When it comes to amplifiers the two most popular series are Crown Audio’s XLI and XLS. Both have gained popularity over time, which has confused many people who use them and want to know which one is better. When we compare the two products and see how they differ, we can then make an informed decision on which is right for you.
Crown Audio is and American audio electronics company that manufactures high quality audio devices. One of the products that the company is famous for producing are amplifiers. The Crown XLI series and XLS series have gained much popularity over time. In this article, we will be comparing the amplifiers of both the XLI and XLS series to see which one is better.
Crown XLI 1500 vs Crown XLS 1002
Crown XLI 1500 Reasons to buy
- Built to last
- Easy to use
- Warm and tight audio quality
- RCA and XLR input
Reasons to avoid
- May not be best for long term use
Details
The Crown XLI 1500 is a two channel, 450 Watt stereo amplifier that is both affordable and powerful. The amplifier weights around 12.7 kg and has dimensions of 19 x 3.5 x 12.4 inches, making it fairly small and compact. The Crown XLI 1500 is built to last. It is composed of durable metal and consists of a number of connectivity ports and display features. The amplifier has been designed to provide protection against shorts, no-load, on/off thumps and radio-frequency interference. There is also a cooling mechanism that prevents it from overheating.
At the front of the amplifier, you will find the Crown logo in bold at the center. There are controls for Stereo/parallel/bridge-mono mode. Just beneath the logo is a push on push off power button. The power LED lights up in blue when the amplifier is powered on. Apart from the power LED, there are three other type of LED indicator lights. One is the Fault LED, which lights up red to indicate channel shutdown. The other LED light is the Clip LED which flashes yellow when the signal is audibly distorting. Last one is the Signal Presence LED which flashes green when input signal exceeds -40 dBu. At both sides of the front panel, there is the grill which allows air flow through ventilation from front to back and prevents the amplifier from overheating. There are four rack mount holes situated in the four corners of the Crown XLI 1500 amplifier.
The back panel of the amplifier includes a mode switch. This can be used to change into stereo, parallel or bridged mode. There are RCA and XLR input connectors as well as Speakon and binding post output options.
Crown XLS 1002 Reasons to buy
- DriveCore Technology
- PureBand Crossover System
- Peakx Limiters
Reasons to avoid
- Not as powerful
Details
The Crown XLS 1002 is a two channel, 350 Watt amplifier with built-in crossover. The amplifier weighs less around 9 pounds and has dimensions of 19 x 3.5 x 7.7 inches. The amplifier is much lighter than the Crown XLI 1500 amplified. The device has impressive build quality and its core components are composed of premium materials.
The front of the amplifier includes a large display, which is an LCD screen with menu, previous and next buttons. The LCD screen can be switched off when the amplifier goes into sleep mode. The front panel rotary control allows gain adjustments to be made. XLS 1002 amplifier incorporates Crown’s patented DriveCore technology. The design includes a heatsink that allows cooling for efficient performance. This special technology helps to efficiently incorporate amplifier drive stage into power output stage fusing everything into a very miniature chip. DriveCore’s front-end drive circuits take use of Class D output stages’ inherent efficiency while maintaining excellent acoustic qualities. This results in one-piece, ultra-efficient audio amplifier circuit with the superior audio quality of a highly advanced Class AB design. The PureBand Crossover frequency allows choice of any crossover point between 30Hz and 3kHz on 1/12th octave centers. This features uses Linkwitz-Riley filters that helps to provide a smooth transition between high and low drivers. Peakx Limiters in the design of the amplifier means the distortion is lowered.
At the back of the Crown amplifier are one balanced XLR, one 1/4″, and one RCA connector per channel input connectors. It also includes two 4-Pole Speakon output connectors that will accept 2-pole or 4-pole Speakon connectors. Finally, there is a 3-pin Aux connector that can be used to enable sleep mode through a contact closure on pins 1 and 2.
Which one is better?
Both Crown XLI 1500 and Crown XLS 1002 are great performing amplifiers that offers versatile features. However, when compared, one is better than the other.
When it comes design, it is much of a subjective preference. Both amplifiers have unique design but the XLS 1002 looks sleeker and more stylish. Whilst both the Crown amplifiers are built to include internal cooling systems, the XLI goes the extra mile to offer a design that protects it from shorts, no-load, on/off thumps and radio-frequency interference. However, the XLI 1500 is a bit heavier than the XLS 1002, so portability can be an inconvenience.
When it comes to performance and feature, the XLS 1002 is a clear winner. It includes advanced DriveCore technology and PureBand crossover system which helps it to deliver audio with clarity and minimal distortion. Since it has higher DSP capabilities, the audio is more controlled. There are also more LED light options. Although a little pricier than its competitor, the XLS 1002 is the better of the two amplifiers from pretty much all aspects.
