More
- Preamp, Processor or Receiver
- Onkyo TX-SR705 Receiver
- Main Amp
- Crown XLS 1502 DriveCore-2 (x2 as monoblock)
- Additional Amp
- Behringer A500 Reference Power Amplifier
- Front Speakers
- MartinLogan Electromotion ESL Electrostatic (x2)
- Center Channel Speaker
- Phantom Center
- Surround Speakers
- NSM Audio Model 5 2-Way (x2)
- Subwoofers
- JBL ES150P Powered Subwoofer (x2)
Unboxing the Crown XLS 1502 DriveCore-2 Power Amplifier
After an intensive search through published specs. I recently purchased a Crown XLS 1502 DriveCore-2 Power Amplifier to power a pair of MartinLogan Classic ESL 9 hybrid electrostatic loudspeakers I was reviewing. I was hoping to find they would fill the following requirements:
- Deliver lots of clean power.
- Remain stable with capacitive loading at high frequencies.
- Exhibit exemplary channel separation at high frequencies.
- Sound CLEAN, worthy of an electrostatic speaker system.
The cartons almost look like what you might expect to find on an endcap at a big box toy store, attention-getting and colorful.
The XLS 1502 is lightweight enough that it hardly seems possible there is a high-powered amplifier inside. The packaging is sufficient to give good protection, given the minimal weight of the amp itself. How minimal? About 8 lbs for the model 1502 reviewed.
A power cable (a heavy one) and a manual.
The design is eye-catching and smooth, with a few long curved lines used to avoid the boxy look typical of rack-mount gear. Watch the LCD displays, I ended up with two XLS 1502 amps and the tint of the displays did not match closely. There IS, however, a solution.
Inputs: ¼ inch or RCA unbalanced, XLR balanced.
Outputs: 4-pole Speakon or quad binding posts.
A single fan covers all the cooling duties. I have not heard fan noise yet.
How does it sound? Check out the review in our Reviews forum.
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