QSC MX3000a POWER AMPLIFIER VS. CROWN REFERENCE I STUDIO POWER AMPLIFIER

[BRANDONH]

Hello all thank you very much for all your input on this matter.
This thread started with QSC MX3000a (THX Certified) Vs Crown Reference 1.
The QSC has been eliminated and it looks like the Reference 1 is back in the lineup.
The Reference 1 is the one I have been dreaming about but is is so expensive and requires special 30amp electrical wiring and some say that it is bright sounding and the fan is noisy.
Is the fan all that noisy? I read that it doesn't come on until the amp is under a heavy load if that is true then I don't see how it could be heard over the music at high volume levels.
And if listening at low volume levels I'll assume the fan will not come on at all.
The ATI AT1504 bridge @ 450 watts 8ohm (MFG no longer has specifications on their site)
http://www.onecall.com/ProductDispla...Specifications
is the one I am currently running and is a great amp and it really rocks and it does classical very well too.
It seems to lack the headroom I want.
I am almost scared to upgrade from my ATI amp to the Studio Reference 1 but the Crown has the power I am looking for.
http://www.crownaudio.com/amp_htm/studref.htm
There are no local dealers in my area were I could audition it. I would have to just buy it online and hope it will reproduce the quality sound I am looking for.
So if we take the power rating between my ATI amp and the Crown amp out of the equation for now will I be happier with the Crown Ref. 1 or should I just stay with my amp.
The two above links may help you professionals compare the two.
Brandon

[FLZapped]

Is the fan all that noisy? I read that it doesn't come on until the amp is under a heavy load if that is true then I don't see how it could be heard over the music at high volume levels.

Brandon

You're certainly right about not hearing it over loud music. Where you'll run into the possibility of hearing it is afterward while the unit cools down. I would suspect that it wouldn't crank up to full speed unless it were being driven hard for an extended period of time.

Chances are it won't be a problem, but I don't have any personal experience with it. There is one reviewer on this site who said they have never had the fan turn on even when they drove the amp fairly hard.

-Bruce