Crown XLI 3500 vs Crown XLS 2502
Crown XLI 3500 Reasons to buy
- Impressive power output
- Selectable input sensitivity
- Digital peak-reading meters
Reasons to avoid
- Too large
- A little expensive
Details
The Crown XLI 3500 are two-channel 1350-Watt amplifier that is packed with lots of power. Crown XLI 3500 can deliver 1,350 watts RMS at 4 ohms, making it a really powerful amplifier. The amp weighs around 43 lbs and has dimensions of 19 x 3.5 x 14.4 inches. The amplifier is rigid and very durable.
The front panel of the amplifier is composed of heavy duty steel and it includes solid milled aluminum handles. Crown CLI 3500 features two separate channels, each of which includes its own set of controls and displays. The XLi 3500’s revolutionary “forced-air” cooling mechanism provides excellent heat dissipation with minimal fan noise, making it a good choice for installations where silent operation is required. This effective heat management technology ensures reliable power output and a long service life. The front panel houses all the controls for gain level, it includes a power switch LED, power LED indicator, clip LEDs for each channel and fault indicators. There are also digital peak-reading meters. These alert the user when the amplifier is being pushed to its limits, ensuring safety of the speakers. The bright LED meters can be seen from a long distance, so the user can tell how near you are to clipping in real time without having to glance at the rear of the amp. XLI 3500 provides selectable input sensitivity that allows the user to optimize gain structure from 0dB to 35 dB based on the specific speaker models. The bridged mono mode is capable of producing more than 2000 watts of power for a room filling and powerful audio.
At the back, the Crown amplifier has balanced XLR and 1/4′ inputs. It also has a Speakon and binding post output connector on each channel. This versatility in connection allows the amp to easily connect to any speaker.
Crown XLS 2502 Reasons to buy
- Great working power amplifier
- DriveCore Technology
- Lightweight and efficient design
Reasons to avoid
- Small audible hiss is observed when powered on
Details
The Crown XLS 2502 are two-channel, 750 watt amplifiers that delivers audio with power. The amplifier has a similar design compared to the amps in the Crown XLS series. It is lightweight because of the switching topology for the amplifier and power supply. Nevertheless, it is very sturdy robust since the amplifier is composed mainly of steel that can take a hit without being dent.
The build quality of the amplifier is impressive. Like other crown XLS amps, this amp also features DriveCore technology and PureBand Crossover System. The Peakx Limiters helps to achieve higher SPL with less audible artifacts and minimal distortion. It is designed to feature flow-through and forced air cooling for efficient functioning. Crown XLS 2502 includes a large display at the center with all the controls and buttons beside it. There are two notched gain controls that can be adjusted according to the requirements of the user. These independent level Gain controls can be adjusted until the LED indicators provide an optimal signal to the amplifier. There are ten LED signals that indicate the status of the amplifier- which light up in the colors green and red for each status that the amplifier has. The main menu includes controls to select from three amplifier modes: stereo, bridge and input Y. The system menu also allows control of lighting, display sleep, security, factory reset and system information. The user can choose input sensitivity from 0.775Vrms or 1.4Vrms.
At the back of the amplifier is one balanced XLR, one 1/4″, and one RCA connector for inputs. There are two 4-Pole Speakon output connectors, one pair of back-panel binding posts per channel and a 3-pin Aux connector.
Which one is better?
Both the Crown amplifiers are great options for audiophiles looking to pump up their speakers with power. However, there are subtle differences that set the two apart.
When it comes to design and build, the Crown CLI 3500 is quite heavy, weighing at 43 lbs while the XLS 2502 is very lightweight, at around 10.8 lbs only. The lightweight property of the CLS 2502 makes it easier and more efficient to use. In terms of connectivity, the XLS amplifier also offers greater versatility, providing both XLR and RCA connectors for input whereas the XLS amp does not includes RCA inputs. The Crown XLS on the other hand includes a variety of features such as stereo, bridged and input Y mode. The Crown XLS is much less pricey than the Crown XLI amplifier even through it offers a lot of different useful features. Whilst the Crown XLI 3500 is more powerful, the XLS 2502 is more popular among the consumers because of the various useful features that it has to offer.
Crown XLI 800 vs Crown XLS 1500
Crown XLI 800 Reasons to buy
- Great audio clarity
- Good deal for great price
- Easy to use and setup
Reasons to avoid
- Issues with warranty
Details
The Crown XLI 800 is two-channel 300 watt that is affordable and offers quality audio response. The amplifier is made up of tough materials that are durable. The amplifier is designed to include forced air cooling grill which helps it to cool down when it is functioning for a long time. The design also provides protection against shorts, no-load, on/off thumps and radio-frequency interference.
