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Pick of the Crest amplifiers? |
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Randy Bohannon 
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Joined: 29 May 2022 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 107 |
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 Topic: Pick of the Crest amplifiers?Posted: 02 November 2022 at 7:08pm |
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A question for the collective experience of the panel, which is the pick of the pick of the Crest amplifiers?
I’ve never had one and fancy an addition to the collection, I would ideally be after the best built, best sounding model of course... :D It doesn’t need to be massively powerful, but I would be grateful to hear any experiences of these amps.
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csg
Old Croc 
Joined: 17 September 2007 Location: bedford Status: Offline Points: 5992 |
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Posted: 02 November 2022 at 7:33pm |
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001 series, 6001, 7001, 8001 and 9001. The FA series was also very nice. CA’s were OK, but the 001’s were the ones really.
All very old now though!
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“The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better”
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Randy Bohannon
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Joined: 29 May 2022 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 107 |
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Posted: 02 November 2022 at 8:31pm |
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Thanks CSG, old is no problem!
I collect vintage home gear, something from the 90s is actually quite modern for me! :D
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Elliot Thompson
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Joined: 02 April 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5052 |
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Posted: 03 November 2022 at 1:33am |
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The Crest 5000 and 4000 (pre-dates the 001 Series) were popular in the late 1970's - early 1980's. They were designed more robust than the 001 series from a power supply standpoint. From a reliability perspective, Crest Amplifiers (pre-dating Peavey ownership) were prone to lots of failures. Possibly things were different in Europe. Do keep that in perspective upon buying old Crest Amplifiers.
Best Regards,
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Elliot Thompson
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Earplug
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Joined: 03 January 2012 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 6913 |
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Posted: 03 November 2022 at 6:31am |
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The 4/5000 series are very rare. I've only ever seen one of those over here. The 001 series a lot more common - and in my experience very reliable and lovely sounding amps. The CPX range I really don't like. I've had more of those in for repair than any other Crest.  |
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Earplugs Are For Wimps!
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kedwardsleisure
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Joined: 20 January 2009 Location: Staffordshire Status: Offline Points: 4759 |
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Posted: 03 November 2022 at 10:08am |
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the only crest I would recommend are the CA series. Everything else forget it.
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Kevin
North Staffordshire |
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Earplug
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Posted: 03 November 2022 at 12:58pm |
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Ok - you don't like the 001 series? I have several 8001 & 7001's and really love 'em. You just need to make sure to give them a good cleaning after every season. The close packing inside definitely doesn't like any dust build up. And they've saved my skin on many occasions - like running off dodgy generators without any problem, when other amps, eg. QSC Powerlight, or even LG has failed. Or surviving (accidentally) being fed 380V. Not too many amps would survive that one.  |
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Earplugs Are For Wimps!
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kedwardsleisure
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Joined: 20 January 2009 Location: Staffordshire Status: Offline Points: 4759 |
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Posted: 03 November 2022 at 5:28pm |
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No I dont like the tightly packed design and the dubious clearance between the current carrying conductors and the casing. One blob of smoke-fluid soaked dust in the wrong place and it's breathing fire...and keeps on until something gives.
I have an old 9001 here that did that and got so hot it melted the aluminium heat spreaders and the screws holding the transistors welded in. |
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Kevin
North Staffordshire |
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ceharden
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Joined: 05 June 2005 Location: Southampton Status: Offline Points: 11682 |
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Posted: 03 November 2022 at 11:23pm |
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I used to own quite a few of the x001 series, mainly the smaller ones. I did own a 9001 briefly but it was far too heavy and the inrush current made it impractical for most of teh jobs I was doing. I really liked my 4801's. With both the 001 and CA series I generally found that when they did fail, it wasn't too spectacular and fairly straightforward to repair. I even ran a pair of 4801's on my bi-amp hi-fi for quite a while. Ended up changing them because the wife complained about the draught coming out the front. Had a 4ch QSC CX404 on there since.
In terms of best sounding for HiFi, I would go with the 4601 if you can find one, they're a bit more rare. They're straight Class AB rather than Class H. |
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Earplug
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Posted: 04 November 2022 at 6:29am |
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Yes, you do have to keep them clean - but when they work, they work!!  |
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Earplugs Are For Wimps!
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Elliot Thompson
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Posted: 05 November 2022 at 1:21am |
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I bought the 5000 20 years ago. Four rack space, 85 pounds dual power supply. Designed in 1984. Followed the bouncing LED lights method like Crown SA2 Best Regards, Edited by Elliot Thompson - 05 November 2022 at 1:26am |
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Elliot Thompson
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Andylaser
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Posted: 06 November 2022 at 1:42am |
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I got a good deal on a pair of 9001s back in the early 2000s. I remember struggling unloading them from the car into the house when I got home and just thought
 this and promptly sold them to a friend. I did hear them in use later with a string of EAW subs on them and was mighty impressed, but far too impractical for most mobile gigs. |
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"music so loud, that if we move in next door to you; your lawn will die" - Lemmy
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Elliot Thompson wrote: