Do any of you guys own any Behringer Amps, or heard/used one? I'm curious to know more about them, alot of people seem to be using them in HT or HiFi. They are certainly priced right and I've read on other websites that their amps compare very favourably to some of the bigger names out there, such as Crown and Alesis to name a couple. The only issue on their fan cooled amps might be to swap the fan out for a quieter one, but these amps are supposed to be well built and stable down to 2 ohms, aside from being extremely powerfull.

You would think one "pro amp" manufacturer would make a quiet model to fill a need in the market. Not because a few HT enthusiasts are making use of their products, but because some "pro" users have a need for quiet equipment in recording / mixing studios.

The audio work I do is pretty minimal, but I've been annoyed with the fans from my PC and pro decks that have built-in fans. Added to the fact that I already live on a busy street, I'd pay a few bucks extra for equipment designed to run quieter...

The Behringer A500 is a fanless amp, and a number of people are using them on their home systems, but there have been a few issues with audible harshness at certain freq's(3000khz?) on some units. Otherwise, as long as you get a good one, it would seem to be a decent amp for less than $200 US. Just not sure if I would want to go to the hassle of returning it for another unit as I would probably order from the States, might be a problem as well as $$ to exchange it(shipping).

The other Behringer units (EP1500/2500)seem to be trouble free from what I've read on other forums, and really at around $250 for the 1500 and about $300 for the 2500, they look to be somewhat of a bargain.

Adrian you could order one from here.

http://www.axemusic.com/product.asp?numRecordPosition=1&P_ID=10919&PT_ID=240

Thanks Jay, I saw that one. It's kind of a catch 22...I could order an amp through my aunt(in the US) for about 1/3 less (after you consider the exchange, taxes and the typical Canadian markup). But then if I have a problem with it.....

Looks like it is about $300cdn to get it out to you. So you say you can get one out of the States for about $200? I think I would spend the extra for the ease of doing business in Canada.

I wonder if I get hit with Ontario Prov Tax if I order from Alberta?

I don't know, hopefully not, but most likely you will.

How exactly would the government know you ordered something from Alberta?

Jay would tell them.

I'm no tattle tale.

I believe the companies issue the PST depending on the billing address.

I found a place in Mississauga that has them at the same price as Axe, with GST and PST it would end up around $100 more than getting one through the US though. That's a fair amount on a $180 amp.

Just joking on the "tattling" of course, I know you'd never do that.

Ummm, do you think I could trust Fred though?

I wonder about him too

Behringer stuff for the most part is total mainland Chinese crapola... It would be a total waste of money to purchase their amp. You'd be a lot better off getting the Emotiva UPA-2 for a hundred bucks more. It's a triple darlington so it's in a whole other class!

Solid-State

PS Behringer is like the Monster of musician audio products. They are involved in constant lawsuits over copying other companies designs and use their size and muscle to screw smaller EE houses. Total A-holes with absolute crapola products. STAY CLEAR!

I knew a girl who put me in a triple darlington once.

No, twice.

She really WAS in a whole 'nother class!

ROTFL

This is all you need. QSC GX5 for $400

I thought about starting a new thread, but I'd rather hijack this one.

Regarding these pro-amps (whether the Behringer, QSC, Crown, etc.)...

Since I already have a BFD and since my Onkyo 805 has all that groovy processing, what would be the downside of using something like this as a subwoofer amp instead of using the more common plate-mounted, sub specific amps?

If I was, you know, hypothetically interested in adding a DIY sub or something.

Funny, I've read way more complaints on Emotiva products than these "crapola" Behringer ones.

Won't argue with you over Chinese business practises, or lack there-of, though.

Charles, how's the QSC working out for you?

Tom, I think FredK would be the guy to talk to about using one of these pro-amps on a sub. I believe they are quite popular in the DIY crowd.

Tom. The EP2500/4000 is the amp of choice for the DIY sub crowd. People with the equipment and knowhow have measured the EP2500 to verify output and, while its quite not as high as they state this amp delivers the most watts per $ anywhere.

The truely insane buy more bigger pro amps.

Thank you, Fred.

Yeah, some people are definitely more dedicated than me.

Well, like Emotiva, Behringer has put out some crap as well as some very good products. Now if what you tell me is correct about their bully tactics then that would certainly sour my view on them as a company.

Solid-State, research the Behringer 2030P studio monitors and tell me if they are crap for the price. To say all their products are crap is simply not true.

PS: Don't forget to take your Haldol.

