Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Rafi Singer

Rafi Singer

Freshman
May 17, 2011
62
0
6
Waltham, MA
www.singerproduction.com
Hey all,

Recently, one channel on one of the Crown XLS802D I use quit and got me contemplating upgrading, rather than paying a sizable portion of the original cost of a cheaper amp. I've been seeing both PLX3402's (of which I have one on sub duty) and Pro8200's out on the used market. Currently, I am running EAW KF300 tops and SB250 subs. I'm curious what your experiences are with both amps. Can I get away with the 3402's, or should I pump in the extra few bucks to get the Pro8200's? My one thought about the Pro8200's is that I would have a bit extra firepower, should I want to use the same rack to power some larger speakers.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Rafi Singer said:
My one thought about the Pro8200's is that I would have a bit extra firepower, should I want to use the same rack to power some larger speakers.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you'll have a whopping 1.2dB extra firepower at 4Ω stereo. Push up the fader on your console 1.2dB to get an idea of how significant this is.

Mac
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

mackerr said:
Yeah, you'll have a whopping 1.2dB extra firepower at 4Ω stereo. Push up the fader on your console 1.2dB to get an idea of how significant this is.

Mac
Click to expand...

Point taken. I'm trying to find any possible reason why I should go with one or the other. Do you have any experience with either amp models? What would you go for?
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Personally, I will never put another PLX/PL2 series amp on anything with low frequencies in it. The difference in sustained bass ability between the PL3 series (which I know you haven't asked about) and the aforementioned units is chalk and cheese. A lower power PL3 beat a higher power PL2 hands down! I haven't actually used the Crest Pros at all, but everything I've heard says that they should be better than the PLX/PL2s. Can anybody else comment on this from Crest Pro experience?

So my (tentative) suggestion would be move the PLX up to the KF300s and use something "stronger" on the low end.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Kemper Watson said:
I've never had an issue with any PLX amps, as long as they were given sturdy power. I wouldn't try to run 2-3 of them on a single 20 amp edison
Click to expand...

I'm pretty comfortable with 2 PLX3102s on 20 amps.
I'm only comfortable with 3 PLX3102s on 20 amps if the loads are all 8 ohms.

PLX3402 current draw looks a bit higher so YMMV.

I used to use a PLX3102 on a pair of single-18 subs and it made plenty of noise. And some of these venues included the obligatory 50' extension cord into the kitchen to find an outlet on a different circuit.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Rafi Singer said:
Point taken. I'm trying to find any possible reason why I should go with one or the other. Do you have any experience with either amp models? What would you go for?
Click to expand...

Here is the ONE and ONLY reason you need to think about! Buy the PLX that way both of your amps will have the exact same gain and setting your processors for what ever speakers you use now or in the future will be much easier! The 1.2dB difference is approximately equivelant to zero difference unless you have bat ears.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

"Personally, I will never put another PLX/PL2 series amp on anything with low frequencies in it."

This seems to be a common "truth" on forums and it amazes me! Is there any real technical evidence that supports that view? There are many people using the PL and PLX amps on subs quite successfully, including me.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Chuck Simon said:
"Personally, I will never put another PLX/PL2 series amp on anything with low frequencies in it."

This seems to be a common "truth" on forums and it amazes me! Is there any real technical evidence that supports that view? There are many people using the PL and PLX amps on subs quite successfully, including me.
Click to expand...

As usual, 'successfully' is probably dependent on what you're used to and what you consider acceptable. I haven't done any comparisons with QSC amps, but I know switching even from an XTi6000 to an Itech 4000 makes a gigantic, huge, amazing difference even though the power ratings are about the same. I have heard many people say that switching to a Macrotech 5000, even though it's pretty small by today's 'big dog' amp standards, completely changes sub performance for the better.

Same thing goes for sound quality in other instances - many people think a 58 sounds fine till they hear something better.

