a pro audio engineer and I build budget systems using these at times. The XLS amps are durable, light, and they last. In some middle of the road systems, I've used XTI amps also. The XTI don't cost much more and they have much better features plus more power. However, the XLS do lack that pure power, dynamic range, and depth, especially when you are pushing them. If you are going to use an amplifer like this in a hifi situation, I recommend doing what he did and run "program power." Program power is double RMS power. Or, even more. These cheap amplifiers don't have power reserves. So, they can only provide a burst over RMS power. Usually Crown amps will burst 2dB over RMS power. A burst is usually about 20ms. So, it is good to look at how you will be listening vs your budget as always. I also in my personal sound system, spec out 20dB of headroom (unused output) so that the speakers are coasting along with very low distortion. I wouldn't spec an XLS amp for anything hifi though. The QSC PLD or CXD series are superior in sound quality and they sound many time more expensive than they are. Out of all the budget amplifiers I've heard, the QSC PLD or CXD probably takes the cake even compared to QSC class A/B counterparts.

[@markclancy5371]

Have you compared the QSC GXD which is class D to the GX which is Class B as they call it.im leaning towards GX over crown for front speaker for Atmos system no fan abit noisey

[@joshfoss7407]

These were probably giant killers before the Hypex NCores came out. Now there doesn't seem much of a point to go for these.

[@seashift4743]

I like your honest opinions please keep doing you tube reviews

[@Reyfox1]

Nice interview. I would have liked to hear more on his thoughts on the sound comparison between the Crown and PS Audio amps they replaced.

[@timbathras2660]

They were similar enough that I felt I wasn't losing anything of consequence and that the gain of the feature set on the Crown made up for it. It's been a while since I've have the M700's in house, but if I had to recall, I'd say the M700's were a touch warmer, but still clear. Definitely an audibly noise floor, too.

[@whitneykr]

@@timbathras2660 great job, Tim!

[@stevekile1919]

I give Tim an "A+" on his review. Now per say I am a PA guy that has a regular Pioneer stereo at home. I'm the kind of guy that recommends, if it sounds good to your ears and doesn't cost you an arm and a leg then that's the route you need to go. But remember, don't crank a inexpensive stereo like you driving a concert hall. I currently DJ, have now for 40+ years. I have a pair of Crowns, a XLS 1500 & a XLS 2500, I drive them both in stereo mode with the 2500 driving the subs and the 1500 driving the mids & highs. I don't use standard speakers, I use PA grade speakers, all Peavey. My driving force is good sound with good headroom at a reasonable price to me and to the people I DJ for. So far it's been a winning combination. The Crowns Class D's have a winning sound.

[@zerosensai]

Fantastic Review. Bravo!

[@BrianNC81]

I'm running two 15" subwoofers off of my Crown XLS1002 in stereo mode. The subs are dual 4 ohm voice coil and I have them wired as a 2 ohm load on each channel for maximum power output of 550w/channel. The fan runs frequently but you would never know it since it is completely silent. The subs can handle a little more than the 550w/channel the crown puts out but not sure I need it. At the 3/4 output, I can feel the bass in my chest like a rock concert (with ear plugs in for safety), driving it close to clipping is pretty intense. Once I get an AVR with pre-outs, will use the XLS1002 for the L/R mains and pick up the XLS1502 or maybe the 2002 for the subs for some extra headroom.

[@fzesgru]

Tim great review, you organized the material well. There has been a ton of great reviews on that line of amps recently. For a budget audiophile system how about one of the 2002 + the Maggie LRS + subs. Might set a new record for SQ per $...

[@DavidPeck]

Great to see a Pro Audio product featured here! I feel like Pro Audio solutions are often looked over by audiophiles.

[@rakitakhan]

I borrowed a 2502 from a friend and A/B'd it against my GAS Ampzilla. My speakers are a Delcoid sat/ passive sub setup. I ran everything flat. The Crown sounded terrible. The high end was harsh, mids were thin and weak as was the bass. It just doesn't have near the guts that the GAS has and it's over 40 yrs old. I didn't use the DSP functions as my own amp doesn't have (or need) any. I know people will argue about using the DSP but IMO, the DSP is there to put a bandage on weaknesses of the amp. An amp shouldn't have to cover for any room issues or weaknesses in a speaker system...it should simply be an amp. For those that like this amp, good for you. I'm happy cheap sounding gear appeals to you. Like Steve, I've been in audio for over 40 yrs. I'm not a reviewer, just a listener. My best friend has had his Magnepans since 1986. He used to drive them with an old Dynaco ST-70 and a custom 20wpc tube amp and tube preamp. They were spectacular. Even with the modest power we could drive the Mags to insane levels that were almost painful. He also used a then not so old, Visonic 12" sub, but I can't remember what amp was used to drive it. I'm thinking it was an Epicure. Now, some of that gear needs rebuilt. He decided to go with a new Rotel setup instead. He says it sounds good but nowhere near as good as the old gear. Anyway, IMO, this amp should be kept away from "audiophile" systems, even a starter system. Buy used if needed. Maybe use this amp for home theater...maybe. Again, just my opinion, but if you like the sound of this amp, you really should get out and listen to real home audio components. Then, maybe you'll understand my comments.

