New Behringer Power amps

3506string · #1 06-13-2010, 09:24 AM

Behringer has had a shaky history but one of their items that has seemed to sustain throughout was the power amps. I have had my EP2500 for around 4 years and other than my Madison drivers its the longest piece of equipment i've had and super reliable.

So i've recently downsized most of my rig with the exception of my power amp. So this morning I decided to start looking for a lighter power amp. As much as I love the Ep2500 I had carrying around that 50+ lb beast. I'm looking at the EPQ2000 which runs around $300 and is 15.4lbs.

So do you think that new Behringer PA's will hold up to their older predecessors. It's probably just ignorance but i'm still a little leery of all this micro technology but I think I may take the leap.

seamonkey · #2 06-13-2010, 10:55 AM

The new 1u rack amps from Behringer will be fine.
They've been in the business for years. They know what they're doing.
They've been using lightweight amps in their powered mixers for years.
They bought "Cold Amp" or some similar lightweight class-d amp manufacturer several years ago and have been incorporating and ramping up the technology in their products.
The chips are also used by many other class-d makers.

Justice · #3 06-13-2010, 12:43 PM

I would go with the EPX over the EPQ, since the EPQ is not bridgeable.

But thats just me.

3506string · #4 06-13-2010, 12:51 PM

The EPQ's are bridgeable but the EPX will handle a 2 ohm load .

Justice · #5 06-13-2010, 04:43 PM

my mistake, not bridgable to 4 ohms...

Growly Lytes · #6 11-26-2010, 08:10 PM

I just read some disturbing reviews on these amps.
They dont have the power ratinmg as stated.No where near the mark they say.
If anything less than half.

Bass_Pounder · #7 11-26-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

I just read some disturbing reviews on these amps.
They dont have the power ratinmg as stated.No where near the mark they say.
If anything less than half.

Probably because like most if not all of their other amplifier products - they rate them liberally and at peak power not RMS

3506string · #8 11-26-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growly Lytes

I just read some disturbing reviews on these amps.
They dont have the power ratinmg as stated.No where near the mark they say.
If anything less than half.

yeah i've been following the reviews also. Its seems for some brilliant reason they have decided to start using peak measurements on all their power amps. Hence the rebadged EP2500-EP4000 and EP1500-EP2000.

Their power-amps were some of their most reputable items. After Bench test showed that the stated numbers of the Ep2500 and EP1500 were not that far off, I just can't understand why they would start pulling this stunt.

In any event after I saw that review on the Epq2000 and that the review openly confronted behringer on facebook about their stated ratings versus his measured rating. The fact that they didn't respond put me off to the new amps. I still love the Ep2500 but I have pretty much settled in a QSC GX5 when I decided to drop the lead sled.

Growly Lytes · #9 11-26-2010, 09:18 PM

Here it is i found the link to that review that i told you guys about.Click & read what people have found out about this EPQ2000
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1277413

Growly Lytes · #10 11-26-2010, 09:23 PM

Anyway here i picked out the best bits of the thread READ ON FELLAS......

I received the EPQ2000 amplifier some days ago; I was curious of the declared 500W on 8Ohm ...
so the first thing I did was tu put it under test and connected to my dual 8Ohm load built on ARCOL power resistor.
Then used a 100Hz sine with a 5s on and 20s off period, with 5s a value large enough to test for RMS power; the amplifier was not able to put out more than 385W @8Ohm at the first visible clipping traces on the scope.
At the same time the limiter leds started flashing slightly; the DMM was reading 55.5 VRms.
Then I raised the frequency to 1K and the scope started showing clipping at the same level, so did the limiter leds as above.
then, getting rid of the warranty, I opend the amp and checked the supply voltages; the low rail is something around 54/55V and the high rail is around 96V. with this supply it is not possible to reach 500W @8Ohm.
Keep in mind that the "old" EP2500 tested on this forum has a 110V hi rail for its 450W Rms.
So Behringer is some time that is jocking when declaring the specs of its amp; I also have an EP2000 which is declared to be 350W RMS but I tested its clipping to happen at something around 300W, and it has a supply voltage of +-82, like all other amps declared to be 300W
AND THERES MORE KEEP READING........

