Power amps for monitors - recommendations please

[Harley]

I know sweet Fanny Adams about amps for monitors.

I need a power amp to drive 2 Wedgehorns and 1-2 WH10s. And possibly a little mixer to send different mixes to each monitor.

Our main sound desk is an Alesis self powered jobbie .

I'd like reasonable quality, but nothing over the top.

This is for our 5 piece covers band ( drums, bass, guitar, keys and lead singer ) and we all sing.

Recommendations please.

[DJPhatman]

If you need 3-4 different mixes, you need 4 amp channels. What you don't need is a butt-load of power. 100-150 watts per is plenty. Not knowing what is available to you in NZ, it's kind of hard to give recommendations. Pick something light, cheap and available locally. Used is even better.

[Gregory East]

Specs on the "main" mixer would help.

You might find you need a fancier 2nd mixer to become your "main" mixer.

[AntonZ]

I've been looking at the new EPQ series Behringer amps. There's a tiny 1u shallow 4x75W amp coming. More like 4x50W into 8 ohms. It would cover my monitor needs, you may need more power? In that case, a pair of EQP450 would be plenty and is still 4 channels in 2U shallow, 8kg total. They are light and affordable. We have to wait and see how they perform and last in actual use. The EP series appeared to do very well for their price, don't meet the light weight criterium.

[Ron K]

Old CS800s work great. The DDT compression is nice and doesn't become too audible as long as you dont get silly with levels. They're a bit on the heavy side but but they're reliable and work pretty good and can usually be found for under $225.00 US used. In the event of a failure which is unlikely they are very easy to repair.I'd steer clear of the real old ones that take 4 rack spaces. The black face 3 spacers are great wedge amps.

Another good old amp with lots of reliability is the Crown Powerbase-2s or Powertech-2's.Both have plenty of snot to run wedges and again can be found fairly cheap.

One thing you dont want to do with Wedges is be underpowered. Headroom is paramount to keep the signal clean and allowing the peaks to develop freely. Vocals are a funny thing and IMHO they need good clean power. As soon as you begin squashing the signal vocals begin feeding back and they start to lose their intelligibility. That's one of the reasons I like Peavey's DDT compression.It's basically inaudible as long as you dont drive the signal to far into it.It works well for vocals and is hard to copy with a regular compressor.

[BrentEvans]

I've been looking at the new EPQ series Behringer amps. There's a tiny 1u shallow 4x75W amp coming. More like 4x50W into 8 ohms. It would cover my monitor needs, you may need more power? In that case, a pair of EQP450 would be plenty and is still 4 channels in 2U shallow, 8kg total. They are light and affordable. We have to wait and see how they perform and last in actual use. The EP series appeared to do very well for their price, don't meet the light weight criterium.

These are starting to show up online.

B&H and PSSL both have them listed, B&H says 7-14 days, PSSL says April 17. The EPQ304 streets at $199, should be a reaaaaaly good deal when NSL and Full Compass get them, if it follows Behringer's normal cost/pricing scheme.

Google Shopping Link

[Greg Plouvier]

You might consider a 4 channel amp - save you some rack space. Carvin used to make them - looks like they don't anymore. A buddy of mine has had good luck with them.

[AntonZ]

You might consider a 4 channel amp - save you some rack space. Carvin used to make them - looks like they don't anymore. A buddy of mine has had good luck with them.

QSC have 4 channel models in 2u too. CX168 (8x120W), CX254 (4x250W), CX404 (4x400W). New = not cheap, but as the model numbers are not well known, you may strike luck and find one used for a decent price.

There's a well known web shop here that has a 4x400W switch mode in 1u shallow, under 5kg, €350. I've been tempted for a while, but the brand is unknown. After what Bill said about amps recently (get the best quality you can afford rather than most watts per $) I think if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

[Greg Plouvier]

On Fleabay -

http://cgi.ebay.com/QSC-CX404-Professio ... 53df9fb469

Price is less than 1/3 of map, under 1/2 of distributor cost. 250 watts at 8 ohms. 21 lbs

Also this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/QSC-CX404-Power-Amp ... 20afc00dab

The Stewart Audio amps are really nice too. The World Power series are like 11 lbs, single space. They kick ass.

[DJPhatman]

Forum members, please remember that Harley is on the island of New Zealand, and a lot of what is available to the USA and Europeen Union is not available to him.

[Harley]

Not knowing what is available to you in NZ,

Pretty much everything you get there, we can get here ( except Duratex ) Even from the US, most amps are available in a range of voltages.

Our voltage is 220V AC. I have transformers for my USA tools, so if a decent 110V amp at a decent price was available in the USA, I'd still consider it, but it would have to be a good deal as the power transformers are friggin' heavy!

[Ron K]

Not knowing what is available to you in NZ,

Pretty much everything you get there, we can get here ( except Duratex ) Even from the US, most amps are available in a range of voltages.

Our voltage is 220V AC. I have transformers for my USA tools, so if a decent 110V amp at a decent price was available in the USA, I'd still consider it, but it would have to be a good deal as the power transformers are friggin' heavy!

Most pro US made amps are 220v capable Harley so that shouldn't be a problem. Some even run on 50 Hz. Now if I remember correctly we once received a machine to install from Australia from an ACI Containers plant and everything was 50Hz! We had to convert all the motors and even the PLC as we run 60Hz here in the states. Some pro USA made amps will run on 50Hz. I believe the ones mentioned will but better safe to make a call to the manufacturers and be absolutely sure prior to purchasing one.

[DrDoug018]

This is the link Bill sent me when I made a similar request several months back.

http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/s ... ct=DCM1204

I don't think Carvin is shipping these any longer but you might find one on the used gear market.

Doug

[Rune Bivrin]

You've got a pretty decent collection here:Thomann multi channel amps. I've been oogling this myself. Can't vouch for the quality or anything, but other Thomann branded stuff I've bought has been worth every cent.

[AntonZ]

Yep, nice stuff over at Thomann. But they're in Germany, Harvey is in New Zealand. Shipping would kill any great deal, I'm afraid. I've been looking at the exact same amp though, 4x500W in 1u under 5kg, at that price is amazing. No idea how it performs, and how it would sound on piezo tweeters. It seems not all class D amps work nicely with piezo's.