Crown XLi 800

I was looking for an amp within my budget to power a used pair of ProAc Studio 100s. While the Crown amp may not have the creamiest of detail that so many ProAc owners recommend for their passive speakers, it does a great job of powering my ProAcs anyway. Clear highs, powerful lows and detailed mids.

Though fan-cooled, the Crown XLi800 is quiet enough for studio use (including mixing). I have mine set up approximately 120 cm from my mixing sweet-spot, behind and under my desk - and the fan noise never bothers me once I have material running. Even with nothing playing, the fan noise is like a gentle murmur, rather than a displeasing whine.

The addition of discrete gain pots for each channel is also very useful in my compact (and slightly asymmetrical) space - allowing me to balance the system nicely.

Overall, I'm very pleased with how the amp fits into my studio set-up.