The Crown Gems

My Crown SX 822. 1/2 TK, running at 7 1/2 & 15 ips. It is over 40 years old...

Since the early 70's, when I started reading Stereo Review magazine, I remember beign impressed with Craig Stark photos of his open reel decks installed on a 6' high 19" racks, showing those big UV meters. The brand was clear on their shiny brushed face: CROWN. By that time, their electronics were already legendary, specifically their DC 300A power amp (inducted recently in the AES hall of fame) and the EQ 2 famous equalizer, but their reel to reel decks were really expensive for the John Q Public, for sure.

Construction wise, were built like a tank. Not many decks of the 60's still going strong today and CROWN is an exception. Tapeheads diehard fans are looking for these machines lately and many, like myself, has found sources to restore and resfurbish the machines to better than new standards. Chuck Sizka, from Ocala, FL, is one of the few living experts and former Crown engineer that has keep his passion for all Crown's relics, specifically the open reel machines. He usually has some units for sale and believe me: I have bought 2 from him and it is like receiving a new machine again! The packaging is really effective, the looks of the machine is impressive and the sound, ah! the sound, is awesome. I have owned countless of open reel decks you could ever imagine; from Sony 7" reel to Studer A 80 1/2" pro deck,so I know a few things about these machines.

For many years I was looking after a Crown deck, but all you could find were junks and total disasters. It was not until I found this group of Crown fanatics at Tapeheads.net that I learned where to obtain a nice condition unit from. That's how I met Chuck. The first one I bought was the SX 822, shown above, and I ordered it 1/2 tk running at 7.5 and 15 ips. This is a pro format and you can't use your tape both sides, but the sound is completely superior to a 1/4 tk head format. That's completely domestic format. Anyway, the thing is that when I received this 40+ years old machine I couldn't believe my eyes! It was like new, with a superb packaging, a copy of the manual and some hints from Chuck himself. He even threw a pair of Crown original 10 1/2" NAB adapters for free. I proceeded with the installation and threaded a BASF 900 Maxima tape, previously recorded in my Otari 5050, and...well, I can't fully explain what I heard later. It was like listening to a live recording session in my listening room! Completely amazing! The presence, bass, extended highs, soundstage, depth... HOLY SHIT! There's simply no way any of the best cassette decks ever made could match this kind of audio precision and liveness ever! NO WAY JOSE!

This wonderful experience pushed me to pursuit the acquisition of an even better CROWN: the CX 822. The CX series has the same transport but the electronics are better. Modular circuit boards, better parts and a more modern design. Also, you have the flexibility of adding more bass and treble to the recording if you wish so. It's heavier and a little bigger than its smaller sister the SX and it'll cost you $200.00 more...but it's simply worth it!

Above, a partial view of my main listening room where I perform audio restorations.

So, I installed the CX on a former Studer A 810 cart as my main recording unit and the SX in a original Crown cabinet as my playback unit in the living room. How I got the CX? Well, I just found a nice looking SX 824 at Audiogon for $350.00 + shipping and I simply bought it because it came with the original cabinet and tape counter! Those 2 things alone could cost you the same or more, that's it: if you ever found it! I told the seller to ship it directly to Chuck but I already had in mind to do some kind of trade with him. He gave me $400.00 as a trade- in sum, converted the CX to my requirements and send the machine, already restored and refurbished to me! That's how I got the CX! Now I'm looking for a tube version, that are really scarce, but even more beautiful and unique. One of these days...stay tuned!

Here's the CX-822. Bigger knobs, bigger electronics and bigger sound!

Who will say that the above machine is already over 40 years old? Amazing, ah? You can also noticed the treble and bass knobs for each channel at the VU Meter extremes. When buying a machine like this, be aware that it's really heavy (over 70 lbs. packed), are big and the look is very vintage. You'll have to custom order a cabinet for it or install it on a 19" rack cabinet you may find in a audio store or at "fleabay". If you are lucky enough, you may find an original Crown cabinet, like I did. Anyway, I have a friend in California that reproduce the original ones, with a better quality and looks. Let me know...

A partial view of one of my many systems around my house.

