By Mark Farmer
In the past, bigger meant better sound and more wattage. Amplifiers today, come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and types. Advancements in electronics allow manufactures to design smaller and better packages for a lower price.Just like computers, pro audio amplifier companies are able to pack a punch with a smaller less expensive product. Installers, pro sound dealers, musician’s, and the like can now make decisions based on weight or size, not having to necessarily worry about power requirements alone.
Features
Crest has been around the world of amplifiers for quite some time now and produced some very fine professional products. Newest in Crest Audio are the V Series Power Amplifier. I put in use the giant of the V Series, the V1500. Also available in the V Series line are V450, and a V900.
Starting out with 400 watts at 8 ohms stereo, 750 at 4 ohms and 1000 watts at 2 ohms, this amp could power a very large sound system. Two other impressive numbers are the amps ratings in the bridge mono mode. With 1500 watts at 8ohms, 2000 watts at 4 ohms, this energetic amp could be used to power a few hearty subs.
All this power could not be put to good use unless the other general specifications can compare. Frequency response measures in beyond expectations from 10Hz to 65Hz. There is <0.02% total harmonic distortion rating at 4 ohms at 1 kHz. Controlling speakers with a damping factor greater than 1000 at 100Hz should be no problem. Input sensitivity on the V1500 is set at 1.4V for a 4 ohm rating. Current draw on this monster is as expected for such a powerful amp. With no input(idle) a small current draw of 1.8 amps, and at maximum output there is a current draw of 14.3 amps. The manual defines idle as 1/8 power or “typical” music conditions.
Visually the front panel, is arranged in a organized fashion. On the left indent is the LED meter section. Giant in size, the multi-colored display shows input from -40db to +8. A single green LED is placed accordingly to show that your Crest V Series is turned on. Included in the cluster are Active Clip Limiting lights(ACL) which, when lit, reduces the output to protect speakers from any overloads, square waves, or snags that might occur. Heat overload is monitored by two independent red LED’s,which when lit, shut off all output until the fan can lower temperature. So to keep temperature down, Crest installed a two speed 110 cfm fan to tug air in through the center panel allowing it to escape from the side panels. Indented on the right are the channel A and B input attenuators. Centered next to those, is the power switch. This switch also serves as a circuit breaker, since there are no fuses to worry about replacing. A very nice feature for extra protection if your power source or distribution box did not blow its breaker.
Skating around to the rear of the V1500 keeps things simple likewise. The inputs and outputs are separated as far apart as possible, with the inputs on the lower right and speaker outs upper left. I initially could not find the bridge mono switch, being so small and tucked in between the left and right inputs. Two barrier strips and dual 1/4” balanced(TRS) connectors provide signal to each channel. Although both may not be used at the same time, wiring is clearly labeled on the back near each connection. The manual covers correct hookups extensively in the provided manual. Installing a couple of XLR connectors here for emergency moments would not be a bad thing. Impedance of the outputs is protected by Instantaneous Gain Modulation(IGM). In English, a device to keep the ohms at a safe level above 2 ohms. The IGM also protects against short circuit, shutting off output pronto.
A nice extra is the Auto Ramp Protection which slowly raises gain to attenuator settings. This is a superb feature, which I have seen on expensive car amplifiers. Dimensions measure 5.25” x 19” x 13.25” with a weight of 42 pounds for the V Series 1500 model.
In Use
Disconnecting my other amp in use and hooking up the Crest took just but a few minutes. I made sure the amp was in stereo by spending a second or two looking for the bridge/mono switch. I replaced another large size amplifier which was used for powering four 15” subs on one side of a sound system. Since the speakers were 8 ohms each, I wired two a side on the Crest, providing a 4 ohm load stereo. I had to dig up some XLR to 1/4” adapters and a Y cable for the same input to both channels. I could have used the barrier strip to make the jump, but this was quicker.
With a well recorded compact disc, I set out to match levels of each side of the sound system. The input sensitivity on my other amps are different. So, I ended up with the V1500 attenuators set at about 1 o’ clock to duplicate the volume emitted from both sides.
Each side sounded very different from each other, even with volumes equivalent. Ultra sub sounds were heard from the V1500 side that did not emulate from the other national brand amp of a similar size. Warmer tones around 90Hz - 100Hz were uncovered also. No doubt about it this is one extreme amp. I definitely did not uncover its potential for driving bigger subs in a different type of enclosure.
Summary
This is a momentous amplifier capable of driving some speakers to some very loud, clear and precise volume levels. Crest has a reputation for building rugged long lasting amplifiers and this one is no exception. If you are looking to upgrade your big amp, move them all up in the rack because this one is the big daddy for you.

Mark Farmer is a Audio Engineer with Live Technologies in Columbus, Ohio. He can be reached on the Internet via: mixthat@columbus.rr.com

Product Points

Crest V1500 Amplifier

Plus
+Great sub woofer amp
+5 year warranty
+Auto Ramp Protection
+Sound quality
Minus
-no XLR inputs
-size and placement
bridge/mono switch
The Score
An intense amp that could
be used to drive some
powerful speakers.