Behringer A500 Amp for $180- Any good?

Ern Dog
Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
edited September 2006 in Electronics
Anybody heard anything about the Behringer A500, 2 channel amp? I think it's 230 watts into 4 ohms or 500 wats bridged at 8 ohms. This retails for $180.
http://www.behringer.com/A500/
It seems to have a following on Audioholics forum. I gotta admit the price is really low. I don't like how the face looks. I guess I'm suspicious. Any comments about this would be greatly appreciated.
Post edited by Ern Dog on
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Comments

  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,798
    edited September 2006
    Very nice amp for 180 bucks...

    Has a nice size power supply. Dosnt have alot of reserve power - nicely built, 3 year warranty - get a brand new one if it breaks...
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited September 2006
    behringer is a well known brand and makes some quality stuff (feedback destroyer anyone?)

    for that price?, how wrong can you go, is that a digital amp?
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited September 2006
    Looks neat, but for true stereo sound, you will need two of them.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited September 2006
    I find it interesting that they don't rate the amp unbridged into 8ohms.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
    edited September 2006
    I've got one powering my center speaker. I couldn't be happier especially for the price. I use it bridged (500x1/8ohm). Here's the power ratings: 160x2/8ohm, 230x2/4ohm, 500x1/8ohm bridged (under test it speced out at 440x1), taken from the owner's manual. Give one a try, I'll bet you like it.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited September 2006
    PolkThug wrote:
    Looks neat, but for true stereo sound, you will need two of them.

    Why do you say that?
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2006
    I had been considering this amp for a while at that price. A lot of pro audio gear is automatically looked down upon by a lot of the audio guys. I was thinking that using it as a surround amp, or even bridged mono as a center amp would be ok. I would probably not use it in a 2 channel application, but who knows, maybe it is a giant killer.

    pearsall001, what differences in sound did you notice when you added this to your center? Did voices/dialog clean up at all?
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
    edited September 2006
    venomclan, with the A500 in bridged mode my center really opened up & sounded cleaner & more dynamic. Vocals were clearer & projected a wider soundstage. After all I went from my receiver putting out 110 watts to approx. 500 watts. The speaker woke up big time. Hope this helps.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • jhermance
    jhermance Posts: 214
    edited September 2006
    I don't know where you found it for 180 but the retail on there site says 270. But for 180 i think i would try one out. what can it hurt.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
    edited September 2006
    Parts Express for $180. with a 45 day return policy. Give one a try, you have plenty of time to hear how it performs in your system. If you don't like it return it. I'll bet you keep it!!!!
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • jayman_1975
    jayman_1975 Posts: 672
    edited September 2006
    Looks neat, but for true stereo sound, you will need two of them.


    Why do you say that?

    I think all he saw was the mono specs. It does 160*2 @8olms so you'll be good for stereo. I can tell you that my Rotel amp rated at 130*2 made my 70's sing so i'm sure that the Behringer would add some life to yours.
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited September 2006
    pearsall001 wrote:
    venomclan, with the A500 in bridged mode my center really opened up & sounded cleaner & more dynamic. Vocals were clearer & projected a wider soundstage. After all I went from my receiver putting out 110 watts to approx. 500 watts. The speaker woke up big time. Hope this helps.

    Thanks Pear. I am tempted to do the same with my center. I have a 200 w Outlaw on it now. My center is rated at 150 watts, but 500 should be ok. One question, when I saw a pic of the A500, I think it had 2 dials on the front, are these volume/power dials? How do they work? Thanks
    Venom
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  • Dizzy_124dvc
    Dizzy_124dvc Posts: 27
    edited September 2006
    pardon my ignorance, but if its got independent left-right volume controls, can those be bypassed when I use a pre-amp? don't know much about pro gears.
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  • adam2434
    adam2434 Posts: 995
    edited September 2006
    Dizzy_124dvc wrote:
    pardon my ignorance, but if its got independent left-right volume controls, can those be bypassed when I use a pre-amp? don't know much about pro gears.
    You would just set both to the same point (probably both all the way up) and use your pre-amp to control volume.

    My amps are not pro amps, but do have independent channel level controls. I just turn them both all the way up.
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