Crown History:

I don't know about you folks, but I love to know all I can about the origins of the audio companies I have deal with for many years and this is what I have found about Crown's history in the net. Let's see who this CROWN company is:

In 1947 an Elkhart, Indiana minister named Clarence C. Moore founded the International Radio and Electronics Corporation (IREC) which, over the years, has become better known as Crown Audio Inc. Moore started by building open-reel tape recorders out of a chicken coop but today, Crown Audio is an industry leader in amplified sound. Crown makes amps for cinema venues, installed sites, touring rigs, portable PA and commercial audio. With over 67 years of focus on innovation and providing the best user experience, Crown Audio is continually raising the bar in audio amplification.

Clarence C. Moore, a longtime radio enthusiast, had spent the early part of the ’40s in Quito, Ecuador working for HCJB, a non-profit Christian broadcasting and engineering group.

Following his return to the United States, he felt the desire to supply Christian broadcasters like HCJB with quality electronic products. As a result, Moore founded International Radio and Electronics Corporation (IREC) in 1947 and converted a former chicken coop into the budding manufacturer’s first production facility.

The company’s early reputation was built on a family of rugged and compact open-reel tape recorders designed to operate reliably when used by missionaries in remote, often-primitive regions of the world. After modifying and distributing several existing models (Magnecord, Recordio, Pentron and Crestwood) for the first couple of years, Moore obtained a patent in 1949 for a groundbreaking invention: the world’s first tape recorder with a built-in power amplifier (15 watts). This invention led the way for several more in the next 15 years. In 1964, the company invented their first solid-state amplifier called the SA 20-20. From then on, the focus switched from tape recorders to amplifiers and the business was quickly growing.

Unfortunately, amongst all of the growth and development, a fire erupted on Thanksgiving Day in 1971 and destroyed over 60% of the facility and the remainder of the plant was severely damaged. There was $1 million of uninsured inventory destroyed in the process. However, Mr. Moore wasn’t going to let this disaster stop him now. Production resumed within 6 weeks with the latest of their inventions, the D-60 amplifier.

Eventually, Moore’s wife and co-founder, Ruby (deceased 2002), suggested that a name change was in order. Since IREC had by this point produced vacuum tube tape recorders branded ‘Royal’ and ‘Imperial’, in addition to the fact that the emblem on those products was a fancy crown, she felt that the company should simply be called Crown. In 1975, the stockholders voted to change the name of the corporation to Crown International, Inc. (From the Crown website).

This is what we can call a nice Crown reel decks collection.

An original CROWN AD from the 70's.

The CROWN Sound:

So, how these oldies sound? Simply amazing! Of course you need to have it properly serviced and in most cases the heads are to be changed and some other parts as well in order to be fair with it. After all, these machines were stop produced in the late 70's and many of these decks are from the late 60's ! Not bad for a reel to reel, ah? The construction is bullet proof and it was mean to be like that. During the 60' and 70' their main use was to record on the road, in transportation cases and to take punishment everywhere. If you compare one of the CX motor with one of a Tandberg TD 20, for example, that was supposed to be Tandy's pro' version is like comparing a Caterpillar engine with a Toyota's. I'm kidding not. But to make the comparison even more fair, you'll have to look farther in quality, like a Revox PR 99 or so. Tandberg sound is good, but construction wise it's a joke compared to this tank!

The sound is extremely clean, punchy, open, extended, deep and honest. Whatever you record here would sound good anywhere else as long as your azimuth angle is correct. Tapes made on my Otari and Revox sounded better on this one. The sound is more "alive" , with less artifacts and smoothness. The presence and soundstage are its forté. You can obtain similar results with an Ampex deck or something like that, but newer models fall short and the Crown's longevity is a living proof of that. I mean, where are you going to find a tube open reel deck from 1964 still going strong and singing better than new? Not even a Revox A- 77 I'm afraid.

Be aware, though, when buying one of these to carefully select the model. I'll stay away from the 700's transport as it's not as good as the 800's and tends to be more rough handling the tape. If the CX is too expensive, get a SX 800. Anyway, no matter what machines of these you buy, it'll need a full service at Chucks'. Then you can order it the version you want it: 1/4 or 1/2 TK, 3 3/4 & 7 1/2 or 7 1/2 & 15 ips, etc. You may also want to look into the accesories like the cabinet, editing block, counter,etc...Then, you may want to add more Crown toys and you know the rest!

Taking into consideration that if you buy one cheap at "fleabay" you'll need to invest an additional $400.00 in it, it could be wiser and definitely more secure to buy one from Chuck's anytime. That's my personal recommendation!

ENJOY!