At Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, Germany, Harman’s Crown Audio announced the introduction of the XLS DriveCore 2 Series 2-channel power amplifiers, offering a host of upgraded features including more flexible DSP bandpass filtering, selectable input sensitivity and remote sleep mode trigger. Crown XLS DriveCore 2 Series amplifiers will be available in June 2015 at prices ranging from $299 to $599.
Four new XLS DriveCore 2 models are available, including the XLS 2502, XLS 2002, XLS 1502 and XLS 1002, with stated power ratings from 350 to 775 watts per channel at 4 ohms and 1,100 to 2,400 watts at 4 ohms bridged. Crown’s XLS DriveCore 2 Series amplifiers feature Harman’s exclusive DriveCore amplifier circuitry that combines high power output with exceptional energy efficiency in a unit that weighs less than 11 pounds.
Crown XLS DriveCore 2 amplifiers now offer a bandpass filter on each channel in addition to the previous low and highpass filters, enabling more precise DSP tuning. All models allow the front panel LED indicators (except the clip and thermal indicators) to be turned off if desired, reducing distraction in dark venues. All the amplifiers have selectable input sensitivity of either 1.4 Vrms or .775 Vrms, facilitating their use in a wider variety of applications and enabling the amplifiers to be driven at full power no matter what the input is.
XLS DriveCore 2 amplifiers now offer a remote sleep mode trigger function, to reduce power consumption from a distance. The amplifiers also feature a display sleep mode that turns the display lighting off after a specified time. All models provide a security setting that disables the front panel menu buttons; the menu is locked and unlocked by entering a simple button combination. In addition, a system reset function enables all factory settings to be restored.
Power ratings of the XLS DriveCore 2 models (per channel into 4 ohms) are as follows: XLS 2502, 775W; XLS 2002, 650W; XLS 1502, 525W; XLS 1002, 350W. All incorporate Crown’s proprietary DriveCore Class D amplifier design, which is the size of a postage stamp yet combines the amplifier driver stage into the power output stage along with additional audio-signal functions to provide efficient, cool-running operation that conforms to Harman International’s GreenEdge environmental initiative. All the amps are 2U rackspaces high.
Crown XLS DriveCore 2 amplifiers are said to power 8- 4- or 2-ohm loads and can be bridged for 8- or 4-ohm mono operation. Additional features include Peakx limiters that deliver maximum output while protecting the speakers; balanced XLR, ¼-inchand RCA inputs; touch-proof binding post and Speakon outputs, and more. All Crown XLS DriveCore 2 amps are covered by a three-year, no-fault fully transferrable warranty.
Find more information at www.crownaudio.com/en/product_families/xls-drivecore-2-series.
