Just pulled the trigger on a Crown XLS 2000!

[Son of Bovril]

that's not the first time someone has been underwhelmed by the BDDI into the XLS series, I think maybe it doesn't match so well with this poweramp. I have used the VT bass into it with absolutely no problems and all my other pre's have no problem running it either, but I heard the RBI wasn't that great through it either...

 

[xring]

Stay away from the Presonus pre. I found it to be pretty incompatable with the Crown. You'll be very disappointed with the volume. I'm going to get one of the new Peavey amps for that pre. The sensitivity is much lower on the it.

 

[mikeddd]

Crown amps must have very low input sensitivity. I use a Presonus Tube Channel into two different QSC amps (PLX3602 and GX5) and have no volume probs at all. More than enough gain available.

 

[zombywoof5050]

well my XLS2000 came today,

First impression?

...not that loud!

I have a 1/4" ts from BDDI into channel 1 of the XLS,
and it is set Y input, HPF (50hz)

any suggestions?

Have you tried one of those adapters to directly connect the 1/4" output of your BDDI to the XLR input of the Crown? That may be worth a try.

 

[Rav]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I use one of the 1500's.
I've used it with the Nav in the picture. I've also used it with a Aguilar Tone Hammer and a Sansamp BDDI. It worked perfectly with all three.

The SansAmp had the least amount of volume. Then the Tone Hammer then the Eden. In that order.

I run it in stereo, Y, No filter, Limiter on. In this configuration the amp is 300Watts into 8 ohms. The cabinet is also exactly rated at 8 ohms 300 watts. Stereo Y lets me add a second GS112 to the other channel.

I bought this amp specifically to drive 1-2 Aguilar GS112's. For that it is perfectly matched.

If I really wanted to go bigger I could add 2 more GS112's and have 2 per side running the amp 4 ohms per channel and have a total of 4 cabinets.

 

[xring]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I use one of the 1500's.
I've used it with the Nav in the picture. I've also used it with a Aguilar Tone Hammer and a Sansamp BDDI. It worked perfectly with all three.

The SansAmp had the least amount of volume. Then the Tone Hammer then the Eden. In that order.

I run it in stereo, Y, No filter, Limiter on. In this configuration the amp is 300Watts into 8 ohms. The cabinet is also exactly rated at 8 ohms 300 watts. Stereo Y lets me add a second GS112 to the other channel.

I bought this amp specifically to drive 1-2 Aguilar GS112's. For that it is perfectly matched.

If I really wanted to go bigger I could add 2 more GS112's and have 2 per side running the amp 4 ohms per channel and have a total of 4 cabinets.

You could actually run 4 of those 8 ohm cabs per side, for a total of 8! The Drivercore will go 2 ohms per channel.

 

[mowburger]

Well I wired up a bridged cable and my 410 is finally seeing the wattage it deserves, it was noticebly louder but still not deafining.

Me thinks the voltage was too low comming out of the sansamp.

I had a Alesis 3630 sitting around and read that the output voltage on that is 1.23, so I hooked that up and low and behold it is def louder! I set the threshold to about +5db and set the ratio to infinity, kinda just a limiter at this point. but then added about 10db in output gain, and it is LOUD!

The SansAmp BDDI revelaed it's short commings as a pre to me, so I'm deff PRE SHOPPING right now!

Check on the Presonus, and Aguilar being quiet.

Which ART do you guys have? I only have one space left. Will the ART Tube Preamp/Compressor/EQ? be louder than a warmed up BDDI signal? this one> http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=124&cat=18&id=6

Is that tasty looking Ampeg SVP a nice hot signal?

What about the BBE B-MAX? looks like crap imo

What about the behringer single ch tube mic pre?

I saw a cool Joe Meek 1/2 space pre and 1/2 space para EQ,
Are those nice?

Are there other mic pres out there I'm not finding in my searches? >Needs to be single rack space.

It kinda made sense that a stomp pedal didn't have the high 1.4v the Crown wants to see. Too bad you couldn't change that somehow?

Thanx for your help, I have about 40 days left to return and start over, if this doesn't workout.

Also my cab is sealed and old and used, It sounds blurry, not sure how else to explain, doesn't sound "wrong" just not very tight, would a ported cab let the lows breath more and fill the room but still be clear and well defined?

I'm not opposed to buying a new cab, but thats another can of GAS

 

[ErnieD]

OP: "What about the BBE B-MAX? looks like crap imo"

Just wondering why you said this ^ ? I wanted abit more flexibility than my Alembic F-1X so I found the BBE BMax (non-T) on the 'bay at a very good BIN price and its been in my rack with my XLS1500 since last fall. I sometimes swap out the BBE for the F-1X for my blues/rock band but I'm prefering the tones I get outta the BBE so far.

Are you saying that it just "looks ugly" from pics or the specs?

I'm using it with a Epifani UL 410-II, 8 ohm cab at aprox 1050 watts, this rig sounds great. I got a second UL410 but have not had a need to use both cabs yet. There were some nice pres in the TB classifieds recently. You might wanna check out Ebay for some used pres there, I see many when I'm browsing. Seems your looking for a good tube tone, so those may be more rare or priceier. I see where some here use pedal pres and seem happy with those.

 

[mowburger]

DO you guys think the Line6 Bass Floor POD would drive the XLS into oblivion? How about the KORG? I'm gonna try my PAndora PX4D and see if that has enough Ballz.

