Finally Upgrading From Crown XLS202...Should i keep the 202 ?

[plainman007]

Hi,

I had a XLS202 for sometime now and have been using it to drive 2 x 350w full range speakers. Im not much of a techie but was adviced by various members here that the amp is much underpowered for my speakers. Thats about 200 rms per channel ??? And ive found that it clips at times but only for a few seconds.

So ive finally decided to buy the XLS402-D or XLS602-D. But im a lil scared that the 602 might be too powerful for my speakers ? Because when a speaker is rated at 350w it might only be 300w or 250w continuous power handling ?

So which is the better amp to buy ? And secondly once ive got my new amp is it worth giving away my current 202 amp or will it serve me some other purpose ? Can i use it to drive a small single sub alone :D ? Or can i use it as a seperate amp for voice overs at a gig while my other amp drives the speakers ? If this is possible then i will retain this amp ? Can you suggest how i can use my 202 in other ways please. Can i cut the bass to mymain speakers and send the bass alone to this speaker ? But will i need additional hardware other than the Sub ?

Thanks

[rob1963]

To be honest, I'd go for the Crown XLS 802, which gives 500 watts RMS per channel.

If your speakers are rated at 350 watts RMS, they'll happily take 500 watts of MUSIC POWER, as RMS refers to a constant tone, and music is not constant.

That way you'll have no problems with clipping & will have more headroom for when you need it.

[plainman007]

Hi Rob,

What if my speakers are rated at 250 rms each. Ive heard if they say 350 rms then mostly it will be about 250 rms in reality. If this is the case with my speakers will hooking them up to a 500 rms per channel amp blow them in case of any high bass moments in the audio ?

Secondly, what about the 202 idea, would i have to let it go or will it serve the purpose i described ?

Thanks

[NKR]

In short keep the existing amp as its worth buttons second hand.

Secondly your cabs are likely to be 8ohm and the 602 kicks out 380 (from memory) at 8ohm. So your 350's will be just fine, just don't red line the desk and keep the amp up full.

I use a 602 on my 300 watt RW3's and its fine. Actually runs better with 4 RW3's on it as its 600 a side at 4ohm and with 4 cabs up I am not pushing everything as hard.

I do agree with Rob though. If you can stretch to the bigger unit then do so as more head room is never a bad thing.

[rob1963]

Hi Rob,

What if my speakers are rated at 250 rms each. Ive heard if they say 350 rms then mostly it will be about 250 rms in reality. If this is the case with my speakers will hooking them up to a 500 rms per channel amp blow them in case of any high bass moments in the audio ?

Secondly, what about the 202 idea, would i have to let it go or will it serve the purpose i described ?

Thanks

If your speakers are rated at 250 watts RMS each, the amp I suggest should still be fine. Most people seem to think that the amp output should be somewhere between 50% more & 100% more than the speaker's RMS rating.

As for your existing amp, I'd simply carry it as a spare.

:)

[plainman007]

Thanks Guys. Very helpful.

NKR > In your second line..."just don't red line the desk and keep the amp up full" you mean dont let the level indicators on the mixer to go to red ? and u mean i should or shoudnt keep the amp volume full ?

Regards

[A1DL]

What if my speakers are rated at 250 rms each. Ive heard if they say 350 rms then mostly it will be about 250 rms in reality.

:confused: please explain...I'm intrigued!

[NKR]

Thanks Guys. Very helpful.

NKR > In your second line..."just don't red line the desk and keep the amp up full" you mean dont let the level indicators on the mixer to go to red ? and u mean i should or shoudnt keep the amp volume full ?

Regards

Keep the amp up full and keep you level indicators on the desk under 0 DB and you should be fine. The 602 has a clip indicator on the front and depending on what desk you are using you need to just keep an eye on it. My Denon seems to require the gain is kept down more than my old KAM unit.

[plainman007]

Thanks NKR !

A1 > Sorry i really am no expert. Ive just heard that when speakers are RATED by the maufacturer, its usually the top ceiling handling capacity. And its been said manufacturers will usually hype the numbers slightly. All this is again what ive read in and around the net and hear say. So i thought its just safe to assume the speakers CONTINUOUS handling capacity would be about 250 rms instead of the specified 350 rms.

[Excalibur]

Thanks NKR !

A1 > Sorry i really am no expert. Ive just heard that when speakers are RATED by the maufacturer, its usually the top ceiling handling capacity. And its been said manufacturers will usually hype the numbers slightly. All this is again what ive read in and around the net and hear say. So i thought its just safe to assume the speakers CONTINUOUS handling capacity would be about 250 rms instead of the specified 350 rms.

And some rate them very conservatively. ;) Tony will tell you of something which runs nicely if you give it about three times rated power! Confusing, ain't it? :confused:

[plainman007]

Hi Excalibur,

I guess it goes both ways yes. Makes it more confusing for people like me.

Maybe not for you :).

Thanks

[Excalibur]

Hi Excalibur,

I guess it goes both ways yes. Makes it more confusing for people like me.

Maybe not for you :).

Thanks

Hey, I don't have all the answers. :( :( :( Some days I don't even have enough answers. :o :o :o

Keep asking though, usually someone on here has the answer.

Edit: As a rough guide, The Legendary Prosound, Skytronic, et al are usually guilty of inflating all their specs. Pro gear manufacturers often understate thgeir performance. The trick is knowing which is which.

[plainman007]

Hmmm Hi,

But sound is a very very very tricky subject. Nothing can be put down with sure quantum. I still dont know how to do a perfect bridge mono mode. Thats my level. LOL.

Regards

[NKR]

Hmmm Hi,

But sound is a very very very tricky subject. Nothing can be put down with sure quantum. I still dont know how to do a perfect bridge mono mode. Thats my level. LOL.

Regards

Neither do I without smoke and fire.

[plainman007]

But other than keeping my XLS202 as a standby. Is there any other use it can be put to ? Like as a subwoofer amp, to dirve one single basebin ? Is this possible ? If it is what sort of power rated sub can i drive with it (maybe if running the amp in mono mode to get more power for a single bassbin) ?