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Shift-line Olympic Pre/Crown 1502 problems
- Thread starter lala
- Start date
You may have missed agedhorse's comment that the level control knobs on the Crown amp should be set to max gain. It make a big difference in the amplifier performance.
Rick B.
Rick B.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,085
- 5
- 221,195
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
No, you need to re-read the manual because you have missed an essential aspect of bridging (but you may have inadvertently saved your speaker too)
1500+ watts RMS bridged into a 4 ohm load is well more than enough to damage your cabinet, regardless of your assumption.
Most 1/4" TS to XLR(M) adapters are NOT wired the way Rane states, they are wired with pin 3 tied to ground, which results in a 6dB loss of effective gain. The Rane method is technically batter.
+10dB maximum output level of the preamp is not a problem if it's correct and there's enough gain to achieve this level. 2 DIFFERENT things, and from your description you are not missing the mark by a couple of dB but are missing it by 40dB which indicates something MUCH different than what Crown is suggesting.
Some Crown amps use only the channel 1 level control in bridge mode and some require both channel 1 and 2 level controls. Check the manual to determine which way this model works.
I have the 1502 and have had to do what you are wishing to do. You have to order/build a custom cable for the job you are wishing for or just run it not bridged. Please re-read the advice you have received in this thread these are seriously knowledgeable people (including the designer of the Mesa amp you just ordered!) and their advice is perfect. Crown should have picked this up and it is ridiculous that you've spent this much time corresponding with the manufacturers and they never picked this up.
WOW! Really? Since I don't have the time to order parts and custom make the cable, do you where to buy one and what to call it? I am a little disappointed in Crown for not asking me the right questions. Just a few minutes ago, I destroyed a Speakon cable to get to the bare wires on one end, and per the above diagram, I wired to the Crown's binding posts. It does seem to be better. Can it be a placebo effect?
To your point about the feedback and response here on this thread, it is nothing short of amazing. This is why I am so happy to be a small part of the TB community. I'm mostly a collector/noodler of basses, and my tech chops are junior-high level at best. My soldering iron only comes out for a pickup swap or wiring repair of my basses.
I profoundly appreciate all of the help and feedback given to me here, although my situation and limited knowledge prevents me my trying out all of the great suggestions made.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,085
- 5
- 221,195
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
No, it's not a placebo. It will be louder, but there's a lot more to your problem and if you are not tech inclined, I really recommend that you use an amp where all of this work has been done for you by folks who know their stuff.
Note: you can accidentally damage stuff pretty easily when you don't understand the details.
Note: you can accidentally damage stuff pretty easily when you don't understand the details.
Bare leads to the red binding posts of each channel is the same as using the Speakon 1+ and 2+ . . . . channel 1+ is red (plus) on channel 1 and 2+ is red (plus) on channel 2. Creating a bridge cable is as simple as moving the lead from 1- to 2+ on the amp end of the cable, which should require zero parts and take a minute or so *IFI the cahle has a real 4 pin Speakon. If not, *get* a real 4 pin Speakon, and wire accordingly (music stores should have Speakons . . .).
Watching for updates. Headed down this same path with the same equipment, without the ability to punt for the second amp.
Selling the Shiftline to a TB'er who will use it on his pedalboard in front of his amp. A great use for it. It is a great pre in so many ways, especially tone. Also, my Shiftline has a 12AU rather than 12AX. I am selling the Shiftline with both tubes, so the buyer can choose. The 12AX will give more gain.
