Crown XLS 2500 - the best amp value per dollar?

Thanks for the tip on the gain settings. My Y connection cables came in today so I will be setting up the 2500 XLS as I originally planned, horizontally bi-amped on the woofers with my Adcom on the uppers. The dual channel gain controls on the XLS will make it easy to balance the amps even though they are of different watts and gain.

I have never listened to a top of the line Class A amp so I can't speak to differences. If there is a "huge" difference then I have got to listen to a Class A setup to hear it for myself to justify the exponential increase in cost over the XLS. Just a couple of weeks ago I was seriously considering buying two used Class A mono amps in the 100W plus range. Is the huge difference in sound also exponential to justify the exponential cost difference? I will just have to find out for myself somehow.

One concern I do have is the impact of near term evolution in Class D or Class I or whatever amp technology on the resale value of Class A amps? Paradigm shifts have a tendency to alter valuations significantly and I wouldn't want to be stuck on the wrong side of that one. Finding myself with a $7,000 room heater that takes 1 hour to warm up would not be fun, and that is a used room heater price.

Well, for now, I believe my weakest link in my system has shifted from my amplifier to my pre-amp so that is likely what I will be focusing on upgrading next.

I'm still waiting for the Henry to arrive but in the mean time I've settled on a gain structure that provides the lowest noise. Yesterday I was kicking out some Steely Dan, a few hi rez analog transfers I made, Aja and Gaucho, as well as a 24/96 version of Everything Must Go. Needless to say it sounded impressive for such an inexpensive amp. No it is not reference quality. It is a bit dry on top with some slight midrange hardness. But the lows are tight and extended and overall dynamics are good.

So, for an e-bay special BIN new price of $209.00, this seems like a great deal and I really don't think anything can touch it at that price or maybe for 3 to 4 times the price.

This is a great way to have fun without spending serious cash. Shoot, it affords everyone to put together a great garage system for practically couch change.

Anyway, I'm sure the 2500 is cut from the same cloth as the 1500, but with more power.....not that I can imagine needing more than 300 watts into 8 ohms or 565 watts into 4 ohms, and should also be an exceptional value.

"I have never listened to a top of the line Class A amp so I can't speak to differences. If there is a "huge" difference then I have got to listen to a Class A setup to hear it for myself to justify the exponential increase in cost over the XLS."

Class A operation isn't, and shouldn't be the defining characteristic of any amp. Its just a feature. And like any feature, it has to be well implemented in order for it too sound good. Not all Class A amps sound the same. Not only that, just because an amp runs in Class A, doesn't automatically mean its the best sounding design. I've had some great sounding Class A SS amps, like Pass, but I still like my Ayre's better. Some people don't like Ayre at all, and that's OK too. Its just personal preference.

This is an old thread I started but wow has my perspective changed since then. So much so that I consider my original post bordering on disinformation and I feel obligated to correct the record.

Since I purchased the Crown XLS 2500 I have acquired some other higher fidelity amps that taught me what musicality really is and the Crown XLS 250 just does not reach even a minimal level of musicality. I just didn't know better until I compared it to the other amps I acquired all of which I bought used at great prices. Those other amps in order of purchase are Yamaha MX-1000, Yamaha B2 (Vfet aka SIT), and finally a Cary V12R Tube amp (called V12 because it has 12 EL34 tubes).

In fairness to the XLS, it probably is ok for someone who just wants to play head banging heavy metal music, or uses it as a musician playing loud live music. But in a home system where one is going to really listen to music it just does not cut it.

I am learning the same thing right now.

I have a W4S ST1000 that I thought was the cat's meow with Maggie 3.6's as the amp had the power to wake them up.

Got a pair of Thiel CS5's and the amp did not sound so good.

So in the last month I have tried a Pass x350 and a Levinson 533. Both are better than the W4S with the Pass having more texture & mellowness and the Levinson having tighter bass and cooler sound. Both capture more detail than the W4S.

I am currently auditioning a 15 year old Proceed HPA2  at half the price of the other two; and I am thinking that it has the most "live presence" and bass  of all four amps.