700B WOPL Audition List

[laatsch55]

Is it on the way Joe?

 

[Pure_Brew]

I dropped it off at a fedex station today. When I was looking over how the amp fit into the case, if I could actually muscle it all the way to the very bottom, that would not actually be a benefit. The very bottom itself only has a thin layer of foam! It is tight and well secured in it, in any case, (no pun intended).

cheers and thanks again for the audition!

 

[Skynyrd77]

Get ready Ron!!!!!

 

[Northwinds]

I am looking forward to it! Had Sally cranking hard today, can't wait for Silvara to make her way home to keep her company!

 

[laatsch55]

Their Big Brother will bring em to heel.....

 

[Pure_Brew]

It's in CT now, so it should arrive tomorrow.

 

[laatsch55]

Thanks Joe..

 

[Pure_Brew]

Interesting story, I felt a bit anxious for some big power, after having the 700B in my home so I picked up a Crown XLS2500 for shits and giggles. So I'm talking to my wife the next day after cranking the Crown, and she's like "I think the other amp you just mailed back sounded better...".

So I'm like, "what do you mean, when did you even listen to it?!"

"I can hear it through the wall in the other room, and when you turned up that Muse song, it sounded better on the other amp then this one you just got..." She said.

lol?

 

[laatsch55]

Who are we to argue? I'm tellin ya, they got the ear man..

 

[Elite-ist]

Joe: You have to trust what your wife is telling you. Geri always sits in on my amp demos. She really did like the powerful presence of Doug's WOPL 700 B, and so did I the first time I turned that control knob on my preamplifier clock-wise to the "concert-zone."

Nando.

 

[Skynyrd77]

Interesting story, I felt a bit anxious for some big power, after having the 700B in my home so I picked up a Crown XLS2500 for shits and giggles. So I'm talking to my wife the next day after cranking the Crown, and she's like "I think the other amp you just mailed back sounded better...".

So I'm like, "what do you mean, when did you even listen to it?!"

"I can hear it through the wall in the other room, and when you turned up that Muse song, it sounded better on the other amp then this one you just got..." She said.

lol?

thats great lol good sound is hard to miss

 

[Pure_Brew]

Lee, that high frequency "squeal" I mentioned before, did happen again. This time with the Crown and I think I know what's going on. I'm pretty sure it's the DAC in this old preamp. Or, it's making the Apple Airport express freak.

Anyway, the Crown XLS2500 does indeed play loudly. It's sort of cold and restrictive sounding compared to the PL 700B. Almost as if there was an even dip in the frequency response from the mid and all the way to the bottom. Heard some orchestral strings that sounded uncomfortable to my ears. Break in? Perhaps, perhaps not. I like that it doesn't have the 60hz hum that I find pretty annoying on many big amps (transformer). I like that I doesn't break my back to move it. It's pretty cheap, all things considered. Even with the fan running it's very quiet.

I listen to ambient music at night, often, at pretty low levels. Last night, I have to admit, I did not find the music relaxing-at all. Maybe my mind kept trying to be a bit too active with this new amp. Not sure. But compared to the Jolida 502, not really a contest. It's a nice amp for that, as it turns out.

However, I did listen to some Ray Brown, live at Scullers in Boston on the Crown tonight and it got me smiling. I got the volume up to where I felt the piano was pretty close to a realistic volume level and it sounded really nice. A very "precise" and dynamic sound from the trio and random club sounds/audience overall.

I do think the Crown is a good value however. I can see some useful features that I'd likely never use, like the adjustable crossover, various connectivity, selectable peak limiting, rack mounting, bridging (2400w/4ohm...). I could imagine someone using this for their instrument, tweaking thier sound and firing away safely for hours on this thing. Not me.

I almost wonder if this Crown is a few parts away from being even better then it is now. Like WO-C... Lol. But alas, there seems to be many folks enjoying this amp as it is, for what it is out there. I guess I'm feeling a bit spoiled with the PL experience. Price of admission is defineatly higher though.

 

[laatsch55]

Than the Crown??

 

[laatsch55]

There is no 60hz hum in Johan's 700B.....not audible anyway, that's confirmed on an FR sweep anyway....

 

[Skynyrd77]

dude from arizona txted me just now ans sais he delivered the amps to your buddy ans said he heard the best system of his life!!!! WTW

 

[laatsch55]

He was listening to the 400 built by me...

 

[laatsch55]

Ans I still wouldn't trade my K's for his.....

 

[laatsch55]

BTW, Steve said the 700 looks better than the pics, simply gorgeous...

 

[Skynyrd77]

BTW, Steve said the 700 looks better than the pics, simply gorgeous...

Very nice! It looked immaculate in pics!! I'm stoked!!

 

[BubbaH]

Lee, that high frequency "squeal" I mentioned before, did happen again. This time with the Crown and I think I know what's going on. I'm pretty sure it's the DAC in this old preamp. Or, it's making the Apple Airport express freak.

Anyway, the Crown XLS2500 does indeed play loudly. It's sort of cold and restrictive sounding compared to the PL 700B. Almost as if there was an even dip in the frequency response from the mid and all the way to the bottom. Heard some orchestral strings that sounded uncomfortable to my ears. Break in? Perhaps, perhaps not. I like that it doesn't have the 60hz hum that I find pretty annoying on many big amps (transformer). I like that I doesn't break my back to move it. It's pretty cheap, all things considered. Even with the fan running it's very quiet.

I listen to ambient music at night, often, at pretty low levels. Last night, I have to admit, I did not find the music relaxing-at all. Maybe my mind kept trying to be a bit too active with this new amp. Not sure. But compared to the Jolida 502, not really a contest. It's a nice amp for that, as it turns out.

However, I did listen to some Ray Brown, live at Scullers in Boston on the Crown tonight and it got me smiling. I got the volume up to where I felt the piano was pretty close to a realistic volume level and it sounded really nice. A very "precise" and dynamic sound from the trio and random club sounds/audience overall.

I do think the Crown is a good value however. I can see some useful features that I'd likely never use, like the adjustable crossover, various connectivity, selectable peak limiting, rack mounting, bridging (2400w/4ohm...). I could imagine someone using this for their instrument, tweaking thier sound and firing away safely for hours on this thing. Not me.

I almost wonder if this Crown is a few parts away from being even better then it is now. Like WO-C... Lol. But alas, there seems to be many folks enjoying this amp as it is, for what it is out there. I guess I'm feeling a bit spoiled with the PL experience. Price of admission is defineatly higher though.

The Crown XLS series are an excellent value. Last year I picked up a 1000 cuz I was short on power. I did find that on both pairs of speakers (901's and Yorkville Elite 401's) that the amp sounded a little cold. Even after a few hours with some heavy volume on the Elites. I didnt buy it to be a fixture in my setup. It was much needed due to lack of power at the time. Currently it sits in the box, stored away. I was using it until I got my 1801 fixed, and now that one is fixed, the Crown will be a great spare amp, if I need to re work some things for repairs or whatever. Price per watt these are definitely a decent value.