Advise please

[Ken Pachkowsky]

Hi all

I have been buying/flipping alot of stuff over the last few months to build up some funds for upgrading my amps to the next level. I have recently purchased 3 Boulders. 2 x 102AE's and 1 x 250AE. These will drive the 10"'s up. The odds of finding 500AE's for the bottoms is pretty slim. I was lucky to find the three I have.

My question is the dual 15's. Does anyone have a suggestion? I am leaning toward K1's or K2's. I have also thought of using the Perreaux's I have access too but am not sure? I can buy an almost new K2 and a new K1 for the price of a Perreaux.

Anything else I should be looking at?

Budget is the 1000 to 1500 range.

Ken

[scott fitlin]

Before you buy the K series, you should get your hands on one to listen to on your speakers first! Its a good amp, but it does have a somewhat different sound than a traditional amplifier!

Im not saying its bad or good, just different! FWIW, my neighbor uses a K, it seems to make decent bass, but I dont care for it in the midband or HF!

[Ken Pachkowsky]

Im not saying its bad or good, just different! FWIW, my neighbor uses a K, it seems to make decent bass, but I dont care for it in the midband or HF!

Yes, you have confirmed what I have already been told. Its been suggested to me that the only thing it does well is bass. Apparently its quite harsh on the upper side. Unfortunately, I don't have one to borrow and would hate to buy one just to return it.

I have heard great things about QSC and know BO is a huge fan. They had a short lived line called "Studio Reference Series" SRA, but dropped it due to a lack of interest. A few of those are kicking around in the 12-1500 range. The Studio that was replacing all the Perreaux have switched to them, and although the jury is still out they were quite impressed.

Ken

[Valentin]

The studio ref are graet amps and since thy have been discontinued the price is realy atractive

[Ken Pachkowsky]

The studio ref are graet amps and since thy have been discontinued the price is realy atractive

I have never heard one, but they say it sounds exactly the same on the low end as the K series but much nicer on the mids and highs. There is a Ref 1 on Ebay for 1800 right now. I am tempted but all I need is a bass amp.

Appreciate your time.

Ken

[scott fitlin]

QSC makes a punchy bottom! I have listened to them, and hear them at several venues!

However, one thing I also notice, and Ive heard mostly the powerlights these days, is they make good bottom, but I dont care for the sound in the mids and highs.

The guys that use QSC like them because they sound good, and are reliable and stable! This counts for alot, reliability!

If you want my opinion, whatever amp you decide to go with, you still have to audition them on your speakers, with music YOU know well!

To me, whats more important than how the amp sounds, is how it integrates with your system, and all the other components in your system! What I mean is you take what your using on mids and highs, the bass has to integrate with this too! This is where im not sure if a Crown K series, or QSC would match tonally with your Boulders!

[scott fitlin]

I have never heard one, but they say it sounds exactly the same on the low end as the K series but much nicer on the mids and highs. There is a Ref 1 on Ebay for 1800 right now. I am tempted but all I need is a bass amp.

Appreciate your time.

Ken

I believe the Crown ref would do the job well! Uncolored bass is what youll get!

[Ken Pachkowsky]

I believe the Crown ref would do the job well! Uncolored bass is what youll get!

Hmmm. Let me mull this over.

Ken

[edgewound]

Hi Ken...

Here's a couple other suggestions for pro amps at each end of the technology spectrum. The Ashly FET-2000 or FTX 2001, both fan cooled. Or if you like switching amps, the Stewart audio PA-1000 or PR-1000....1000 watts bridged mono at 4 ohms, 11 pounds, convection cooled. See 'em on eBay occasionally.

[scott fitlin]

FWIW, you got me to thinking, so I went into my room, and took out a DC-300A, and put a crown CE-4000 into the rack, as I am changing my fifteens so I need more power!

Not for nothing, the level of the TAD woofers comes up to where it should be on the CE-4000, but the other TAD,s in the room, even though not really powered properly, sound better on the DC-300,s! The bass just sounds better, more realistic or something! The BCA output amp sounds cloudy in comparison!

In a home listening enviroment, with speakers of the quality the Westlakes are, you NEED the best possible amplification you can afford! I have absolutely no doubt you can hear whatever you drive your system with, INCLUDING the LF!

All I know is, you can hear the difference!

[Ken Pachkowsky]

FWIW, you got me to thinking, so I went into my room, and took out a DC-300A, and put a crown CE-4000 into the rack, as I am changing my fifteens so I need more power!

Not for nothing, the level of the TAD woofers comes up to where it should be on the CE-4000, but the other TAD,s in the room, even though not really powered properly, sound better on the DC-300,s! The bass just sounds better, more realistic or something! The BCA output amp sounds cloudy in comparison!

In a home listening enviroment, with speakers of the quality the Westlakes are, you NEED the best possible amplification you can afford! I have absolutely no doubt you can hear whatever you drive your system with, INCLUDING the LF!

All I know is, you can hear the difference!

Thats interesting...

I appreciate the input/suggestions.

Much to mull over, the budget will have to dictate to a degree.

Will keep you all posted.

PS: The "New" loaner Westlake HRX cards are being delivered by UPS today. I must admit to being more than curious about how they will sound. They have been redesigned to implement their " PE Technology ". These boards have the additional upgrade that isolates all 172 op amps from each other. Thats beyond my understanding but is an extra 1200 on top of the 4700.00 for the boards. I mention the price only for shock value. Although after assembling the boards for Ian M's 5-way design, I have a better understanding of why this custom stuff is through the roof in terms of price.

Ken

[Tom Loizeaux]

Ken,
I think the Crown Studio Reference amps should be considered. I use some Crown PS-400s, which are older, smaller designs, but similar to the Studio Reference concept. I really like the A+AB design and think they are the best sounding power amps I've heard.
Also, in Pro Sound, the Crest amps are considered the best in solid bass reproduction. Though they are owned by Peavy now, the Pro line of Crests seem to still be great bass amps.

Tom

[edgewound]

Hey Ken,

Look at this on eBay. Looks to be a nice deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Ashly-MFA600...QQcmdZViewItem

You might also consider Parasound...like the HCA 2200 in bridged mono at 1000 watts at 4 ohms . You could probably find 2 of these for your budget.

[edgewound]

Here's another....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hot-House-Two-Th...QQcmdZViewItem

Sorry Ken....my compulsive side is driving me now.

[Ken Pachkowsky]

Some great ideas, but fan noise will concern me?

Ken