CLUB PA AMP, how different from audiofile home amps ?

[timetohunt]

I year ago when I got back into audio, I had to solve a problem. Without getting into the details of the whole problem, it was basically solved with adding an amp for my main speakers. Pre-outing from my receiver, which in short was lacking in the amp section (not surprising, as it was next to the lowest model on the brand's line).

I could not spend much at the time, and went with a Peavy 950w (450 per ch), amp that is generally used by DJs or Clubs to power PA speakers. The Pro amps are a lot cheaper than Home stuff, which still baffles me a little bit. Since most of the Pro stuff is built to be bumped, moved constantly, and abused. Its heavy gear.

With the exception of the loud fan, this thing really worked very very well. Almost to the point that I actually question wheather or not anything else would work much better.

So that being said. I am looking at some home stereo amps that are still powerful and may be better suited to my system (or not ?). I can get a good price for the sale of the old amp and leaving maybe a hundred or three to buy a new home one.

What are the differences in this PA style amp I am using now and a decent stereo power amp made more for our home HT/Audio systems? Once again I guess this falls into 'will I hear an improvement'.

 

[highfihoney]

Everything in home audio falls into the "will i hear an improvement" catagory,speakers fall into the "will i hear a difference" catagory.

There is no real answer to the question you ask,with all electronics it boils down to what the amp was designed to do & what each amplifiers specifications are & will each amplifier meet the load requirements of the speaker to be driven.

There is no quick answer to the question your asking but in short,yes you can find & use a pro amp that will do just as well as a home amplifier.

 

[WmAx]

I year ago when I got back into audio, I had to solve a problem. Without getting into the details of the whole problem, it was basically solved with adding an amp for my main speakers. Pre-outing from my receiver, which in short was lacking in the amp section (not surprising, as it was next to the lowest model on the brand's line).

I could not spend much at the time, and went with a Peavy 950w (450 per ch), amp that is generally used by DJs or Clubs to power PA speakers. The Pro amps are a lot cheaper than Home stuff, which still baffles me a little bit. Since most of the Pro stuff is built to be bumped, moved constantly, and abused. Its heavy gear.

With the exception of the loud fan, this thing really worked very very well. Almost to the point that I actually question wheather or not anything else would work much better.

So that being said. I am looking at some home stereo amps that are still powerful and may be better suited to my system (or not ?). I can get a good price for the sale of the old amp and leaving maybe a hundred or three to buy a new home one.

What are the differences in this PA style amp I am using now and a decent stereo power amp made more for our home HT/Audio systems? Once again I guess this falls into 'will I hear an improvement'.

Good P.A. amps are a match for high end home amplifiers in function. However, the P.A. amps are not usually as attractive and you may have issues with fan noise in some installations.

You will get a far better value using pro gear compared to typical high-end audio amplifiers, if you pick wisely. Use your receiver as a pre-amplifier only.

If you are looking for high power, the best current value is the Behringer EP2500. Superb measured performance: it can drive virtually anything with extreme low distortion at very high power and it has a 110dB SNR. It is built superbly - it even used mil-spec PCBs - a detail unexpected in such a low priced item.

-Chris

 

[timetohunt]

If you are looking for high power, the best current value is the Behringer EP2500. Superb measured performance: it can drive virtually anything with extreme low distortion at very high power and it has a 110dB SNR. It is built superbly - it even used mil-spec PCBs - a detail unexpected in such a low priced item.

-Chris

I stay away from Behringer. I have taken a look at some of their products and they don't appear to be superbly built to me, the last thing I think I looked at was a Behinger mixer for some music work. Looked very un-robust in its build. I also, know the owner of a music store very well. Note: I don't usually buy electronics from him, so I don't think he has a dog in the fight so to speak. He told me that of the brands he sells, there is nothing that is returned for service more often than Behringer. He considers them a short life product, but conceded that the do work well when they are working and the prices are flat out cheap. At those prices swap out every few years or so is acceptable to some folks.

 

[Seth=L]

I stay away from Behringer. I have taken a look at some of their products and they don't appear to be superbly built to me, the last thing I think I looked at was a Behinger mixer for some music work. Looked very un-robust in its build. I also, know the owner of a music store very well. Note: I don't usually buy electronics from him, so I don't think he has a dog in the fight so to speak. He told me that of the brands he sells, there is nothing that is returned for service more often than Behringer. He considers them a short life product, but conceded that the do work well when they are working and the prices are flat out cheap. At those prices swap out every few years or so is acceptable to some folks.

I can assure you, the EP2500 is very robust.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38499&highlight=Behringer+EP2500

There was a picture of a Crown amplifier in that first post, but it has disappeared. The Crown was similarly priced and looked rather insignificant next to the EP2500.

 

[WmAx]

I stay away from Behringer. I have taken a look at some of their products and they don't appear to be superbly built to me,

I can not comment on all Behringer products, and indeed, I have seen some that are not built well. But some of their products are excellent, and I recommend those particular products that I have verified are of excellent quality. The EP2500 amplifier that I recommended in this thread is one of those products.

-Chris