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...
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....
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:
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:
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!
Now for the icing on the cake, let's install the Power Line Four in the Florida Room:
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.
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