2. amps-preamps
  3. 1170999828

The Best Amp for the Price of Dirt

The Berringer a 500 Reference Amp that can be purchased on Musican's Friend web site for 194.00( each) to your house in the US of A w/ a 2 year warranty is a KILLER. I have several amps and these are scarey. Granted they were designed overseas & built in China... However, they are 19lbs GIANTS . Don't take my word go to the "Audio Critic" web site for a full review. This is my one an only give-away . Use it or loose it. Best to 'All
crem1
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 
Jtgorish

Are you the head of US amplifier builders union?
crem1 OP
672 posts
 
Jtgoish: You have got to be kidding! Who are US Amplifers Builders Union? I have NEVER been a member of a union. The answer is NO . If that means I'am excluded from some extra-special group --SO ...I love the experience of recorded playback.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
I have no idea what Crem1 is talking about anymore (never been a member of a union?), but taking the totality of his comments into account -- including his repeated references to the Audio Critic, where they don't even believe in listening to amps for sound quality -- sorry but I just can't place a lot of stock in his recommendations. I do however take something from Cwlondon's less than positive experience with the reliability and power of the Sonic Impact. Bottom line is I guess we're still waiting for someone to come out with a decently-built, usefully powerful, compact, lightweight and portable (maybe even battery-powerable), class-"D" design control amplifier at a relatively modest price (with or without a DAC built in). I'm hopeful it will happen sooner or later.
gregm
3,409 posts
 
I guess we're still waiting for someone to come out with a decently-built, usefully powerful, compact, lightweight ... class-"D" ... amplifier
How about a kit: hypex sells them (.nl I think).
jtgofish's avatar
jtgofish
515 posts
 
Creml,
The A500 was reviewed in Hi Fi World December 2006.

To quote-
"Unlike hi fi amps the A500 suffers considerable crossover distortion even in the midband...whilst it measured 0.14% at 1 watt1kHz this figure rose to an unacceptable level of 1% at 1 watt 10kHz....this is classic crossover distortion in large quantities and it will be clearly audible as a roughening of the treble."

Their Verdict-
"Versatile and very powerful amplifier for next to no money,but needs careful matching to assuage distortion.

I am no Behringer knocker.I own a DCX 2496 myself.

For the little the amps cost,and their power output,expecting them to be near perfect is probably expecting just too much.Doesn't mean in the right system they can't produce pleasant sounds though.
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