It would be interesting to know if anybody is aware, at least for the purpose of this discussion, if any piece of A/V equipment made today, regardless of price and where it might be assembled, is NOT MADE with the innards manufactured in the Far East, primarily CHINA! I don't know of any.

The fact is this is nothing new in the world of consumer electronics. I have a Toshiba 65" RP CRT that was assembled in New Jersey but when I got a chance to look under the hood, I noticed ALL the circuit boards and related equipment said "MADE IN CHINA". That was in 2001! It is still working beautifully.

Emotiva is made in China and so is Behringer along with most others. Today, that is the price we pay for getting a "bigger bang for our buck".

McIntosh, B&K, Magnepan, quite a few high-end amplifiers (both tube and solid-state)? Good observation about the percentage of the process done off-shore, though; I can't verify that.

To address a few of the above: (1) my QSC GX-5 is fantastic given the price and expectations - i.e., cheap and great sound. You have to deal with the fan noise, but it was easy. I can provide more if anyone needs it, but I have posted a good bit about it and don't want to bog down this thread.

(2) The QSC is on my list of DIY sub projects because it has so much power and has RCA inputs. One limit on the GX series is that you can't bridge them to mono, but other models near that price do allow bridging and some have crossover options to allow passive x-over for non-LFE tracks (music, etc.)

What I have come to like about QSC is that they are a huge company with years of experience, yet you get real techs on the forum working to fix problems, etc. Really good bang for the buck from a solid brick and mortar company that makes its real money on commercial theaters and live concerts...unless you want this for your TH: Theater speaker package


Finally, there is nothing wrong with Chinese mfg, but quality control is key. For all I know the QSC amps are Made in China, but the inside is clean with a nice layout, and solid construction. I don't care where it was made (but I'd prefer US or Canada!).

Since the discussion here concerns primarily Behringer equipment, as many know Behringer is a German company who designs the stuff but still has it manufactured offshore to their specifications. This is pretty well, the case with most electronics(although not necessarily speaker) companies nowadays. The mammoth AND contrary to some opinions, quite "state-of-the art" operations that have been set up in China and the cost structure they have created makes it a situation where a company like Behringer could NEVER sell their product at anywhere near those prices if they were made in Germany.

You can buy an Anthem, Classe, Krell among other so-called "high-end" product that is designed and assembled in North America and pay many times more for it(much higher labor costs) but ironically if you opened it up and looked inside, I would almost guarantee you most(if not all) of the parts are STILL made in the Far East.

Yes, but they are all blessed by a deaf monk and then insulted by Arte Johnson. Makes Behringer much superior to your average Chinese product!

The Deaf Monk checks the power output(quality assurance) of each amp leaving the Behringer factory by placing his tongue over the output terminals.

LOL Very good, Fred.

No, No, No. The Drunk Monk works in China checking voltage with his tongue. The Deaf Monk and the Drunk Monk broke up their firm, Deaf & Drunk, in the late '70s to protest the Alan Parson's Project. Deaf only works with wire now.

I can chime in here. About a year ago I asked myself what direction to go. Seperates or or AIO receiver. My Pioneer 1015 was not up to the task of driving my M80's.

I wondered about the Emotiva amps but was reluctant due to some reviews here and some accusations in the Emo camp. In the end I went with the Alesis RA-500. For me the M80's come alive now with sound the Pioneer could not deliver. I also use the Behringer Ep2500 for my DIY subs and aside from the fan noise which can be fixed with new fans, it is great. A big consideration with using the pro amps is power rating. The Behringer EP2500 is rated at 15 amps, so you gotta consider dedicated circuits etc.

Yes these amps are made in China. I am pretty sure all the Emotiva parts are made over seas too. Aren't the voice coils for Axiom speakers also made in China?

The drivers are made in China. Like what was mentioned before in this thread, its not a big deal parts are made in China, it is the quality control implementations pertaining to the parts used (are they up to spec?), workers and factory that are important which reflect the final quality of the product.

It should be noted that Axiom owns its production facilities (or at least the company) in China so they have complete control over the manufacturing process.

Fred, I was under the impression that foreign investors are not permitted to purchase controlling interests in Chinese companies without special permission of the Chinese government. Things may have changed.

Yeah, 2x6; the times are a changin' and although there are still a bunch of hoops to be jumped through, difficult is better than impossible and a WOFE(Wholly-Owned Foreign Enterprise)is entirely feasible, with tax exemptions in certain locations. The site of this consulting firm which specializes in China has some relevant points.

can you pm me the location in mississauagaÉ

Thanks!

Check your messages, cyberdude.