More Crown in the House....!
Okay, so most of you have figured out by now that I have a penchant for Vintage Crown gear. I mean, each time I hint at a new piece of vintage gear
is coming in, Ivan will post a big photo of a gilded Crown to let me know he has a good idea what I'm up to. I especially like the gear produced between around 1976 and 1982 or 1983. During that time, Crown had a strong focus on the audiophile market and was producing really high quality, first-rate products. In the last year, I've been putting a pretty strong focus on my office system, which is based on vintage Crown gear. Last year I upgraded my original DC300 amp to a later production version of the venerable DC300A, and in the last couple months I began moving toward converting the system to the flagship "Distinction series" with the addition of the EQ-2 Equalizer, and the Distinction series SA-2 amplifier. http://www.audioaficionado.org/vinta...wn-system.html http://www.audioaficionado.org/vinta...her-notch.html The missing piece now is the DL-2 Controller preamplifier, and I'm still looking for one of these. Also however, I've had my eyes out for the correct walnut cabinet for the SA-2 amplifier, since the cabinet I have on hand that fits the DC300A is both short on depth and lacks the top vent screen available on the deeper cabinet. The amplifier can be installed in the cabinet I have, but that leaves some of the unit sticking out the back, and does not provide the ventilation that is really best as the SA-2 has a forced-air cooling system. I really thought I was pretty much done in the Crown amplifier department...in addition to my SA-2 I have my DC-300A, my original DC300 amp, and two D-75A's that I use as headphone amps. Then, a week ago in my routine browsing on eBay I stumble upon a Crown Power Line Four amplifier, in essentially mint condition, along with the walnut cabinet, being the exact model cabinet I would need for the SA-2 amplifier. All for an excellent, and I do mean excellent, buy it now price. I really needed that cabinet, and who knows how long it would be before I would find another, especially in this condition. I really didn't need another amplifier, but after all it IS a Crown, from the glory days of Crown. I decided I could use it as a subwoofer amp in my Florida Room system. Currently I'd been using my trusty Hafler DH-500 amplifier to drive the JBL 18" sub I'd acquired from Ivan a few years ago. Although the Crown Power Line Four has a slightly lower mono power rating (530 watts at 8 ohms) than the Hafler (800 watts at 8 ohms) I suspected this could actually represent an upgrade, as Crown amplifiers of this vintage were noted for excellent bass. I didn't see the lower power rating as an issue, as the sub I have in that small room is huge overkill to begin with. So, I jumped on the deal, it was just too good to pass up. The seller also had the matching tuner and preamp, in equally excellent condition and in walnut cases but I did pass on these. Upon the very big box's arrival yesterday I set upon opening the goodies. The amplifier itself was boxed in the original factory shipping carton, with the manual, Crown proof of performance report, schematics, even the original Crown plastic bag. This box was then placed in a much larger, very heavy duty box with the walnut cabinet on top of the amplifier box, and extremely well padded on all sides, top and bottom. The cabinet is like new-it did look a little dry so I put an application of Watco wood rejuvenator on it... http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps966083fe.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps568a247a.jpg Looking great! Before Installing the SA-2 in the cabinet, I wanted to connect the Power Line Four amp to the office system to put it through its paces full-range before putting it on sub duty. So, I began unpacking it next.... http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps3b711a27.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps9962cd6f.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps833d26cb.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps8a1c7ca8.jpg Next, I pulled out the SA-2 to connect the new amp up. When I saw these two Crown beauties sitting on the floor, I couldn't resist pulling my DC300A out of its bag to make a guest appearance in a group photo: http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...psc744669b.jpg All three of these amplifiers are beautiful examples of the glory days of Crown...all superbly constructed, like battleships. So let's get the new amplifier hooked up: http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...psd16ea4f0.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...psb61f0b2d.jpg The Power Line series of amplifiers had some unique features. The design of the Power Line series incorporated Crown's "Multi-mode" circuitry, which put simply meant that at low listening levels, the amplifier functioned as a pure class A amp-considered the "ideal" mode of operation. At medium levels the amplifier operated at Class A+B mode, and at high power levels, class AB+B. Crown contended that most of our listening is really done at lower power levels, so much of the time the user will enjoy class A mode of operation. The amplifier also incorporates an interesting "Frequency analyzing display" which gives the user a rough idea of the spectral balance that is being fed to the amplifier. Finally the amplifier also has the Crown IOC (input-output comparator) circuit, which has a pair of front panel LED's that warn of distortion before it reaches your ears. This is a useful tool-though I'm not sure what real useful function the frequency analyzing display serves, other than a mild form of entertainment. Connected to my office system as a full-range amplifier, I was very impressed with its performance. Very clean, open sounding and engaging. Its sound seemed to belie its 165 watt per channel at 8 ohms output power rating. Very very nice indeed. After enjoying some music and satisfied that all was well, I went ahead and installed the SA-2 amplifier in its new walnut clothing. Once installed, all I could find myself saying was WOW. Gorgeous! http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps920aa2ad.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps632c34c8.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...psd3da1be8.jpg Now for the icing on the cake, let's install the Power Line Four in the Florida Room: http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps769875cf.jpg http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps191a4014.jpg The silver brushed face of the new amp compliments my old Marantz 1030 amp...which is a static display. This was my first "high end" stereo component that I bought at the age of 14. http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps17348f40.jpg Once installed and connected, I was greeted with exactly the type of sound I had hoped for: warm, clean, nicely textured bass, typical of Crown amps of this vintage. Driving my 18" sub, together with my vintage McIntosh system with its MC2205 amp driving my JBL 4313B's, I couldn't be happier. I consider my acquisition of the Crown Power Line Four as among some of the best of what is becoming a long list of excellent finds on the bay. I'm really pleased, with two systems furthered in one swoop and at a very reasonable price. Thanks for reading folks..... Pete |
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Pete |
Pete.......What a beauty! The Crown Distinction Series amp and that sweet cabinet look brand new. You are building a very nice Crown system in the office. I'm on the lookout for a Crown DL2 preamp for you. I know you are happy with this latest purchase. Happy listening.
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Yes! And a few more words-
Professional, aesthetic, rewarding sound, clean. I'm amazed that it can morph into A, AB, etc. Great happenings there Pete! As I mentioned, you will be enjoying this for some time, congrats! |
Dan, Joe....thanks!!
Pete |
Pete
Those are some great looking systems that you have lovingly put together. Congratulations. |
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Pete |
Pete, that looks outstanding. Congrats! :thumbsup:
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Great gear throughout, Pete! Wow! And the shelving you put all the gear on is just as beefy and massive as the gear itself.
It would be really neat to take a walk through your house with all those systems and beefy system furniture. It would be like a time-warp back into the late 70's, early 80's, meaning it would be taking me back to my childhood years with my father's and brother's growing systems. I still expect to see shag carpeting in one of your pics, but it never shows up! LOL BTW, I had the pleasure of owning one of those little D-75A amps for a couple of years (in mint shape). I took a gamble and got it for 50 bucks because the original owner said the power switch was broken and he didn't want to spend the time and money getting it fixed. When it arrived in the mail, I pulled the lid off only to find that the nut and tooth washer had worked loose. A simple 2 minute fix and it was up and running. I ended up selling it a couple years later for $350! It sounded excellent on my Altec 511B horns and dead silent. Anyway, sorry for the little off topic spew. And again, great looking gear! :thumbsup: |
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