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Thread: Seeking Comments from folks using Crown K1 or K2 on Home audio systems

  1. #1
    Moderator hjames's Avatar
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    Seeking Comments from folks using Crown K1 or K2 on Home audio systems

    I'm looking for an amp with a bit more power than the usual 150-200w/ch gear I've had laying around,
    and when I asked Phil about Crown amps, he suggested I might consider the K series Crown Amps.
    He said had no personal experience with those models, but I know some of you have and I thought I'd ask for specifics.

    I used the JBL/UREI amps (6230 and 6260), and later paired Adcom GFA-555s when I was biamping those JBL 4341 monitors,
    but more recently I've been using the B&K amps (ST202+) and am pleased with their sound (and price) ...

    I just got a pair of Vandersteen 3As and they seem a bit more power hungry than speakers I've had before -
    I believe they are best with high-current type amps, so I thought I'd ask you folks about the Crown K series ...

    Thanks in advance for your feedback!
    2ch: WiiM Pro; Topping E30 II DAC; Oppo, Acurus RL-11, Acurus A200, JBL Dynamics Project - Offline: L212-TwinStack, VonSchweikert VR-4
    7: TIVO, Oppo BDP103D, B&K, 2pr UREI 809A, TF600, JBL B460

  2. #2
    Senior Member svollmer's Avatar
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    I've mostly heard of people using them for subwoofer amps in home applications; not for mains. But, they may be fine.

    If you get one, let us know how you like it. One more option may be a Bryston. I've heard they are high current and sound pretty darn good.

  3. #3
    Moderator hjames's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by svollmer View Post
    I've mostly heard of people using them for subwoofer amps in home applications; not for mains. But, they may be fine.

    If you get one, let us know how you like it. One more option may be a Bryston. I've heard they are high current and sound pretty darn good.
    Its a possibility, but I'm hoping to get into this under a grand - (there is always that budget thing ...)
    I suspect the Bryston and Perreaux stuff (and Mark Levinworth, etc) will quickly exceed that threshold ...
    2ch: WiiM Pro; Topping E30 II DAC; Oppo, Acurus RL-11, Acurus A200, JBL Dynamics Project - Offline: L212-TwinStack, VonSchweikert VR-4
    7: TIVO, Oppo BDP103D, B&K, 2pr UREI 809A, TF600, JBL B460

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    Senior Member JuniorJBL's Avatar
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    Hi Heather

    I have used the K2's on my 250's but the sound quality was not as good as my other amps. Unfortunately they were the other amps you stated as breaking the budget. I still think the adcom will sound a bit better than the Crown.

    My friend used 2 555’s and only ran one channel each (not bridged) because of power supply size and they worked really well.

    The K2’s will do great things on the sub though!

    Hope this helps.

    Always fun learning more.......

  5. #5
    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    80's vintage 300w/ch (measured) Perreaux isn't necessarily out of your budget.
    Shipping could be a stinker.

    Watch out for the power switch (esp older units like 2150B ... they -will- fail) and
    understand that the original lateral Hitachi mosfets are no longer made.

    Pro versions are often less, but the usual caveats re pro gear (often take a beating) apply.

    This doesn't look like too bad a deal (no connection to seller, under $500 when I looked):

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Perreaux-PMF...r/321412466624

  6. #6
    Senior Member BMWCCA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by grumpy View Post
    This doesn't look like too bad a deal (no connection to seller, under $500 when I looked):

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Perreaux-PMF...r/321412466624
    Just looking at the specs, they don't appear to be that powerful for what Heather's looking for.

    The Crown PS400 specs out stronger, and that's what I use with my 4345s.
    ". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers

  7. #7
    Moderator hjames's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BMWCCA View Post
    Just looking at the specs, they don't appear to be that powerful for what Heather's looking for.

    The Crown PS400 specs out stronger, and that's what I use with my 4345s.
    Thanks - you are correct.
    I've already got the B&K ST202+ - specs out at 200w/ch into 8 ohms (and the vandy 3A is typically 6 ohm load)
    it's a much warmer amp than the Adcom GFA-555s or the 6260 JBL/UREI amps I had before.
    I was thinking stepping from 200w/ch to something like 300+ w/ch - not that I need to crank it stupid loud (I don't)
    but just to have power in reserve from drum transients and such ...

