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Crown XLS Peak Limiter

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by MarkRound, Jul 19, 2013.

  1. Jul 19, 2013 #1
    MarkRound

    MarkRound

    Jul 19, 2013
    Hi all,

    I hope someone here can shed some light on this query: I'm looking at getting a Crown DriveCore XLS 2000 in order to power a couple of 8 ohm 250w bass cabs (a 2x12 and a 2x10, one per stereo channel).

    I'm looking at the XLS2000 so I have plenty of headroom and don't run into clipping issues. The XLS2000 offer 375W per channel, so that's perfectly at the 250x1.5 sweet spot but obviously I'm still keen to protect my speakers (even though 375W is well within the peak capability of the cabs).

    I notice that these amps come with a "Peak Limiter" that claims to protect speakers; does anyone know how it works ? As far as I can tell, there's no user-adjustable threshold, it's just set to ON or OFF. All my searching has just resulted in forum / blog posts with people discussing the feature but no one seems to know exactly what it does, or at what threshold it kicks in.

    Of course, I could just avoid cranking the amp all the way up, but even so it'd be good to know what's going on behind the scenes.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

    Ta,

    -Mark
     
  2. Jul 19, 2013 #2
    scottbass

    scottbass Bass lines like a big, funky giant

    Jul 13, 2004
    Southern MN
    I have owned two of these - the XLS1500 models - for three or four years now and I don't know any more about the peak limiter than you do. I never turn it on. I would suggest contacting Crown/Harman customer support.

    BTW - I have run my DriveCores at nearly full output bridged into 4 ohms (so the equivalent of 2 ohms per stereo channel) on hot, summer, outdoor stages in direct sunlight for up to 10 hours at a time with zero issues. Can't ask for better than that reliability-wise!
     
  3. Jul 19, 2013 #3
    DWBass

    DWBass The Funkfather

    Jan 24, 2003
    Newport News, VA via NYC
    It keeps the output of the amp to a set amount of decibels. Designed to protect your speakers. If turned off, you risk damaging your speakers so be careful of your volume control.
     
  4. Jul 19, 2013 #4
    MarkRound

    MarkRound

    Jul 19, 2013
    Thanks. I have emailed Crown, so if they get back to me I'll let you know what they say.

    In any case, I'm not hugely concerned as the peak output of 375W is very unlikely to cause any kind of damage, plus I'd hear any farting long before it started to wreck things.

    I just don't like "mystery black boxes" :)

    -Mark
     
  5. Jul 19, 2013 #5
    MarkRound

    MarkRound

    Jul 19, 2013
    I'm interested in how that amount is determined. I don't see how it can possibly "know" what speakers are plugged into it. Although presumably that threshold changes depending on whether you're bridging it, and so on...

    :confused:
     
  6. Jul 19, 2013 #6
    Bassamatic

    Bassamatic keepin' the beat since the 60's

    Dec 7, 2007
    Studio City, SoCal, USA
    It clamps the amp output to a specific voltage to avoid clipping the amp. It is probably a little gentler than a hard clip.

    Most people do not like the sound of cheap, built-in limiters and turn them off, but it is definitely better than clipping the amp.
     
  7. Jul 19, 2013 #7
    MarkRound

    MarkRound

    Jul 19, 2013
    Just got a reply from Crown :

    Mystery solved...
     
  8. Jul 19, 2013 #8
    DWBass

    DWBass The Funkfather

    Jan 24, 2003
    Newport News, VA via NYC
    I think it's a bit more than just a decibel or 2. well maybe it depends on the amp. I've tried it with my XLS2500. It was a whole lot more volume when switched off. I mean....really loud!