[@timbathras2660]

I have no doubt that that's what you experienced. I've had several amps to include Decware, Rogue, PS Audio, NAD, and so on and they all had their own unique characteristics, and I enjoyed them all. What I like most about the Crown is it's feature set and the fact I could walk into a store locally, buy it, try it, and then return it if I didn't like it and be out zero money. With my setup in my room, all the variety of folks who come through here agree the sound is fantastic, but yet all have their own varying opinions, no matter what gear I'm running.

[@rakitakhan]

@@timbathras2660 I agree. We all hear differently. I'm one of those that can't stand the sound of Bose and Klipsch. I can walk into a room with either of their speakers and ID them. Others love them. That's why I always recommend others to get out and listen to gear rather than just take a reviewers advice. I listen to and read reviews daily, but I still want to hear something before I buy it. It's just the nature of our hobby. If it wasn't there'd be only one audio company pumping out the same gear for all of us. Enjoy those Maggies !

[@humanitech]

But your friend obviously likes the crown in his system though I imagine.. So it just goes to show that system matching is important...and that's why there are thousands of different companies and products out there to mix and match to tailor to our taste. It's all subjective as my peachtree and crown poweramp sounds great to me and having tested a few at higher price point Im very please with it so far.

[@rakitakhan]

@@humanitech My friend uses the amp for his DJ business, not in a home audio setup.

[@yumidad]

I added one of these to my Sprout 100 as i only use the optical on the Sprout the crown has brought back a nice analogue sound and the speakers(Kef R300)sound better with more muscle behind them even at low volume.Cost me £235 what a bargain can highly recommend.

[@amb3cog]

Wow thanks for the great review. I kind of wrote these off my list at first while shopping for a quality high power class D amp. But I kept hearing how good they were from people on forums. And now between your review, Zero Fidelity's, and a couple of other one's I've read (can't remember the author) online. These amps are officially in my top 5 possible replacements for my current amp, which is getting long in the tooth. And having all the extra stuff like crossovers is a huge bonus. Huge for me, because I plan on doing at least two subs in my room. What got me is you replaced those PS Audio Stellar series amps with these. That really says a lot right there. Those are quality amps themselves. Maybe a little overpriced, but you do get great service when you buy from PS Audio. And obviously the noise floor isn't a big issue if you're happily using them with Heresy's. They're around 94db. That's more then most speakers out there in today's market, and even in most vintage. At least from the mid 60's on up, or so. A silent system w/a black background is nice, but not a necessity to enjoy music IMO. And I really like your idea of buying two smaller ones, and bridging them. Much better way to use your HiFi dollar IMO. As opposed to say getting one 2502, which is around the same price basically. Okay I'm rambling on. Thanks again, and God Bless. Stay safe out there everyone. ✌️

[@amazoidal]

Zeo likes the Crown as well.

[@rolandbogush2594]

Great review, Tim, very clear and to the point! I've had one of these XLS1002 amps for about a year. I bought it following a review I saw on KZbin by Andrew Robinson. I'm very happy with mine - love the neutral sound. I would be so interested if you could talk about other hi-fi components in the similar cost ball park.

[@billschnaars9852]

Roland Bogush what do you use as a preamp?

[@JadeB628]

it's amazing how the price of 1002 almost doubled in 2 years. it's now $409 doe the same exact unit. this price you have to rethink your purchase

[@tupuhumuhumunukunukuapuaa3093]

Woo fellow trombonist (sure it's been a while for me but still)! Excellent review!

[@luisperez-fs2gz]

Great review Tim!

[@michaelriner1181]

Tim, thank you for your informative review. Felt like you were speaking to me ,as I also have Maggie 1.7i and have been thinking about Class D amps. Was thinking about PS Audio m700 also.....so your imput was helpful.

[@davidcheung6748]

I purchased a 1502 while my Bryson 4 E is being repaired. It sounds amazing 👍👏

[@spencerboaz2385]

I have the older XLS 1500's . The new XLS with input voltage switch is a strong reason to buy the new XLS , but I would say spend the little extra for the bigger amps at least the XLS1502 for the higher signal to noise and other upgrades . We know nothing can sound better than the sorse you start with , that being said a good preamp is a big plus I got lucky and found a Mark Levenson for next to nothing . I wouldn't compare the XLS to the super $30k to $100k amps but for the price you can't do better . Thanks Tim

[@dansteinman3158]

Tim is a really great reviewer!

