RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
Crown Straight Line SL2 preamplifier in very good condition, servicedReplaced power micro switch. Checked functions.Tested.Why are these so desirable?According to one source on the net:"The SL-2 and PSL-2 exhibits an excellent build quality, and an excellent combination of features and ease of use. Their relatively small size (1 rack space) and reputation for long term dependability keeps the resale value high.Their sound is best described as "invisible." Another factor in the pricing is that they were never made in the large numbers that many of the more mass-market units were, and as a result, "supply and demand" economics come into play here."Description: The Crown SL-2 packs exceptional audio performance and a lot of features into just one rack space. Add this to excellent design and construction quality and you'll see why they routinely sell for $500 today - even though they are 35 years old. Crown made these superb preamplifiers in Elkhart, Indiana, USA from 1981~1995.The SL2 has two tape loops, a fixed external processor loop (EPL), a precision phono preamp with calibrated gain, 1% resistors and 2.5% capacitors, tone controls, a stereo-mono-reverse-mute control, a rumble filter and indicator, and all these can be bypassed one-by-one, giving rise to the STRAIGHT LINE TWO model name. There's also a superb switchable Loudness contour that's the best I've heard, boosting the extreme deep bass and not muddying up the midbass.The earlier Straight Line One was a very primitive preamplifier that took up two rack spaces and wasn't much more than a selector and volume control.This STRAIGHT LINE TWO lives up to it's name, with actual measured performance of both the ancient samples I've tested of 0.00005% THD (that's four zeros!) and +0, -0.4dB response from 4 Hz ~ 110 kHz!The SL-2, seen here, was made from 1981~1985 and the PSL-2 was made from 1987~1995. The PSL-2 is the same, except that the AUX 1 input is labeled "C.D." and AUX 2 is simply called "AUX."Shipping to states in longitude of Colorado, farther west or rural parts of the Midwest will be a little more, billed separately
The age and generation matter here: this is a discontinued early-’80s/’90s-era Crown preamp, so value is driven more by condition and service history than by being current-production. At US$800, the asking price is above the US$599 75th percentile from your comparable market, so it reads ambitious rather than a bargain.
That said, this is a well-regarded, no-nonsense preamp with a strong reputation for clean sound, solid build, and long-term durability, and a serviced example is the right way to buy one. If the service was done well and the unit is truly quiet and fully functional, the premium is easier to justify for a collector or Crown fan; if not, the price leaves little room for repair risk.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Crown Audio traces its origins to 1947 in Elkhart, Indiana, where minister and radio enthusiast Clarence C. Moore, alongside his wife Ruby, founded the International Radio and Electronics Corporation (IREC) in a converted chicken coop. Initially focused on rugged open-reel tape recorders for missionaries in remote regions, the company pioneered innovations like the world's first tape recorder with a built-in power amplifier in 1949. Ruby's suggestion in the 1960s led to the adoption of the Crown name, inspired by the crown emblems on their 'Royal' and 'Imperial' models, with the corporation officially renaming to Crown International, Inc. in 1975.
The brand shifted from tape recorders and compact loudspeakers in the 1950s to standalone tube power amplifiers by 1959, cementing its expertise in professional amplification. Crown became renowned for groundbreaking products like the DC300 in 1968—the first high-power solid-state amplifier—and the M600/M2000 in 1972, featuring patented technologies such as the ground-bridge circuit. Today, under Harman International since its 2000 acquisition, Crown specializes in high-output amplifiers for touring rigs, cinema venues, installed systems, portable PA, and commercial audio, prioritizing reliability and innovation over consumer categories like speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Crown holds a commanding position as a pro-audio powerhouse, trusted by industry leaders for its durable, high-performance amplifiers that define live sound and installation standards. Far from high-end audiophile or vintage collector fare, it dominates the professional market with over 75 years of technical milestones, though recent production shifts to Mexico reflect ongoing evolution. For the discerning hi-fi buyer eyeing pro-grade power, Crown delivers uncompromised authority.
See all Crown listings on RADAR.