At the front of the amplifier, there are many different buttons and controls. The bold Crown logo lies just at the center of the front panel below which is the power button and two knobs for gain control. There is a power LED which indicates the power status of the Crown amplifier. There are six LEDs which indicate signal presence, clip and fault for each channel. Additionally, there are very useful clippers and there is a compressor in there that limits power output to maximum regardless of how much the input is increased. These clip LED flashes a yellow light to indicate when signal is audibly distorting. This helps to prevent the amplifier from exerting too much stress and saves the speaker from blowing up. The Crown XLI800 has input sensitivity of 0.775V and 1.4V which ensures that the power amp matches to the gear and thus it can be paired with any PA system.
At the back of the amplifier there are a variety of input connectors, a lot of output connectors as well as a factory reset button. Firstly, a mode switch is available which allows the user to switch between stereo, parallel or bridge modes. There are electronically balanced RCA and XLR inputs, binding posts and modern Speakon outputs which can be used to connect to the loudspeakers. There are also fans that allow efficient cooling of the device. Lastly, the circuit breaker provides overload protection.
Crown XLS 1500 Reasons to buy
- Inputs outputs in all configurations
- Light and easy to transport
- Great quality for good price
Reasons to avoid
- Power might not be sufficient for some
Details
The Crown XLS 1500 are two channel 300-watt amplifier that are lightweight and provides high performance audio response. Made mostly of steel, the amplifier is quite robust and durable.
Crown uses its patented drivecore technology which is a proprietary hybrid analog-digital integrated circuit that drives the “front end” of the Class D output stage. Usually Unstable electrical loads result in heavy noise in most Class D amps but this technology ensures that distortion is kept to a minimal level. The PWM modulation circuits offers circuit breaker, DC and thermal level protection and it also provides accurate low frequency details at high volume levels. The PureBand crossover system ensures a variable crossover frequency between 50Hz and 3kHz on 1/12 octave centers. Peakx limiters with Linkwitz-Riley filters provides steep slopes for a seamless transition between high and low drivers. The system offers four crossover modes: crossover mode, lowpass mode, highpass mode and bridge mode which provides ultimate flexibility. The Switched-Mode Power Supply is an advanced power supply that optimizes maximum power transfer from AC line through the Class D output stage and to the speakers. The Crown CLS 1500 amplifier features a back-lit LED screen in the front panel which can be used to control crossover configuration, limiter configuration and amplifier mode configuration. There are 10 LED which indicate the status of the amp. For instance, two green LEDS light up when the channel input signal exceeds -40dBu and two red LEDS blink when the channel’s output is being overdriven.
The back of the XLS amp features input and output connectors. There is a fan that functions for uniform heat dissipation. In case of inputs, there is one XLR, one 1/4″, and one RCA input per channel which offers greater versatility in connectivity. There are also touchproof binding post and Speakon outputs.
Which one is better?
Both amplifiers look very different. The design of the XLS 1500 gives off a futuristic vibe with his shiny silver metal exterior. The black Crown XLI 800 has a more rugged look and it is also much heavier than the XLS 1500. When it comes to connectivity, both amps include RCA and XLR inputs and Speakon outputs. Although both speakers show similar audio specs, XLS 1500 has a maximum gain of 31 dB whereas XLI 800 has a maximum gain of 29 dB. However, if we judge the two amps in terms of technology, we would definitely say that the Corwn XLS 1500 is advanced as it offers plenty of features that XLI 800 fails to offer.
Crown XLI 2500 vs Crown XLS 2002
Crown XLI 2500 Reasons to buy
- Good quality
- Great sound
Reasons to avoid
- Material of rear rack needs to be improved
- A bit heavy
Details
The Crown XLI 2500 are two channel 750 watt amplifiers which offer clean and balanced sound. The Class D amplifier has a very efficient design that utilizes cooling fans to prevent overheating and like the other amps in the series, it is designed to provide protection against shorts, no-load, on/off thumps and radio-frequency interference. The amplifier weights around 30 lbs and has dimensions of 19″ x 3.5″ x 12.4.” Although a little heavy, it is made up of durable materials and is very robust.
The front panel of the Crown XLI 2500 amplifier includes two level controls, power switch, power LED, and six LEDs which indicate signal presence, clip and fault for each channel. The Crown XLI 2500 amplifier includes a user selectable input sensitivity of 0.755V or 1.4V. It offers stereo/parallel-bridge-mono modes. The amp includes an electronic crossover network and the ability to be used as a mono amp with an incredible amount of power. This big amp is simple to set up, durable, and works with most 8-4 Ohm speakers. When the amp is first switched on a small hiss is heard, but it will calm down and become absolutely silent within a few seconds.
The back of the amplifier includes electronically balanced RCA & XLR inputs; binding post and Speakon outputs. These amplifiers are sonically very neutral with none of the classic class D brightness one often finds. They are clean and effortless in their power delivery and they run quietly. Resolution of low level detail is good and the soundstage in stereo is both wide and deep.
