Author Topic: Behringer A500 (Read 18753 times)

frootloops · « **on:** Sep 05, 2006 at 12:25 AM »

Anyone familiar with this? Okay ka ito as pre-amp? A friend of mine selling for 14k Bnew.

http://www.behringer.com/A500/index.cfm?lang=ENG

av_phile1 · « **Reply #1 on:** Sep 05, 2006 at 07:23 AM »

This is studio grade professional amp used by recording studios. The brand is one of the industry leaders in this area. Recording grade gears are surprisingly cheap in this country. This is excellent value for 14T. (Though i don't like the facade design.) Like I said in one of my posts in another thread, don't underestimate professional gears. Snooty audiophiles often make this mistake, thinking that consumer grade electronics are better than professional gears.

frootloops · « **Reply #2 on:** Sep 05, 2006 at 08:41 AM »

Sir Av,

He called again and giving it for 13T na lang. Will audition it tomorrow, good deal indeed. I used to have a Behringer processor but gave it to my brother. When he heard the thing, hindi na binitawan.

av_phile1 · « **Reply #3 on:** Sep 05, 2006 at 09:21 AM »

Lucky you. Audition it and if it suits your ears, by all means get it. You won't get true 230 watts RMS into 4ohms (160watts into 8 ) bridgeable to 500 watts into 8 with reference grade studio quality from consumer electronics at that price. Download the manual and the frequency response at 10hz - 25khz with -1db deviation is certainly very much above average.

mike c · « **Reply #4 on:** Sep 05, 2006 at 11:40 AM »

there's a very long a500 thread on audioholics.com

av_phile1 · « **Reply #5 on:** Sep 05, 2006 at 12:39 PM »

Excellent discussions on that thread. Check it out:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17004

It struck me that for an SS amp, it's harmonic distortions are said to be 2nd order. That should make it tube sounding.

$180 street price is close to the 13T asking with duties and shipping. So it's obvisously a bargain with such admirable specs.

theshade · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 15, 2007 at 09:32 AM »

can i know where I can get this cheapest here in the Phil. I got my Behringer MS 40 speakers from Joint Venture Sound & Light Inc. Price was competitive with US prices. But for the A500 which can be bought for as low as $180 is selling for about 14,000 pesos. So Im looking for other sources. Thanks a lot for your help.

av_phile1 · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 15, 2007 at 11:09 AM »

Try visiting the Behringer shop at Park Square. I was there sometime in August last and their prices were competitive, if not lower , than those selling Behringer in Raon. And there's Raon ofcourse where you can haggle prices. Check out some music stores along Raon selling concert grade gears. I got a Behringer Xenyx mixer there.

bejiboys · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 20, 2007 at 01:30 PM »

Just came from Festival Mall and the A500 sells for Php12,XXX+ cash, 15,xxx+ card. Did not audition since I still don't have the budget to buy a new amp.

av_phile1 · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 20, 2007 at 02:30 PM »

WOW, 12T for a 180wrms/ch power amp. If I didn't have my Acurus, I'd get 3 of those to power a 5-6 ch set-up. For those contemplating on going separates for a multichannel set-up, using multiple Behringer A500 is a good deal. Even for stereo.

bejiboys · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 20, 2007 at 02:45 PM »

Trivia, would you believe that one of their R&D facilities is located here, including the MAN?

bejiboys · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 20, 2007 at 05:47 PM »

Di ba kamukha?

http://www.behringer.com/A500/index.cfm?lang=ENG

http://www.alesis.com/products/ra300/

av_phile1 · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 24, 2007 at 08:46 PM »

Almost. Magkaiba yung center display. Also the power specs.

But they look quite close. I wonder if they're OEMed.

pabili · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 25, 2007 at 03:57 PM »

Quote from: bejiboys on Apr 20, 2007 at 01:30 PM

Just came from Festival Mall and the A500 sells for Php12,XXX+ cash, 15,xxx+ card. Did not audition since I still don't have the budget to buy a new amp.

Bro, san sa Festival mall 12k+ A500? thanks for the help

Weng! · « **Reply #14 on:** Apr 27, 2007 at 02:58 AM »

behringer A500 vs hi-end amp;D

taken from ahobbit's post at "audio lies and myths"

http://www.matrixhifi.com/contenedor_ppec_eng.htm

av_phile1 · « **Reply #15 on:** Apr 27, 2007 at 07:56 AM »

Various DBT tests like this have been conducted before with similar results. And the results have invariably miffed audiophiles with expensive gears. They just can't and won't accept the fact that their exotic $5000 gears sound the same as mass $500 gears on blind objective tests.

aHobbit · « **Reply #16 on:** Apr 27, 2007 at 06:03 PM »

Quote from: GneW on Apr 27, 2007 at 02:58 AM

behringer A500 vs hi-end amp;D

taken from ahobbit's post at "audio lies and myths"

http://www.matrixhifi.com/contenedor_ppec_eng.htm

actually lifted it up from avphile1 audioholics thread

above ... so bored that day ... but that thread made it a nice day for me!