[@kohnfutner9637]

Tim done a fab job on describing the amplifier.

[@kahnzo]

This will allow me to buy the Maggie's that I love. Thanks Tim. I can also run my stage monitors off of my mixing board.

[@gruffly78]

I have a Crown XLS1502 fed from a Cambridge Audio DACMagic Plus over XLR, feeding a pair of KEF LS50 Meta, and it sounds extremely good. Also with a sub.

[@robm321]

I enjoyed Tim's review.

[@richardgrumbine4867]

I just got one of these today. Put it into my system where it replaced Trio LM07 monoblocks. I must say it sounds good! Like Tim said there is a tiny amount of hiss if you put your ear to the speaker but you have to put your ear right up to it... otherwise you don't hear it... my only possible complaint is that it might be a smidge more fatiguing to listen to than my monoblocks... time will tell... so far I have only heard 3 albums through it... and like what I hear!

[@pyrolinn2088]

You cant go wrong with any of the XLS series. And if you don't like it or you out grow it, you can always get pretty much what you paid for it at a later date.

[@alanburnham9832]

Excellent review! Thanks!

[@psoni777]

Nice review Tim 👍🏽

[@NoMoreRadioMyths]

I just re-capped an Altec-Lansing 9444a. It was a big job but now have a 200 watts per channel amp with a total investment, including the amp, of $200. The old pro-type a/b amps, if re-capped can sound really good. I also swapped out the NE5532 op amp in the front end for a LM4562 which is specifically designed for audio. I have another op amp on the way to try.

[@danclark8947]

What a great review on one of the best amplifiers made in that price range.

[@veteq101]

Great review Tim. Many years ago I owned a pair of Magnepans 1.6 and even though they sound amazing the inability to get very loud sound out of them made me switch to a more standard speaker. Maybe it is time for me to visit the brand.

[@MichelLinschoten]

Depends on what magnepan you play with really .. get a tympani you won’t switch after that so easily

[@newpath.newpath2010]

I like pro audio amps for home use, played low. Using a 300wpc crest class a/b from the 90s, passively cooled, and run at low levels in class A, its a winner with all my loudspeakers.

[@jarodreddig63]

Great review! Big fan of Crown.

[@TheRoyrules88]

An SVS with a pair of Magnepans?Please try a Rhythmik brother.They have a sealed model F12G.370 w rms class AB.Bass endgame for pipe organ lovers!

[@pierremartin9048]

Portland Maine such a cool town! Sounds like great value gear.

[@enduro500sp]

Great review!

[@ReflectedMiles]

This prompted me to go back and look at the specs for my Crown D-150A (75W/ch) from studio days that was manufactured a few decades ago. Frequency response on it is DC - 100kHz +/- 1dB. Hum and noise are 110dB below rated output. Sure glad the output signal capacity and quality have improved so much with modern amp technology...

[@ReflectedMiles]

@Alex The Crowns aimed at pro studio use (not home studios) are highly "clinical," as the specs suggest, sort of like actual pro studio monitors are designed to be versus those marketed to home studios and consumers as "studio monitors." They aren't meant to sound good. That is probably the single greatest difference in design goals between pro studio and most audiophile and similar gear.

[@charleskatz2606]

Bravo Tim.Glad to know the s/n & hiss isn't issue.Want to try a pair at my buddies house with Mag 3.6 vs his Bryston 4BST - more power (lot's more) plus crossover will be interesting especially when I get him to pull trigger on a Rel sub

[@HappyHighwayman]

My speakers are Polk RTi12s and are rated for a monstrous 500 watts per. My home theater receiver sounds great but only puts out 90, and it's loud enough. However, people on the internet are always saying for some speakers you want even MORE than they can handle. I decided to order a 300 watt at 8 ohms XLS1502 to see if it makes any noticeable difference and hopefully put the power thing to rest, despite seeing the videos of how loud even 1 watt can be.

[@jC-kc4si]

How did the 1502 work for you? Did you bridge it for your Polk? I am currently running the 2002 to pairs of RSL CG25's and Ascend HTM' 200's. Both these speakers can handle the power.

[@HappyHighwayman]

@@jC-kc4si Worked out fine but since I am running unbalanced pre-outs at a different voltage from the unbalanced inputs (Home audio vs. pro audio) I needed a CleanBox Pro to get the max performance. I did not bridge them as 700 watts per channel is way more than needed. Eventually I took it out of the chain because to balance it with the other outputs from the AVR I needed to dial down the gain to 50%