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Post by Darren on Apr 6, 2006 7:48:03 GMT -7
Anyone have an alternative amp for $250 or less that might be in the same league or better than the xa-1100? I'll be powering four 15" drivers assuming 4 ohms per side running both channels. Every time I check back with Musicians Friend they move it another month out. I can't wait much longer.
I'm thinking about the Beheringer EP1500 but don't know much about pro amps, never had one before.
Any other deals out there???
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Post by ThomasW on Apr 6, 2006 8:19:55 GMT -7
The EP series Behringer are very nice amps. The sound quality is good enough that there are threads on the Magnepan forum where people are buying them. (those guys are tough to please so the amps must be pretty good)
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Post by Darren on Apr 6, 2006 8:39:14 GMT -7
Ok, I was hoping that was the case. The EP1500 is rated at a little less power but I suppose it is higher quality power and possibly more conservatively rated than the Nady. Empty assumptions???
The EP1500 is close to my target price so it might be a good one. Is the EP1500 stable at 2 ohms? Just curious, I realize that would be way overkill for power in an IB. It is listed as 2 ohm capable but being capable and stable are two different things.
Do you see any reason to go with the EP2500? I know, once again I'm making things too complicated.
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Post by ThomasW on Apr 6, 2006 10:28:22 GMT -7
As I've posted in virtually every thread where the topic has come up, (once a week it seems) being able to drive a 2 0hm load doesn't mean that's how you should use the amp. Most amps are much happier driving 4 ohm loads.
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Post by Darren on Apr 6, 2006 10:44:09 GMT -7
Sorry for making you repeat yourself  That's why I was asking if it was stable at 2 ohms as just a curiosity in case it was ever used later in a different situation like a sealed dual VC sub where the extra wattage might be necessary. |
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Post by ThomasW on Apr 6, 2006 10:50:36 GMT -7
Stable is a relative term....
Yes they'll drive 2 ohm load. And in home use they're stable doing this. However there have been issues with them driving 2 ohm loads at high power level for long periods in pro-sound applications.
Generally speaking any amp will sound better driving a 4 ohm load rather than a 2 ohm load.
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Post by Darren on Apr 6, 2006 10:55:31 GMT -7
Gotcha... I was aware that 4 ohm was better than two but didn't realize that 2 ohms was probably a bad idea period.
Thanks! I'm probably going with the EP1500
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Post by Darren on Apr 7, 2006 6:40:00 GMT -7
Hey, ThomasW...
Talking with a friend I was told the EP2500's that he had experience with were really unreliable. He stated that several he used were bad right out of the box and wouldn't even power up. Also had problems with them not being stable bridged into 4 ohms. He said they clipped destroying his drivers without the indicators coming on. Is this something you've heard of? I know they are recommended here as a good deal. Have you had any experience with the amps? My EP1500 is on the way and I'm a bit worried now.
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Post by ThomasW on Apr 7, 2006 7:40:23 GMT -7
Since I don't know your friend and I don't know the situation and I'm not Behringer tech support I don't really know what to say......
The only person I know that had any problems with the EP2500 is John J. at AE Speakers. He installed some EP2500s in commercial application and had problems with them shutting down were being driven very hard for long periods of time.
Other than that I've read no online reports of problems with the Behringer amps (not that I search the web looking for them). No one that's bought one for IB, or any other home sub where I've been ask to recommend an amp, has ever posted about any problems.
As always one gets what one pays for, if you want worry a free amp with a major warranty backed by a company with a known reputation, pay $1200 and buy a Crown K1.
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Post by Darren on Apr 7, 2006 7:48:12 GMT -7
Well, I don't need anything like the Crown but I would expect the amp to live up to it's claims of being stable at 4 ohms bridged. I won't be using it bridged in my IB so it won't be a problem there. I just wanted the flexibility to use the amp in other situations. I'm not complaining by any means, just like to know what I'm buying and hate it when I find out stuff after the fact. Oh, yes... it was John I was talking to. He is more of an acquaintance but I've been discussing amp selection with him since I'm hoping to use his drivers when he has more available. I didn't realize it was a commercial situation etc... thanks for the input. I'll relax now and wait for the amp to arrive so I can sit and look at it while I contemplate subwoofers and when I might have some  One of these days soon I'll have this IB up and running. I swear. |
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Post by chrisbee on Apr 8, 2006 9:35:22 GMT -7
I visited another Behringer dealer today and was told he won't stock the EP1500 or EP2500 any longer because they can't tolerate being thrashed on electric guitar.
But, I would imagine that an IB is about as light a duty as it is possible to give any amplifier. On films the loudest effects are usually short lived and intermittent. Even on rock music the IB isn't going to be drawing many watts out of the amp just trying to reproduce bass guitar at normally loud domestic levels.
Judging from how loud an IB will go on 45 watts per driver @ 2 Ohms, with hardly any volume on the preamp, I would imagine the IB drivers would give up long before the amp when wired for 4 or 8 Ohms.
A search using various terms like Behringer amp failure, amp faults and amp problems failed to turn up anything on the Europower amps within the first five pages of Google hits.
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Post by ThomasW on Apr 8, 2006 11:01:43 GMT -7
Your search experience mirrors mine. On the other forums I moderate where the topics are primarily seal/ported subwoofer designs, no one has reported any problems either. And many home audio DIYers have been using these amps since they were first imported to the US. This review of a 2500 dates from 03 or 04 and was done on one of the first batch of 2500s imported into the US. home.mn.rr.com/hometheater/Beh2500.htmNow they certainly aren't the amps of choice for real world prosound applications, but seem more than adequate to the task for home use... |
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Post by Darren on Apr 8, 2006 17:10:25 GMT -7
Thanks for the info guys. I guess an IB would be light duty for these amps.
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Post by fvoelling on Apr 8, 2006 23:42:13 GMT -7
Thomas,
What is the URL for the Magnepan forum you referred to above? I just got my MMG Ws and would like to get some advice/info on them regarding placement, burn-in and amplification.
Frank
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Post by ThomasW on Apr 9, 2006 7:53:52 GMT -7
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Post by fvoelling on Apr 9, 2006 20:53:35 GMT -7
Thanks!!!
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Post by Darren on Apr 12, 2006 16:23:45 GMT -7
Just got my EP1500 today. Man, what a tank... nice build quality on the case itself. The fan is noisy but not offensively noisy. You don't hear the fan, just the wind it creates so slowing it down with the resistor should be a real good tweak. The fan will actually help cool my cabinet since it pulls from the back to front. Now, just need to get my drivers |
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Post by bbunge on Apr 15, 2006 19:58:06 GMT -7
Thomas,
Any chance you'll be trying out one of these amps full range any time in the future? I'd love to hear your thoughts on their sound quality when run in this fashion.
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Post by ThomasW on Apr 15, 2006 21:14:58 GMT -7
Hi Brian... I went on a used Aragon 8008 buying binge a few years ago before Klipsch bought Mondial. So I've got a lifetime supply of high current amps, unless fate smiles and I get an opportunity to buy a vacation home.... |
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Post by bbunge on Apr 16, 2006 13:44:55 GMT -7
Hey, if you decide to sell any of those Aragon amps I'd love to take a 2 channel unit off your hands in the future. I really would like a nice amp for my big 3-ways.  |
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