Crown XLS802 Power Amplifier

Reliable design. Efficient forced-air fans. Electronically balanced XLR inputs.

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Overall User Ratings

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 10 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 10 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

"As Good As It Gets."

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 10 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 10 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from hotmail.com

Submitted: 9/17/2009

Style of Music: Classic rock and blues

Musical Experience: Acitve musician

Location: Westminster, CO

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
It has XLR inputs, which is fairly typical of modern pro power amps. It has SpeakOn, 1/4", and banana output connections, which is very handy. The important things are the built in protection diagnostic functions. It protects it self from over-current, DC output, and over-temperature. It also has a built-in circuit breaker. Very cool, and what you expect and get from Crown. PLUS, it has a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Crown has a lot of faith in their own products.

Quality:
This unit seems to be very high quality. Crown is, in my opinion, makes the highest quality amps you can buy. This unit is made in China, which caused me some concern at the time I bought it, but after 3 years of use almost every day with no problems, I'm very satisfied that the Crown quality is still there. This amp has a 3-year manufacturer's warranty. Crown must think it's a quality product too.

Value:
This ampis rated at 800 watts/channel into 4 ohms (two 8ohm speakers daisy chained per channel) and 1600 watts bridged to mono. That much power from a very high quality amp for less than $500 is a great value.

Desirability:
Power amps don't have sex appeal, but I do like the Crown logo, so I gave it a 10. But, that's just me.

Sound:
I've used this amp in my home practice studio to power the monitor system for about 3 years. It powers two monitor speakers on one channel and two "house" speakers on the other channel. It sounds great.

Ease of Use:
Plug it in, turn it on, and set the levels on the detented level controls on the front. I run mine in the third click above zero. It's plenty loud but not too loud.

Support:
I have had not problems with this amp, but I've called Crown to ask questions of their audio engineers, and gotten them, for free. Not many companies will do that these days, so I consider that great support.

Overall:
I expect to use this amp until I'm too old to scoot down to the basement. I have a friend who has a Crown DC 150 power amp he purchased new in 1972. He's hand no problems at all with it. I looked at other amps, but based on my friend's experience with Crown, that's what I bought.

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"Total Crown Power Tool"

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from gmail.com

Submitted: 6/11/2007

Style of Music: classic rock and blues

Musical Experience: 30 years/bassist/pianist

Location: Denver, Colorado, USA

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
It comes ready to use. You will need to invest in the Speakon cables, which you will definitely want. Buy top-shelf cables!

Quality:
Product seems to be very well designed and built. I believe it will be dependable.

Value:
Absolutely worth every penny.

Desirability:
Not flashy at all. Businesslike. Very desireable.

Sound:
I am using the XLS802 under an Alembic F2B preamp, and it is excellent. Bridged mono at 4ohms, the amp is silent running (very soft fan whirr only), and the power is amazing. The preamp is excellent, and the headroom the bridged amp gives me is beyond any requirements that the Acme Low B cabinet (4x10-high power requirements of 1000 watts or more to avoid clipping) demands at full song. Excellent power amp. Deserves to be a Crown.

Ease of Use:
I run it bridged mono. Attenuators fully open. The preamp controls presence and tone completely, while the Crown is invisible (noisewise) in the signal chain. Just like you want it to be. But believe me, you can't forget that you are using the equivalent of a tactical nuke to power your rig!

Support:
Haven't had any problems to deal with so far.

Overall:
I see no reason to ever replace it. For my performance needs, it is complete and utter overkill, headroom wise. Permanent addition to my rack.

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