Crown XLS 2002 Reasons to buy
- Lots of features at good price
- Good audio response
- Easy to set up
Reasons to avoid
- Power might not be sufficient for some
- Power cord was missing
Details
The Crown XLS 2002 is a two-channel 650-watt amplifier that delivers crisp and clean audio with power. Designed to include internal heat sinks, the class D amplifier is highly efficient as the forced-air cooling keeps the internal temperature in control.
As like its other amps in the XLS series, this amplifier also integrates DriveCore technology for superb sonic output, keeping the distortion practically to zero. This technology helps the XLS amplifier to wipe away any interference and offer clear response. There is a built-in PureBand crossover system which allows the user to choose a crossover between 30 and 3000 Hz. The user can also choose from an array of crossover modes such as high-pass, low-pass, and bandpass mode to configure the system according to the audio requirements. With the Peakx Limiters, it will be possible to push the volume of the amplifier up safely without the fear of it shutting down and producing distorted audio. The front panel of the amplifier includes a variety of control options. There is independent gain level which can be controlled by adjusting the knobs. There are also LED level/clip indicators, an on/off switch, LCD screen, and three menu control buttons. Using the system menu, many configurations can be made. There is a security option that locks the menu buttons so that settings cannot be changed. The lighting feature allows the user to switch the blue panel lights and the green signal level indicators on or off. The factory reset button allows the user to undo the settings of the amplifier completely. Lastly, the display sleep option lets the amp to go to sleep mode.
The back panel includes balanced XLR, 1/4″ and RCA inputs “, as well as RCA inputs which allows the user flexibility in choosing their connectivity options. For the speakers, there are binding posts and Neutrik Speakon® outputs, as well as a built-in circuit breaker to safeguard against overload.
Which one is better?
The Crown XLI 2500 is a bit heavier than the Crown XLS 2002. Crown XLS 2002 offers more features and flexibility in connections. The performance of XLS 2002 is better than that of its competitor.
Frequently Asked Questions.
This FAQ is here to solve some of your problems regarding these amps. let’s find out more!
What is an amplifier?
An amplifier is an electronic device that uses electric power from a power supply to increase the power of a signal applied to its terminal, producing greater power at its output.
How can amplifiers be classified?
Amplifiers can be classified according to class, construction, voltage, frequency and so on. However, there are widely known to be three types of amplifiers: stereo amplifiers, AV receivers and pre amplifiers.
What is the difference between stereo receiver and AV receiver?
Stereo receivers are amplifiers that have two output channels which they use to receive stereo output signal coming from some device and send it to the speakers that are connected to the amplifiers. AV receivers on the other hand receive audio and video signals from a number of sources, and to process them to drive loudspeakers and displays such as a television.
What factors should I consider before getting an amplifier?
Before getting an amplifier, it is important to consider factors such as size, connectivity options, and specifications such as impedance, sensitivity, frequency and power rating.
How do I set up my Crown amplifier to operate in Bridge-Mono?
- Make sure the amplifier is powered down.
- Place the MODE switch (located on the back panel) in the Bridge-Mono position.
- The input connector should be inserted into channel one (leave channel two’s input empty.
- Connect the speaker leads across the two red binding posts, using channel one binding post as the + (hot) connection or on CE’s with Speakons across pins 1+ and 2+ on the channel one output.
- Channel one level control should be used to control level.
What is damping factor?
Damping factor is the ratio of the rated speaker impedance to the amplifier’s output impedance. Put in laymen’s term, this is an indicator of an indicator of how tight an amplifier will sound when powering bass speakers.
How do I set up my Crown amplifier to operate in Parallel-Mono?
- Make sure the amplifier is powered down.
- Place the MODE switch (located on the back panel) in the Parallel-Mono position.
- The input connector should be inserted into channel one (leave the channel two input empty).
- Place a small diameter wire (14 gage {1.63 mm}) between the two red output binding posts.
- Connect the speaker leads across the red and black binding posts.
- Channel one level control should be used to control output level.
How to determine the best input sensitivity setting?
The input setting has to be matched with the output level of whatever is before the amp in the audio chain. For instance, amplifiers with 0.775V position corresponds to a 0 dBu level.
Conclusion
Crown Audio has been manufacturing high-quality audio electronics for over three decades. They have developed a reputation for exceptional quality, durability and reliability of their devices.
Both the Crown XLI and Crown XLS series offer great audio amps with power and durability. However, the Crown XLS are newer, class d, and offer electronic crossover, whereas the xli are Class AB. There isn’t much significant difference in the performance of the amplifiers but we can surely say that the Crown XLS offers better performance with more features that are useful in every way.
Freelance tech journalist & author soundboxlab.com Read More