Well, if someone of You is interested in some more details about the EPQ2000 this evening i did another "inspection" on the amplifier ...
Near the power connector that goes to the amplifier board thare are marked the supply voltages, +-55V and +-85V, i think that 85V should be the value under load because I measaured 95/96V @idle.
But the big surprise comes from the label which is on the power supply board near the main fuse, where you can read the ratings for two models ... but instead of reading EPQ2000 and EPQ1200 you can find stamped EPQ850 and EPQ1400 (no such models exists on the catalog!!!).
Now, if You think at 1400 as the maximum peak power on the 8Ohm bridge configuration all the numbers come back to a reasonable value ... it translate into 700W peak (vs 1000 of the specs) into 4 Ohm load, which reasonably could come in something around 550/600 RMS into 4 Ohm, and naturally my reading of 385 RMS into 8Ohm become the thuth on this amplifier....
This smells like a fraud
WHAT DID I TELL YA !!

And I · #11 11-27-2010, 12:32 AM

Friends don't let friends buy Behringer...

modulusman · #12 11-27-2010, 08:44 AM

There target market are people who don't know any better whose main concern is price. Everyone else avoids their products like it is the plague.

Tim1 · #13 11-27-2010, 12:01 PM

I personally would never use a Behringer for my bass rig. However, to be fair I have to say that we have used a Behringer EP2500 power amp, active crossover and a feedback destroyer as part of our P.A. rack for many years without a single problem. That includes being trucked thousands of miles in all weather in an old van.

jeff7bass · #14 11-27-2010, 02:13 PM

Good work Growly. Yeah they're fudging numbers but at the pricepoint...
I use a Behringer BX4500H head for rehearsals (and backup) and it performs quite well. I paid 200 bucks new and for that money it's a great value. My cabs are good though so that helps.

christw · #15 11-27-2010, 02:52 PM

They aren't the first to "fudge their numbers" and won't be the last. It's unfortunate that they don't even give you RMS voltages-even in the cheap and often shady world of aftermarket car audio you'll usually find peak and RMS ratings for amplifiers. It's necessary to be a smart consumer and read what isn't there as much as you read what is. If it doesn't give you the RMS rating, I wouldn't look twice. (Unless the price was super low, the actual power was decent, and my budget was super tight.)

Growly Lytes · #16 11-27-2010, 07:43 PM

In the review above the guy that opened the EPQ2000 found that it 2 different badges on the inside.Models that are not in their catolog ` EPQ850 & EPQ1400.This is bodgy PEROID !! The EPQ2000 is probaly an EPQ1400 but its not listed in thier catalog only on the inside of the EPQ2000.....weird ah ?? The EPQ2000 doesnt put out 600watts @ 8ohms......its more like 385watts @ 8ohm.
I was intrested in getting the EPQ2000 because i saw that it puts out 600watts rms a channel @ 8ohms & has the filters & bridging & parallel modes.It stacks up against the QSC PLX-1804 & seems to be a clone in looks & power but after finding that review its like `damn man why cant they just give us the truth. QSC is real PEROID !!
Its right when people say they are making big mistakes not giving the specs of their amps.They will lose alot of them bodgy money savers they have that buy their stuff.
Im not buying Behringer PEROID !!

dincz · #17 11-28-2010, 01:32 AM

Although their measured power doesn't match the manufacturer's claims, there really isn't as much fudging going on as this thread suggests. If you go the Behringer web site and download the Quickstart guide for the EPQ2000, you'll find the RMS power specs for this amp - 1400W, and the peak power - 2000W. No secrets there, but I must admit it's a pity the marketing people chose to use the peak figure in the model name.

Growly Lytes · #18 11-28-2010, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dincz

Although their measured power doesn't match the manufacturer's claims, there really isn't as much fudging going on as this thread suggests. If you go the Behringer web site and download the Quickstart guide for the EPQ2000, you'll find the RMS power specs for this amp - 1400W, and the peak power - 2000W. No secrets there, but I must admit it's a pity the marketing people chose to use the peak figure in the model name.

You may just be correct , but the review was tested for rms bridged & stereo & didnt match.I could be wong but the sounds of the review it just didnt crosss the line for power as stated. At clipping stage it was putting out 385watts rms @ 8ohm a side & the manaul states its 600watts.

dincz · #19 11-28-2010, 12:17 PM

Agreed. I think marketing these amps using the actual measured power output would be good for buyer confidence in the long run. Their pro power amps generally get good reviews, and these may be perfectly good too if buyers can see through the marketing fog.

maurmun · #20 12-30-2010, 09:20 AM

Hello guys,
I'm the one who tested the EPQ2000 to be 385W per channel @8 Ohms.
As additional information behringer support answered me that 500W are with 1 channel driven ...
And when I observed "but in the specs You write 500W 8Ohm, stereo, per channel..." they muted and didn't provide me any additional answer