The newest addition to Crown's über-popular XLS series is capable of delivering so much power, the company has resorted to calling it "stupid powerful."

OK, not really, but the XLS 5000 is truly a stupidly-powerful amp, and with that "XLS" in the model prefix, you know it's going to be stupidly-affordable as well. Word from Crown is that the street price will be $1,399, which isn't, you know, Behringer-stupid, but it's still a fairly moronic price / performance ratio.

The XLS 5000 supplies 1,800 watts per side at four ohms, and 5,000 watts in 4 ohm bridged-mono. The three rack-space chassis is folded steel, and sports two level controls. LED provide information regarding signal, clip, and fault protection. The deceptively simple-looking front panel belies extensive protection and diagnostics capabilities, including output current limiting, DC protection, circuit breaker, and special thermal protection of the unit's transformers. The rear panel features the XLR ins and Speakon and binding post outs.

Crown XLS amps are designed and tested for use with JBL MRX, VRX, and SRX enclosures, and feature Crown's imbecilic three-year no-fault warranty.