After reading that ... I feel stricken by S A R S ... arrrgghh

But be careful, it boils down to synergy ... but in fairness, they played all kinds of music genres ... or probably the speaker or the cable sucks (messed up the synergies of) the 'high end' crap there (buti na lang)

sanmig_ph · « **Reply #17 on:** Apr 27, 2007 at 08:32 PM »

nakaka SARS nga

john5479 · « **Reply #18 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 12:19 AM »

This amp has been on my radar but never had the chance to audition them, given its current price its really tempting

Weng! · « **Reply #19 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 12:44 AM »

here's the guts of A500

kayang-kaya to e clone ng mga master diy'er natin dito. ganda sana pagawa ng multi channel amp.

perhaps, maybe mike c can share his first hand experience regarding its SQ compared to the rotels

qguy · « **Reply #20 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 06:59 AM »

Does this have remote for the two volume controls ?

aHobbit · « **Reply #21 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 08:22 AM »

Quote from: john5479 on Apr 28, 2007 at 12:19 AM

This amp has been on my radar but never had the chance to audition them, given its current price its really tempting

Some of those audioholic addicts purchased 7 units, bridged each of them for 500W/8ohms, powered pre-outs of Yamaha AVR and still save so much, I mean a lot (than purchasing those real-power hypes) ... he he he, wala bang 50% deal sa behringer? pa post nga ng stores&telephones na nagdadala ng behringer ... para matest yung immune strength natin against the expensive virus!

...

I think I will need a 19" rack for my A/V components!!!

PS: one thing I observed in the setup is that the DVD player goes direct to the amp. Since the gain of the amp yata is about 30+, the DVD output is sufficient to drive the amp to make sufficient power for home use - though I know this is a mismatch issue as the amp has 10k-20k input impedance only while DVD player expects at least 47k-ohms at its output.

aHobbit · « **Reply #22 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 08:31 AM »

Quote from: GneW on Apr 28, 2007 at 12:44 AM

here's the guts of A500

kayang-kaya to e clone ng mga master diy'er natin dito. ganda sana pagawa ng multi channel amp.

perhaps, maybe mike c can share his first hand experience regarding its SQ compared to the rotels

I bet ... it will sound the same !!!

See the thread - DO POWER AMPS SOUND THE SAME?

The real question is - are they priced the same? (of course not, they are constructed differently)

av_phile1 · « **Reply #23 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 08:42 AM »

Are toroids like that available locally and how much?

Weng! · « **Reply #24 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 09:59 AM »

Quote from: aHobbit on Apr 28, 2007 at 08:31 AM

I bet ... it will sound the same !!!

See the thread - DO POWER AMPS SOUND THE SAME?

The real question is - are they priced the same? (of course not, they are constructed differently)

maybe even better coz it has its own PS for every 2 channels

ATJr. · « **Reply #25 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 10:06 AM »

Quote from: av_phile1 on Apr 28, 2007 at 08:42 AM

Are toroids like that available locally and how much?

there was a thread here wherein ELESHOP in raon was mentioned as selling torroids...you can try to check it out...

av_phile1 · « **Reply #26 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 11:24 AM »

I recall that. I was just curious if it's available and if someone has done a DIY amp using one. Too bad I no longer have the time nor the patience for a DIY project as I used to in my teens.

mike c · « **Reply #27 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 11:51 AM »

honestly, I tried posting on this thread last night ... TWICE.

I deleted both of the long posts. too many people nasagasaan kasi with my opinion.

anyway, I'll try a non-argumentative post :

there is NO difference in sound between the A500 and the rotels.

let's say the a500 is 14k ... the rotel rb1070 is 30+k ...
I would still buy the rotel ... why? because I like the look ... because of the 12v trigger ... maybe because of reliability
but I can afford it, people who are on a budget will do well with the a500 - same sound - half the price.

I however am not buying the more expensive amp because it sounds better. there is no magic component in audio except speakers that will make your audio sound better.

oh since may nasagasaan na rin lang:
I don't believe in synergy between components EXCEPT between speaker to amp (if the amp can supply the power requirement of the speakers ... that's that). I don't believe in expensive cables. both speaker wires and power cables.
I don't believe in power conditioners, but I believe in AVR's kasi madalas mag fluctuate electricity dito sa pinas.
receivers do not have bright, warm, syruppy smooth sound, chocolatey, muddy, whatever. the speakers and YOUR room does.

for people with budgets, please don't waste your money switching components and SIDEGRADING ika nga kasi walang synergy-synergy and bright kasi or warm kasi.

why don't I believe stuff like that? because I don't hear it. audiophiles can label me as having bronze ears, they are not the people I'm trying to help anyway.

qguy · « **Reply #28 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 12:17 PM »

Just because you dont hear the difference, between warm and bright amplifiers does not mean there is no difference, It simply means you cant just hear them.

I use to have two amp, one tube and an SS, the tube was warm on the same speakers and room whereas the SS was dynamic and bright on the same speakers and room ...go figure

?

As for SIDEGRADING, yes you can improve the sound of your gear once you get that synergy/matching or whatever you call it to work for you...

Quote from: mike c on Apr 28, 2007 at 11:51 AM

for people with budgets, please don't waste your money switching components and SIDEGRADING ika nga kasi walang synergy-synergy and bright kasi or warm kasi.

why don't I believe stuff like that? because I don't hear it. audiophiles can label me as having bronze ears, they are not the people I'm trying to help anyway.

mike c · « **Reply #29 on:** Apr 28, 2007 at 12:21 PM »

you are comparing apples and oranges really.

I have no experience with tubes. all my conclusions were derived from SS amps.