Crown XTI experience anybody?

I use the 1000. Its been a great amp.

 

I also had the XTI 1000 for a couple of years in my old rack rig. Like rovito I had zero issues with it and it had plenty of power for me. I ran mine bridged into 8 and 4 ohm loads all the time and it sounded great with a RBI preamp and any of the Dr Bass cabs I have. It really worked well bridged into my 8 ohm 310 cab, it had enough juice for any gig I've had. It seems like it might be complicated to use with all the different presets you can have but once you set it up the way you want to run it you don't have to mess with that any more. Just turn your preamp on and then the Crown and you are ready to go.

 

I hope someone can confirm for me that the XTI series can be used anywhere in the world without the need for a transformer change? The manual says something about a switch mode universal power supply 110-240 volts...

John

 

Crown can: http://www.crownaudio.com/amp_htm/xti.htm

 

XTi had some early teething problems mostly resolved in firmware update quite awhile back, and I've seen a few guys post here and there about them who seemed clued in who said they were getting exactly the type of results one should expect.

As far as the DSP stuff, this is basically set-it-and-forget it stuff you can use to optimize a rig and then leave it alone unless you actually are a tweakaholic or use several rigs and want presets for each. It gets better if you use the computer software interface than if you do it from the front panel though the software is bloaty unless you are running a raft of Harmon products; it allows you access to additional parameters which may be the very ones you need/desire.

 

This pretty much sums up the XTi's. They are very handy if you're running multiple cabinets and want to cross over or do a bit of eq'ing away from your preamp.

They aren't all that heavy or amazingly loud. (IIRC even when the fan was in overdrive, it was still quieter than my Hartke HA3500 at any time).

 

If you've got the cash, go for the I-Tech series. I found one on eBay for about $1500. Serious power (we're talking 4000 - 8000 watts), only 28 lbs, lot of options for power, good clean sound, insane damping factor, etc. I use one with a POD X3.

 

I tried out an XTI2000. I bridged it an ran it at 4ohm. Compared to the power section in my Aggie db750, the XTI felt pretty weak. When playing low on a 5string, it started flashing the cliplight way before the aggie even started breathing hard. I was using the same preamp for this a/b test.

I've heard others that thinks that the switching powersupplies thats in most lowweight poweramps is not working that great with bass.

Just my 2 cents

 

Adjust your gain right on the SMPS power amp and apply about 6 dB of compression/limiting with make-up gain and you'll change your tune.

A lot of touring systems use Class D / SMPS these days for subwoofers and mains, and have been for some time.

 

That's a drastically different class of amp and well over twice the price.

 

When I got my XTI 1000 from TBer Quadzilla a couple years ago I had been using a Crown CE1000 for four or five years before that. The CE 1000 is a more convetional poweramp with the big transformer so it's a lead sled style. Both are rated for about the same power . I heard no difference in my rig at all when I switched poweramps,the XTI sounded the same as the CE including the low end. Maybe if I had A/B'd the two at the same time I got the XTI with a switching device maybe I could have told some difference in the tone but the only difference I could tell after changing amps was the weight of my rack.

 

Obviously. I considered buying the XTI and decided that it was worth it to spend the extra $1000 and get an amp that would have enough power. As most of the folks in this thread have observed, the XTI series doesn't have a whole lot to go around. Get an I-Tech and it'll never break a sweat. Besides, how much does a DB750 or a WT-800 cost? You can pair an I-Tech with any preamp and get 10 times as much clean power as either of them for about the same price.

 

Apparently you've never heard my XTi 2000 in bridged mode into a 4 ohm cab. Many times it has been paired with my Epifani UL-410 on outdoor stages with no PA support and no building or wall behind it. Amazingly loud and no cliplights. I'm not saying it sounds better than a DB 750 (or a Crest CA 9), just that I've never felt a shortage of chest-thumping power.

Just my 2 cents.

M. M.

 

I'll come right out and say my XTi sounds as good as your DB750 or your CA9. My electric bass also sounds better than your old acoustic bass. My new cell phone is better than your old corded phone. My hybrid will get better gas mileage than your old gas engine. Anyone who says these new types of amps are not up to par are flat out full of ****! IMHO!

 

FYI - TBer JKDahlman told me that he is thinking about selling his XTI if you are looking for a deal on one!

 

Here's what my experience is with the Crown XTI amps are ...I use the the XTI 2000 to drive the main P.A. Speakers and I use a XTI 1000 in the bridge mode to drive a Cerwin Vega Earthquake subwoofer ...we have never had any issue of, not enough gut throbbing, bass & low mids, at a sound level that would cause you to scream, to carry on a conversation ...those amps have a digital interface and you can set them up with a computer to fine tune what you need out of them ....I did have a problem with one of the amps, I did call there customer service and they issued a UPS pick-up and they had it back in 2 weeks ( they paid for the shipping both ways ) that warranty is good for 3 years ... I believe QSC has a similar warranty, but I don't have any QSC amp ....all in all I've been pleased with those amps ...and there made in the good old USA

 

XTi 2000 here. Fine amp but I haven't gigged with it yet. Works fine with the RBI, the SVP CL, and my transformer modded MB-1. Loaded rack back (amp, pre, tuner, power strip) weighs have what my SVT did. Doesn't sound as good, but at my age I'll take the weight savings.

 

BiigM and anyone else thinking this power amp is not good.
I can put my XTI 2000 head and yes my Art Tube Channel pre (a mic preamp) up against your equipment and I am 100% positive it can hold its own. I am pumpin 1200 watts outta 2x12 cab @ 4ohms bridged mono and I can smoke any rig twice the size. Get this too peeps I only paid $500 brand new from 8th Street Music in Philly.
Just my 2 cents