 

[mowburger]

OP: "What about the BBE B-MAX? looks like crap imo"

Just wondering why you said this ^ ? Are you saying that it just "looks ugly" from pics or the specs?


I see where some here use pedal pres and seem happy with those.

Yeah I am just going on looks sorry, maybe I should try it.

The BDDI lacks a mid control and has a nice hard edge to it, but I want
#1 something ALOT louder
#2 something maybe warmer as a pre, with a lil more eq posssibility

 

[mowburger]

OMG the Pandora kills, I got everything in my house to rattle. It was truely breathtaking, Maybe I should try some of the better multi effects units like Boss GT-6B, ME-50B, The Korg bass multi pedal, the line6 Bass Floor POD, anybody use any of these?

 

[jamzcl]

Is that tasty looking Ampeg SVP a nice hot signal?

I've got no complaints about my SVP-PRO - I love it

I know some have complained that they've had some noisy ones, but I don't know if they were referring to the last generation SVP-PRO or all in general. Mine is the geration before the last, which I prefer, and it's very quiet...and it might still contain the original tubes.

 

[thudfromafar]

Well I wired up a bridged cable and my 410 is finally seeing the wattage it deserves, it was noticebly louder but still not deafining.

Me thinks the voltage was too low comming out of the sansamp.

I had a Alesis 3630 sitting around and read that the output voltage on that is 1.23, so I hooked that up and low and behold it is def louder! I set the threshold to about +5db and set the ratio to infinity, kinda just a limiter at this point. but then added about 10db in output gain, and it is LOUD!

The SansAmp BDDI revelaed it's short commings as a pre to me, so I'm deff PRE SHOPPING right now!

Check on the Presonus, and Aguilar being quiet.

Which ART do you guys have? I only have one space left. Will the ART Tube Preamp/Compressor/EQ? be louder than a warmed up BDDI signal? this one> http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=124&cat=18&id=6

Is that tasty looking Ampeg SVP a nice hot signal?

What about the BBE B-MAX? looks like crap imo

What about the behringer single ch tube mic pre?

I saw a cool Joe Meek 1/2 space pre and 1/2 space para EQ,
Are those nice?

Are there other mic pres out there I'm not finding in my searches? >Needs to be single rack space.

It kinda made sense that a stomp pedal didn't have the high 1.4v the Crown wants to see. Too bad you couldn't change that somehow?

Thanx for your help, I have about 40 days left to return and start over, if this doesn't workout.

Also my cab is sealed and old and used, It sounds blurry, not sure how else to explain, doesn't sound "wrong" just not very tight, would a ported cab let the lows breath more and fill the room but still be clear and well defined?

I'm not opposed to buying a new cab, but thats another can of GAS

Yeah, I'm gonna suggest you grab that Art Tube Channel from ebay. I got mine for 120 shipped. Other good options I've heard are Ashly (forget the model), or Yamaha PB-1.

 

[zombywoof5050]

If you didn't try it, I still think you should try plugging into the XLR input of the Crown. You will need one of those 1/4"-to-XLR adapter cables.

 

[xring]

If you didn't try it, I still think you should try plugging into the XLR input of the Crown. You will need one of those 1/4"-to-XLR adapter cables.

It won't make a difference. Both inputs (TRS and XLR) have the same values on this amp. I tried it.

 

[zombywoof5050]

It won't make a difference. Both inputs (TRS and XLR) have the same values on this amp. I tried it.

Thanks for the info, you saved me from giving the Drivecore another try.

 

[Scrappersa]

I've got to say that I've been extremely disappointed with my Crown XLS 1000. I've only used a QSC PLX 1202 and a Crown XLS 1000, but the PLX 1202 was so much more crisp and clear. It cut through much better. I ran both at 4 ohms in bridged mono bypassing the filters. The Crown was also a lot quieter than the QSC. There is a great topic around here on input sensitivity that explains how it can affect the loudness and even quality of the sound. I think that had a lot to do with it. I'm definitely taking my Crown back.

 

[xring]

Thanks for the info, you saved me from giving the Drivecore another try.

Well I hope that's a good thing.
I gotta say again, feed your Crown a hot signal, and it will deliver. What I like so much about the Art Pro Channel is that even though the Crown's HPF only goes to 50 hz, I disable it, and use the Art's "low cut" to drop the signal anywhere from 12-200hz. Did I say it's got a HOT signal too?

 

[mowburger]

man I can't get over how good this sounds! It's like the modeling sounds better than alot of the heads I tried?!

I hate to say it, because I can't stand digi guitar amps, but I might just go digital!

It sounds really good and at a super high volume. I mean loud, louder than you'd want to try anything out in a store.

I need to know the headroom is there, we don't always play that loud, but when the guys ask me to turn it up I don't want to look at my amp and see it dimed already.

Nothing feels like tubes, but man this is versitile, light, and LOUD. I feel stoopid getting these tones out of a little headphone amp!

 

[dcr]

Way to go. That's a great price. I would remind everyone who wants to buy a Crown amp to give Northern Sound and Light a phone call, though.

What he said! Those guys have great prices on lotsa different stuff.

FWIW, that's where I got my XLS1500, along with my last QSC and a bunch of my lighting rig.



dcr