Crimson Elektrik 510
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Category: General
Forum Name: Newbie Discussion
Forum Description: Newbie Discussion/Questions. Look less stupid here...
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=79492
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 8:45am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Crimson Elektrik 510
Posted By: MrCat
Subject: Crimson Elektrik 510
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 12:08am
| Hey folks, this is a bit of a long shot, as I've googled it loads, but does anyone have any idea of the capabilities of a Crimson Elektrik 510 pre and power amp? It has been my trusted amp for years and always served me well, but I can find no info on it at all anywhere! Just bought a pair of old Ram speakers (I'm not sure what model or anything) today and it's sounding superb... But I remain eternally curious...... |
Replies:
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 1:05pm
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is this for portable PA duty? i ask as it looks like a small 40w amp that is powered by two 9v batteries ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: kedwardsleisure
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 1:29pm
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Ive got a crimson catalogue from 1979 and it doesnt have it listed, Is there a number on the amp pcbs? Crimson did kits as well as finished units, might help if we know what modules are fitted. The usual part numbering for crimson amp modules was (for example) 1708 which meant 170W into 8R and 1004 which would be 100W into 4R etc etc ------------- Kevin North Staffordshire |
Posted By: colint
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 5:31pm
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I had a Crimson pre-power amp system many years ago wonderful sounding kit think you'll find the power amp is 40 watts per channel into 8ohms. (proper watts) some of the pre-amps were battery powered but the later pre-amps had a link wire that connected to the power amp (as did mine) I used mine with a pair of Tannoy Lancaster's and I had to say the sound was superb. They still sell for a fair bit these days you could expect anywhere up to 500 quid for a matched pair in good condition.
------------- Never criticise another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Once you have, call him what you like, you're a mile away and you've got his shoes! |
Posted By: jbl_man
Date Posted: 08 June 2013 at 6:10pm
@ Kevin,i had one of the 1004's back in the day,to replace a blown (now there's a suprise  ) ILP120Y,the Crimson was nicely made,and sounded lovely,made the ILP rubbish sound like something made by Amstrad.Actually,that is an insult,Amstrad were far more reliable than ILP. ------------- Be seeing you. |
Posted By: MrCat
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 12:18pm
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Hey folks! Thanks for that... @mini-mad - It's just for my own home listening pleasure, and yes the 510 preamp takes 2 pp9 batteries (to minimize mains interference so I understand it...) @kedwardsleisure - There's some stickers underneath the cases Preamp reads serial number 315/510 and power amp reads serial 131/520. On the pcb's there's no discernable numbers like the ones you mention... on the preamp pcb it reads 'crimson elekrik 31-15 (then a or b on the front/back of the board)' and the power amp says '35-01 (b or c - front/back of the boards)'...that's all I can see. Not sure if any of that will help. Yea I have seen in my search a few go for good prices on ebay...mine may need a bit of a paint job first tho but I don't think I could bring myself to sell it :) Thanks again folks, I better go look up speaker wiring now, I've a bunch of variosu random speakers wired up to it probably in very inefficient and cringe worthy fashion for anyone who knows their stuff! I've read a combination of serial and parallel is preferable, but I know bog all about that kind of thing. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 1:32pm
you just need a nice high eff. floor standing speaker... just one per channel. hooking up a load of random speakers to one channel will sound funny and wont do your amp any favours either fella  ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: MrCat
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 1:43pm
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ok, cool! Cheers :) So does that mean even 4 speakers of the same sort you wouldn't bother with either? |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 3:17pm
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4 speakers on the one channel of a 40w amp?.... if series parallel'd ok, but why would you want to? a nice two way (low- freq driver + high-freq driver) would do a fantastic job in a fairly large box ( to give a little extension to the lower end). ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: MrCat
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 3:22pm
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I was meaning 2 speakers on each channel, 4 in total. I just happened to have a bunch of speakers and thought it would be good to get some cheating surround on the go with speakers in each corner of the room, and maybe a set in another room too...that was my idea ...? :) I found this the other day but some of the comments say he's got it rather wrong...I'm not sure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysuBeGeQ2yM - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysuBeGeQ2yM
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Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 3:51pm
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its a childish and crude way of describing it but it is correct. just make sure your connectiong all the + and - the correct way round for this type of connection. ------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: mini-mad
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 3:53pm
------------- If it sounds like a gorilla is trying to escape, turn it down. |
Posted By: MrCat
Date Posted: 11 June 2013 at 3:54pm
Excellent, cheers  ------------- Crimson Elektrik 510 pre + power Amp. Vintage rocks. |
Posted By: bepowell
Date Posted: 30 October 2015 at 4:44pm
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I designed the Crimson amplifiers. If you still have any queries please contact me. I do service work and upgrades on all Crimson amplification. |
Posted By: bepowell
Date Posted: 08 September 2025 at 1:43pm
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Loads of Crimson data on my website. Sorry about the late reply. https://www.google.com/search?q=brian+powell+audio&sca_esv=79c832bf811e105b&sxsrf=AE3TifOMMC_PRYTwVSa0iVb-SotIfUE6vg%3A1757335022429&source=hp&ei=7s2-aNzIGK-BhbIPx9zFsA8&iflsig=AOw8s4IAAAAAaL7b_jPbwB5g4c9aGf7zH3pY2tQNPv4N&oq=br&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IgJicioCCAEyChAjGIAEGCcYigUyChAjGIAEGCcYigUyChAjGIAEGCcYigUyCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFMgsQABiABBiRAhiKBTIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBTIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBTIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBTIKEAAYgAQYQxiKBTIQEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYFBiHAkiuHlCoD1itEXABeACQAQCYAXSgAeYBqgEDMC4yuAEByAEA-AEBmAIDoALzAagCCsICBxAjGCcY6gLCAgsQABiABBixAxiDAcICERAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGIMBGMcBwgIIEAAYgAQYsQOYAwbxBSjkfj1sbOOmkgcDMS4yoAecFbIHAzAuMrgH7QHCBwUwLjEuMsgHCg&sclient=gws-wiz - brian powell audio - Google Search
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