My vote, after hearing Bennett's rig with Crest Pro amps (a longgggg time ago), is for the Crests.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Larry Lewis said:
I'm pretty comfortable with 2 PLX3102s on 20 amps.
I'm only comfortable with 3 PLX3102s on 20 amps if the loads are all 8 ohms.

PLX3402 current draw looks a bit higher so YMMV.

I used to use a PLX3102 on a pair of single-18 subs and it made plenty of noise. And some of these venues included the obligatory 50' extension cord into the kitchen to find an outlet on a different circuit.
Click to expand...

Rather than go by feeling, I have a nice clamp meter that tells me exactly what is going on. Only time I have ever tripped anything is when running an IT8000 or IT12000 full-out on wall power when the building has old, tired breakers. Not much can be done to distribute a single load to multiple circuits, other than to power the amp with 240V.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

RYAN LOUDMUSIC JENKINS said:
Here is the ONE and ONLY reason you need to think about! Buy the PLX that way both of your amps will have the exact same gain and setting your processors for what ever speakers you use now or in the future will be much easier! The 1.2dB difference is approximately equivelant to zero difference unless you have bat ears.
Click to expand...

I think both the PLX and the Pro 200 series are 32db gain, x40.
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Chuck Simon said:
"Personally, I will never put another PLX/PL2 series amp on anything with low frequencies in it."

This seems to be a common "truth" on forums and it amazes me! Is there any real technical evidence that supports that view? There are many people using the PL and PLX amps on subs quite successfully, including me.
Click to expand...

I remember a long time ago having a PLX3002 and a Yorkville AP-3000 in a DJ rig and the AP-3000 beat the PLX hands down on sub duty, despite having lower ratings (IIRC). it was night and day.

Jason
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Chuck Simon said:
"Personally, I will never put another PLX/PL2 series amp on anything with low frequencies in it."

This seems to be a common "truth" on forums and it amazes me! Is there any real technical evidence that supports that view? There are many people using the PL and PLX amps on subs quite successfully, including me.
Click to expand...

Why is it that I can never see these issues with my signal generator, scope and dummy load ?. I encounter lots of PLXs in my day to day repair business and correctly functioning specimens do EXACTLY what the specs say they do, for long enough to get the job done (I can't say the same for Xti's on soggy power lines).
M
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Mike Diack said:
Why is it that I can never see these issues with my signal generator, scope and dummy load ?. I encounter lots of PLXs in my day to day repair business and correctly functioning specimens do EXACTLY what the specs say they do, for long enough to get the job done (I can't say the same for Xti's on soggy power lines).
M
Click to expand...

I think it's Ivan that says something like, "If you can't measure it, you're just not measuring the right thing."
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

My friend has a plx rig, they have had issues on low voltage. When he wants real sub amp he brings out the macro 5ks. I run 8200's on my double 18's, they sound great and work fine. We have also ran 9200's side by side to 5 k's, could not tell a difference.

Bad part about a crest 200 series is they are built on one big board, depending on what goes out it can be rather pricy on repair, and crest / peavy are not very knowledgeable on whats going on with some issues. Not sure how the plx are built.

What prices are you seeing for 8200's used?

Stay away from any used 8200's that have a Iec cord, first they suck if you ask me, and the first model year crest 8200, with the iec had power supply issues. They also had the fan housing to close to the input xlr's, plus they were non locking also.

The 8200's are switchable x20, x40
 
Re: Amp upgrade dillema: QSC PLX3402 vs. Crest Pro8200

Mike Diack said:
Why is it that I can never see these issues with my signal generator, scope and dummy load ?. I encounter lots of PLXs in my day to day repair business and correctly functioning specimens do EXACTLY what the specs say they do, for long enough to get the job done (I can't say the same for Xti's on soggy power lines).
M
Click to expand...

It's kind of like my Camco Vortex 6 Amps. A few years ago there were a couple people on the other forums that claimed that the V6 amp weren't very good for subs. I personally think they sound great on subs with plenty of output. I am quite confident that the ~18,000 punters that will be feeling my subs next weekend will be quite happy with the output from them!
 
Top Bottom