powering X-tro's

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Hi all,

recently built 2 x-tro's and got them loaded but now its time to get them powered and wondered if anyone had any idea's on best amps to go with. I am a bit tight on budget but will spend out if needs must.

Have loaded the cabs with the following:
b&c de-500
b&c 8pe21
b&c 15nw76.

Have got a crown k2 which I was plannin on tryin to use for the 15"s but realized that wasn't goin to work so now lookin for alternatives.
Been looking at W-Audio horizon 300 1u to power the 1" and W-Audio horizon 1100 1u for the 8" as liking the idea of only 1u space for the rack but not sure about the 15" as preferably it would have to be running 1500w 4r per side I take it. was thinking maybe W-Audio (Warrior) Zenith 3000.
Anyone know if these amps are any good and if they'd do the job?

Thanks for any help/advice guys.

Adrian
Fierce Sounds

Edited by AMD79 - 27 July 2010 at 7:13pm

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AMD79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 11 June 2009 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote AMD79 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: powering X-tro's Posted: 27 July 2010 at 6:38pm
	Hi all, recently built 2 x-tro's and got them loaded but now its time to get them powered and wondered if anyone had any idea's on best amps to go with. I am a bit tight on budget but will spend out if needs must. Have loaded the cabs with the following: b&c de-500 b&c 8pe21 b&c 15nw76. Have got a crown k2 which I was plannin on tryin to use for the 15"s but realized that wasn't goin to work so now lookin for alternatives. Been looking at W-Audio horizon 300 1u to power the 1" and W-Audio horizon 1100 1u for the 8" as liking the idea of only 1u space for the rack but not sure about the 15" as preferably it would have to be running 1500w 4r per side I take it. was thinking maybe W-Audio (Warrior) Zenith 3000. Anyone know if these amps are any good and if they'd do the job? Thanks for any help/advice guys. Adrian Fierce Sounds Edited by AMD79 - 27 July 2010 at 7:13pm

Contour Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 03 March 2004 Status: Offline Points: 677	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contour Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 July 2010 at 7:35pm
	Well as these are DIY you could try FFA amps ;-) Best regards, Walt

AMD79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 11 June 2009 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote AMD79 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 July 2010 at 7:44pm
	Thanks Walt, but as I said, I'm a bit limited on funds, was thinking of getting the FFA10 for powering the 6 puns I am currently building. Would love to be able to afford ffa's all-round Edited by AMD79 - 27 July 2010 at 7:46pm

AMD79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 11 June 2009 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote AMD79 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:04pm
	And thanks for the great design Walt. Tested my xtros out for the first time the other day with a friends amps, and wasn't disappointed, they sounded awesome! Can't wait to try the whole system out with the puns underneath! Edited by AMD79 - 27 July 2010 at 8:05pm

colinmono Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 10 October 2007 Location: Midlands UK Status: Offline Points: 1113	Post Options Post Reply Quote colinmono Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:30pm
	You've loaded your cabs with some lovely drivers there, seems a shame to run them on real budget amps. "As to amps, use the best you can get. I would not buy cheap new amps, as for the same money you could get some really good amps second hand (...) Amps really do make a huge difference, for me they are the system, using small underpowered crap amps will make the system sound like that." - quote from Rog himself.

Contour Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 03 March 2004 Status: Offline Points: 677	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contour Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:35pm
	For the Punishers I would recommend a second handed QSC PL6.0 or even better a PL9.0, also MC2 E45 comes to my mind. FFA amps seem to have some issues at the moment as can be read in the FFA topic. Both the QSC and MC2 I have heard on the Punishers and they do very well. At one time we also used LAB Gruppen, this was also very nice! Best regards, Walt Edited by Contour - 27 July 2010 at 8:36pm

AMD79 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 11 June 2009 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote AMD79 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 July 2010 at 9:32pm
	OK, thanks again Walt & Colin. Was also thinking void infinite 8 for the puns. But now you have ruled me off cheaper amps and looking for decent second hand amps, what would be good/should I be looking for to power the xtro's? Would the Crown K2 be any good powering the 8"?

colinmono Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Young Croc Joined: 10 October 2007 Location: Midlands UK Status: Offline Points: 1113	Post Options Post Reply Quote colinmono Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27 July 2010 at 10:30pm
	Best value for money is to go for heavyweight (conventional power supply) amps... for the 4 15" drivers you might consider things like the EV P Series (P3000), Crest CA Series, QSC MX3000/JBL MPX1200 (same amp), Crest 8001. These are all big heavy beasts but well regarded and cheaper than the new breed of lightweight amps like the FFA's. My knowledge of these beasts is only really gleaned from reading around though, I haven't used any of the above. I have used a pair of MC2 T2000's bridged into 4 ohms to run our twin 15" cabs which worked really well but I think two of them would probably be more expensive than one of the amps I've mentioned above. Matrix amps are well liked by many and less expensive than most - again I haven't used them so can't really comment, just giving you ideas. PKN amps have had some good press on SP recently and seem good value too, but you are moving up into the £1k+ region then... Yet another option might be one of the better heavyweight chinese made amps like the Proline series sold by Thomann.

Saul Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 15 June 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5912	Post Options Post Reply Quote Saul Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 July 2010 at 12:07am
	matrix matrix matrix serious for reasonable price, you can't beat the new amps for sound quality. XT5000 on the 15" and a XT4004 to cover the mids and tops - remember to limit with LMS tho, as the tops will be getting a lot of power and get a XT6000 on order for your puns! or an infinite 8 if you want to give your ciare's a hard time Edited by Saul - 28 July 2010 at 12:07am

AUDIO HABIT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 15 June 2009 Location: Manchester Status: Offline Points: 3383	Post Options Post Reply Quote AUDIO HABIT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 July 2010 at 8:40am
	what ever you do don't buy any thing from w.audio,that would just be criminal to play them through xtros,just get some nice second hand amps like people have said .they would last so much longer and sound so much better and you would only need two not three amps if you get one powerful enough to do mid&high,good luck
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darkmatter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Old Croc Joined: 26 February 2005 Location: LDN Status: Offline Points: 2419	Post Options Post Reply Quote darkmatter Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28 July 2010 at 3:33pm
	Better to spend money on good drivers and make do with lesser amps rather than the other way round I reckon. If you want lightweight I'd check out the QSC PLX range or the new Matrix amps. If you want to wait for a bit the Peavey IPR 1600/3000 look good as budget lightweight options, could be used to power 8"s and 1"s. For puns - Matrix XT5000G/XT6000G, Crest CC5500, Void Inf. 8 mk2. Personally I think the Crown K2 will work fine on the 15"s for the time being. Yeah you won't have headroom but the difference between that and a bigger amp will only be in the order of a few db so I think it'd do for now.

Lawaaiige buur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Registered User Joined: 12 June 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 51	Post Options Post Reply Quote Lawaaiige buur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29 July 2010 at 9:43pm
	I run my 6 x-tro's on 2 camco vortex 6 amps. They have the option to connect up to 1 ohm in parallel mode, so i put 3 x-tro's on one vortex' output, this way it is a lot easier wiring. And each driver gets about 900 w. I saw some cheap vortex amps on the second hand page of the german site of thomann..