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Custom SS Bass Head Maker?

#42
The Crown XLS is a great bargain, but with a 1.4VRMS Input Sensitivity at 4 ohms – there are many other amps with lower inputs. I am not 100% sure how that computes into what gear can drive it and what gear will struggle, but I will listen to others when they say it is hard to work with.

I am heavily leaning towards 3Leaf Audio’s – The Enabler and a used QSC PLX 1602 or something similar. I have always had great success with QSC products. I can do both items at around $800 out the door.

The custom route seems like a huge hassle. I don’t plan on gigging more than 2x a month in the future – a custom option is just not worth it. Thank you everyone for your input and ideas.

If I go the Peavey IPR route – What kind of low end crossover is available on the amps? Looks like I need to get a model with DSP – just wondering if I can high pass it around 30-50hz? Can I get a link to where I can create the special cable to mono-bridge the amp? (does this exist or am I losing it?). Thanks again.
 
#43
Gearhead17 said:
If I go the Peavey IPR route – What kind of low end crossover is available on the amps? Looks like I need to get a model with DSP – just wondering if I can high pass it around 30-50hz? Can I get a link to where I can create the special cable to mono-bridge the amp? (does this exist or am I losing it?). Thanks again.
Click to expand...

With the IPR (or any amp), I wouldnt worry about the cross over unless you are running your amp in to specific cabs meant for bi amping.

Bridging info.

The IPR series is not designed to operate in Bridge Mode as a feature. It was decided to not make it a feature on the IPR-1600 and IPR-3000, due to the fact that the IPR-4500 and IPR-6000 will NOT support bridge mode operation.

However the IPR-1600 and IPR-3000 can be configured externally to operate in bridge mode. How? You must parallel, both the 'A' and 'B' input XLR's with an external Low Z 'Y' cable. You then must use two Neutrik Speakon connectors on both the 'A' and 'B' outputs. Pole 1+ on the 'A' channel is positive, and pole 1- on the 'B' channel is negative.

If you do not understand this, this simply do NOT do it.

Keep in mind that your damping factor will be 1/4 of the rating into 8 Ohms, so you better have short heavy duty loudspeaker cable between the amp output and the loudspeaker input jacks.
Click to expand...
 
#44
tombowlus said:
I'm no Munji, but we did Link Removed.

Since this review, I have had the opportunity to compare the Blue Sky to the Blue Soul, and while they definitely sound/perform quite similarly, the Blue Sky has a bit more "air" to the tone, and I do prefer the semi-parametric EQ. The power section is the same, but they tweaked the limiter a bit in the Blue Sky (so it is rated slightly higher than the Blue Soul).
Click to expand...

I would be interested in finding out more on the Blue Sky. I also use a tube parametric equalizer. A world apart from graphic equalizers.
 
#48
Gearhead17 said:
The Crown XLS is a great bargain, but with a 1.4VRMS Input Sensitivity at 4 ohms – there are many other amps with lower inputs. I am not 100% sure how that computes into what gear can drive it and what gear will struggle, but I will listen to others when they say it is hard to work with.

I am heavily leaning towards 3Leaf Audio’s – The Enabler and a used QSC PLX 1602 or something similar. I have always had great success with QSC products. I can do both items at around $800 out the door.

The custom route seems like a huge hassle. I don’t plan on gigging more than 2x a month in the future – a custom option is just not worth it. Thank you everyone for your input and ideas.

If I go the Peavey IPR route – What kind of low end crossover is available on the amps? Looks like I need to get a model with DSP – just wondering if I can high pass it around 30-50hz? Can I get a link to where I can create the special cable to mono-bridge the amp? (does this exist or am I losing it?). Thanks again.
Click to expand...

With the DSP model you could setup any manner of filters, etc. Don't know that it's worth it to you to spend the extra to make an HPF. F-decks pre might be a good solution there as it's small and could be used with other rigs as well.

I don't know if the regular model of IPR has a simple push-button, set it and forget it, rumble filter type hpf or not.
 
#49
will33 said:
With the DSP model you could setup any manner of filters, etc. Don't know that it's worth it to you to spend the extra to make an HPF. F-decks pre might be a good solution there as it's small and could be used with other rigs as well.

I don't know if the regular model of IPR has a simple push-button, set it and forget it, rumble filter type hpf or not.
Click to expand...

I will check out the manuals a little closer. The QSC PLX series has a filter at 50hz and I tend to roll off the super low bass at shows to help the sound guy. Helps my rig save some power too.
 
#50
Munjibunga said:
Glockenklang Blue Sky.
Click to expand...
I'm certainly no Tom Bowlus, but I concur with his review. I have the Blue Soul, which doesn't have the semi-parametric mid of the Blue Sky but, as Tom said, they have a familial resemblance. If you like to hear what your bass sounds like with minimal coloration, a Blue Whatever is a great amp for that.
 
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#51
Gearhead17 said:
I will check out the manuals a little closer. The QSC PLX series has a filter at 50hz and I tend to roll off the super low bass at shows to help the sound guy. Helps my rig save some power too.
Click to expand...

IIRC, the IPR's have switchable HP/LP @ 100hz. Which is useable for PA, but not for Bass. If you have a specific bi amp setup you're working with, you may wish to consider the DSP models. Also, you may want to explore the 'Crest' versions, as they're the 'upscale' models to the Peavey. I don't have any trouble with the bridging cable for mine, but it's a turn off for some to need that extra step.

...and indeed there is no input sensitivity switch in the XLS series Crowns. If you're unsure of what preamp you're going to use, or what the preamp you have has for output I'd avoid them.

QSC is always a good choice as well.
 
#52
Gearhead17 said:
I will check out the manuals a little closer. The QSC PLX series has a filter at 50hz and I tend to roll off the super low bass at shows to help the sound guy. Helps my rig save some power too.
Click to expand...


Don't know if something like this would be of interest to you but old analog active crossovers can be had dirt cheap these days. My carvin has a push-button hpf in addition to the other controls that is fixed at 40hz-24db/oct. There is enough range that I can turn the frequency knob all the way down, connected everything to the high side, push that button, and end up with what is essentially a pretty steep 40hz hpf for speaker protection. You could also raise that to 50 or 60 or whatever with the frequency knob.

Might be a sort of poormans hpf solution though it would require another rackspace.

Crossovers like that, or ai think if you do get the DSP model of the amp, are things you'll find more uses for after you have them that you might not have thought of at first. Especially the DSP. With that, you can construct all sorts of filters, specific to whatever speakers you might be using, as well as setup a brickwall limiter calculated to engage just past your speakers xmax (or thermal limits if applicable) and basically insure you (or anyone else) could never blow your speakers no matter how out of hand things get.

A lot of that stuff is designed to protect subwoofers from blowing in PA applications, but you can do the exact same thing in the same way to protect your bass rig.
 
#53
I drive my Crown Amplifiers with Mesa Boogie Recto Preamplifiers. I achieve power and tone.

RectoPreampFrtLgr.jpg
 

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