    But thanks to everyone who has offered suggestions -
    no slights are meant to anyone - all suggestions are heard!
    2ch: WiiM Pro; Topping E30 II DAC; Oppo, Acurus RL-11, Acurus A200, JBL Dynamics Project - Offline: L212-TwinStack, VonSchweikert VR-4
    7: TIVO, Oppo BDP103D, B&K, 2pr UREI 809A, TF600, JBL B460

  8. #8
    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    I think that one specs at 180/ch, but nearly doubles
    that into 4ohms and has 2dB of dynamic headroom
    (higher than needed supply rails, but not regulated).
    So ~285w/ch on peaks into 8ohms...

    Not a full-time sub amp though.

    But I doubt the issue is watts, and more likely a
    low impedance high phase angle load (usually
    what "difficult to drive" means).

    I'd probably wait for a bigger brother version,
    but at $500, this looked interesting.

    I only have experience with three of the perreaux
    units over the last 20+ years, and no crown amps
    for critical listening, so while I certainly honor your
    experience(s), I can offer no subjective listening
    comparison.

    I would hope that me pointing to an eBay link
    would be interpreted as a point of interest, not
    an endorsement or admonishment to buy.

    I'm just some dude on the Internet

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by grumpy View Post
    I'm just some dude on the Internet
    Uhh...

    THE Dude. Or his Dudeness, Duder, or Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing.

  10. #10
    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    Is this where I refer to you as Donny?

    Seriously, there's lots of good hardware out
    there. Looks like those steens need an amp
    with huevos in the bass dept as well as a nice
    top end.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by grumpy View Post
    Is this where I refer to you as Donny?

    .
    Or you could just come right out and tell me to shut the fuck up.

    You guys carry on.

  12. #12
    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
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    Lol. Not needed, but the setup was irresistible.

    looks like stereophile was happy driving
    model 3's with a 100w McCormack amp
    or a 300w Krell... It will be interesting to
    hear how this tale proceeds (so I'll STFU now)

  13. #13
    Senior Member BMWCCA's Avatar
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    Might be time for a Mid-Atlantic Amp Shoot-out at Heather's soon!

    I'm in for at least one Crown PS400 (we can bridge 'em for fun) and one Studio Reference-II. Might call for new shocks in the old car though.

    Are you bi-amping the Vandies?
    ". . . as you have no doubt noticed, no one told the 4345 that it can't work correctly so it does anyway."—Greg Timbers

  14. #14
    Senior Member 1audiohack's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BMWCCA View Post
    Might be time for a Mid-Atlantic Amp Shoot-out at Heather's soon!
    Do it!

    Hi Heather;

    I use them. I have the 4430's in the shop and the 4435's in the office on K2's. The 4350's are quad amped with three K2's and a K1 with a D45 on the rings. The power density for a convection cooled amp is one of the main reasons I like them but they do need some air movement, just a little. When they are in still air they get hot, like can't hold your hand on them hot. Having no cooling fins and little surface area they don't radiate much heat into the room however. They are pretty gutsy and the sound is agreeable to me but I have better amps on he Arrays in the main home system.

    For what you can buy them for currently is probably just as easy to buy and try.

    All the best, Barry.
    If we knew what the hell we were doing, we wouldn't call it research would we.

  15. #15
    Senior Member martin2395's Avatar
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    I had two 6260's and liked them a lot except that the transformers were always running at near meltdown temperature while the heatsinks were barely warm.
    It had something to do with 220-230V differences and very narrow tolerance of the transformer in the amp.

    I also have a K2 and tried it full range on a pair L100S Titaniums. Very powerful sound but too synthetic and aggresive highs. Personally, I wouldn't use it above 500Hz.
    Yes, the K2 run hot even while idling but that's the price for having a convection cooled 500W at 8 Ohms

    No personal experience with Perraux gear but I heard mixed things about their reliability and unobtainium parts.

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