[Scottdazzle]

Does anyone have any experience with the Behringer A500 as the bass amp in in a biamp setup with RM30's?  Woodsyi says I'm wasting the Odyssey Stratos for such a simple job and recommends the Crown K1 or K2, but I can't find those Crown amps. I agree that the bass only is not putting the Stratos to good use.

[lonewolfny42]

Crown K1 on eBay....

[Scottdazzle]

Lonewolf, thanks.

[John Casler]

Does anyone have any experience with the Behringer A500 as the bass amp in in a biamp setup with RM30's?  Woodsyi says I'm wasting the Odyssey Stratos for such a simple job and recommends the Crown K1 or K2, but I can't find those Crown amps. I agree that the bass only is not putting the Stratos to good use.

Hi Scott,

I see you're having some fun.

Regarding the A500 for bass duties, I think Brian is now using it for some models and we even send some along for that very purpose on some orders.

Obviously you can spend much more for a slightly better amp, but for that application it is a great cost/performance component.

[warnerwh]

You can get a Behringer EP 2500 for 350.  The fan needs to be swapped out with a quiet fan and then it's quiet. Here's a post where a number of pro amps were tested:  http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=855865&highlight=amplifier+tests
The Behringer proved to have performance on par with amps costing much more. The Crowns were also tested.  Measurements were made from 8 to 2 ohm loads.

The EP2500 has more power than the little Behringer.  For bass you really want plenty of headroom to avoid clipping. If you never listen to loud levels then the power doesn't matter.  If you do like loud music sometimes power gets used up quickly and the bass is what sucks it up. Remember to raise the volume level only 3db it takes double the watts. 

[Early B.]

I used an A500 for bass duty once. It was better than a typical plate amp, but that's as much as I can say about it. The Parts Express 1,000 watt plate amp that Brian uses on his subs sounds better than the A500, IMO. I'd keep the Odyssey on bass duty, though. There's no need to use a low end amp on a high end speaker.

[Scottdazzle]

Warnerwh,
Thanks for the link! That was a real find. My tinnitus acts up if I listen for long above 80dB so I don't need maximum power.

John,
Yes, I'm having fun, but it's work, too.  You were right about being patient with the woofers. They eventually blended with the planar mids and the ribbons. It just took a loooong time. Over 200 hours at a minimum.

[Scottdazzle]

EarlyB,

I'm going to show some real ignorance now. What is a plate amp? That's a new category for me.

[opnly bafld]

EarlyB,

I'm going to show some real ignorance now. What is a plate amp? That's a new category for me.

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage.cfm?&Webpage_ID=3&CAT_ID=43&ObjectGroup_ID=505&SO=2&FTR=plate%20amps&CFID=15989212&CFTOKEN=27070523

[Scottdazzle]

Opnly bafld,

Well, duh! That was so obvious. Thanks!

[John Casler]

I used an A500 for bass duty once. It was better than a typical plate amp, but that's as much as I can say about it. The Parts Express 1,000 watt plate amp that Brian uses on his subs sounds better than the A500, IMO. I'd keep the Odyssey on bass duty, though. There's no need to use a low end amp on a high end speaker.

Brian also uses the "plate" or component version of that amp for the PBS (powered bass system) but it has to be modded (which he does) to raise the FR to take care of the 280hz region.  The stock amp doesn't quite make it to the top.