Behringer EP1500/2500 & A500

[bimma85 5,000+ posts]

I think I'm ready to blow some money on a new home audio amp. Currently I have a sonance sonamp 260x3 pushing a pair of CV RE-38s. I was thinking of picking up a Behringer Ep series because of all the good things I've heard from owners.

While looking at those I noticed teh A500

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-749

I was wondering if anyone has used it or if anyone has any opinions about it.

The A500 is 180 shipped, I believe the ep1500 is about 280+shipping the heavy foker. So, it will end up being nearly twice as much. I am just wondering if its worth the extra money. I don't really see myself using either amp to its full potential(don't wanna piss anyone off...too much //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif ).

Also for the future...any thought on a preamp? Currently I am using a numark dm-1850. Any opinions on what to work for in the preamp as well as what brand, would be greatly appreciated.

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Also for the future...any thought on a preamp?

How much do you want to spend? I have a few crazy ideas...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[bimma85 5,000+ posts]

How much do you want to spend? I have a few crazy ideas...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Maybe a couple hundred max. It probably won't be for a while. I also have no problem waiting to find a good deal on a new or used one.

Actually I totally forgot I have a Carver C-1 stting around somewhere, don't remember if it works though.

What do you think of that preamp compared to others?

 

[ballstothewall 10+ year member]

Forget Behringer, buy a good used QSC amp. I'm running QSC amps and theres a reason the Behringer hasen't been used since I got my QSC's up and running.

 

[bimma85 5,000+ posts]

Actually I did notice this when I was looking last night...

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=245-690

What models have you used? What didnt you like about the behringer?

 

[ballstothewall 10+ year member]

The EP2500 is a direct copy of the RMX series from QSC.

The QSC amps I have are a 1.0HV and a CX902. The QSC is just flat out leaps and bounds above behringer, the quality of the sound, build quality, 1/2 the weight, puts out the power they are supposed to (haven't seen any true tests off behringer gear, but I have the tests for my amps, and they no problem putting out rated power across the entire freq spectrum).

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I don't know if it matters, but I don't think the QSC has RCA input. The Behringer does. I am in the same situation my friend. I am strong leaning toward the A500, unless I can Jim can show me the "tube" way with something ~ 75 x 2 for less than $300 that accepts RCAs.

 

[ballstothewall 10+ year member]

RCA-XLR Cables FTW!

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I don't know what you want for features, but something like this: http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/foreplay3/foreplay3.htm would be an excellent choice for a couple hundred //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Of course, the minimalist way might not be for you...no remote, no balanced inputs, might be an issue.

unless I can Jim can show me the "tube" way with something ~ 75 x 2 for less than $300

How many watts? I can show you 7.5 for that price //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Actually I totally forgot I have a Carver C-1 stting around somewhere, don't remember if it works though. What do you think of that preamp compared to others?

Carver gear is nice, definitely worth using if it still works.

 

[thylantyr 10+ year member]

Proamp gut pics to get an idea.

http://home.pacbell.net/lordpk/proamps/

Crown XLS402

Samson S1500

Behringer EP1500

Behringer 2500

QSC RMX1450

QSC RMX2450

QSC PLX3402

Crest 10001

This picture lookes as if the EP1500 transformer was smaller than RMX2450.

http://home.pacbell.net/lordpk/proamps/EP2500_older.JPG

http://home.pacbell.net/lordpk/proamps/RMX2450-1.JPG

Then I found a new EP2500 pic;

http://home.pacbell.net/lordpk/proamps/EP2500-1.jpg

Notice the EP2500 circuit board is smaller where they vertical mount

the white resistors which creates the illusion that the transformer is smaller.

On the other hand, the pro audio folks have tested EP2500 to have less power

than RMX2450 at 2 ohms per channel.

Conclusion? Based on the new pics I've seen, unless you will operate the

EP series at 2 ohms per channel or 4 ohms in bridged mode, it should

satisfy and it cost much less than RMX.

Note the XLS build quality, the lack of heatsinks tells me this amp won't hand

with difficult loads and it has been reported as such when people try to drive

subs. But for normal HT speakers, that amp is successful and cheap.

The A500 is not low impedance rated. Keep that in mind. Lets say you

want to drive LR speakers that are 8 ohm, nothing difficult to drive.

An A500 should do the job well. Later, you can get another A500 and

run them in bridge mode, one amp per speaker as it drives 8 ohms in bridge mode,

but no less.

The PLX series is sweet, but expensive. To drive difficult loads this is a better

design. The heatsinking is the best of all those amps above {except Crest10k},

the PLX switch mode power supply is cool [pun].

 

[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

since I'm kinda on the same line here what about Nady or Gemsound?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/power-amps-live-sound?N=100001%2b304600&Ns=P_Price%7c0&g=dj&page=1

Lookin at this one for a sub amp for my home theatre and to test subs/enslosures. My other one took a poop. Cant blame it, it was 11 years old.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gem-Sound-XP550-Stereo-Power-Amp?sku=481218

Lookin there and partsexpress cause they both take paypal.