OK, here it is, DJ Times’ annual crash course on the modern day power amplifier. So how does this entry work? I’m going to search my brain, my friends, colleagues and even talk to some DJs. Then I will get on the Internet and find out some serious facts about the latest crop of amps. This article will not tell you exactly which amp to buy – that’s up to you and your needs – but it will help educate you to what’s out there. Before we get deep, let’s talk a few minutes.

From hero to goat. That’s the feeling you get when your amp goes down in the middle of a raging gig. Of course, occasionally this happens, but why? There are many reasons. The amp could go into thermal protection (overheat), over or under voltage (not having enough or too much AC), or it could short circuit (i.e. running too many speakers on one channel, which usually occurs when you are running below 2 ohms). Or you could just be using a future boat anchor that has 25 years of dust, grime and soda spills all over it. Whatever the case, the future is much brighter with an influx of amps out there to choose from. So many new brands promise high output for lower price, but beware. There are cheaper amps that are scaled down versions of the expensive babies. Why? There are many shortcuts. The most common are those amps that have full-time fans rather than variable-speed cooling systems with heat sinks. Having a full-time fan cooling system means simply that your amp will work as long as the fan works – so it had better be a damn good fan.

All the amps I will describe will be at 8 ohms per channel as a standard and I’m only looking at units from companies that I’ve personally worked with. So what’s out there? Let’s have a look.

Woodinville, Wash.-based Mackie Designs introduced its FR Series nearly three years ago as a low- to medium-priced amp with more features for the buck. The M-800, M-1400 and M2600 weigh 28, 30 and 55 pounds, respectively, and they’re are rated at 140, 280 and 500 watts at 8 ohms. They all come with a five-year warranty. They feature XLR and TRS inputs with XLR signal pass-through and 5-way binding posts and ¼-inch or Speakon outputs.

FR Series variable low-cut filters let you feed your system only the frequencies it can handle. You can "dial in" any tuned frequency from 5Hz to 170Hz. All models also include an infrasonic stabilizer circuit that cuts the really low frequencies that cause visible woofer cone flutter. The amps feature built-in subwoofer crossovers. The M•1400 and M•1400i feature 3rd order, 18dB/octave, electronic crossovers with two selectable frequencies. The M•2600 features 4th order, 24dB/octave, electronic sub-woofer crossovers with three selectable frequencies. All have uniform time-delay, low-pass filters. Just select the crossover frequency, connect the subwoofer output to another amp – and drive that subwoofer all over the map. What does all this mean? These amps are loaded with features and can save you some serious coin on certain signal processors.

The Real Deal: I service a small club in San Francisco that is running the M-1400 for full range and the M-2600 for the subs. Sound has been good and we have had relatively few problems. The amps need proper air circulation since they have constant fans. Overall, they work well.

OK, who in the room has never owned a Peavey amp? Ah, I see two 13-year olds in the back not raising their hands. Anyone else? I thought so. Meridian, Miss.-based Peavey Electronics is still among the leaders in amp sales in the world. Over 20 years ago, Peavey introduced the CS-800 and it is still around.

Currently, Peavey has three product lines available – the PV Series, the standard CS Series and their Concert Sound Series. Peavey’s features have expanded over the years and they are one of the rock solid amp companies. The PV Series includes the 260, 500, 1200 and 2000 units and they rate as follows –100, 130, 250 and 350 watts. The CS Series includes the 200X (85w), 500A (130w), 800X & A (240w). Their Concert Sound includes the CS1000 (325w), 1800G (350w) and the DPC 1400 (375w).

Another dimension is added to Peavey sound reinforcement technology with its release of a two-rack-space power amp trio: the Global Power Series amplifiers. New design elements include toroidal power transformers and die cast front-panel nameplates. With wide range applications, the new GPS power amps are targeted to meet the full spectrum of performance demands. They’re expected to ship in the first quarter of 2000.

The Real Deal: Like I said, everyone has probably owned a Peavey amp at one time in his or her life. I was able to review the latest model of the CS-800 about a year or so ago and found the upgrades and input/output module configurations very useful.

Costa Mesa, Cal.-based QSC Audio provides an array of amp options to the DJ. From the USA Series, RMX Series the PLX Series and the Powerlight Series, QSC is my manufacturer of choice. I have owned many USA series and used them for several of my lower-end installs. Currently, we use the PLX 1602 and 3402. The USA Series amplifiers deliver reliability and audio performance at an economical price. The three models available include the USA 400 (125w at 8ohms) the ideal choice for studio and control room use.

The fan-cooled USA 900 (270w at 8ohms) and 1310 (400w at 8ohms) are perfect for high-power applications, such as live sound reinforcement and system installations. The RMX Series is packed full of professional features that increase performance and flexibility – independent defeatable clip limiters reduce distortion without sacrificing peak performance. Selectable low-frequency filters boost system response, protect speakers and ensure low-end tightness by more precisely matching the amplifier’s range to the loudspeakers. Barrier strip, XLR and ¼-inch, balanced inputs plus Speakon and binding post outputs provide easy connections. Low-noise variable speed fans with rear-to-front airflow keep amplifiers and racks cool. These models include RMX 850 (200w at 8 ohms), RMX 1450 (280w at 8 ohms) and the RMX 2450 (500w at 8 ohms).

The 21-pound PLX line delivers up to 3,400 watts in a two-rack-unit chassis that’s only 13-inches deep. The line includes QSC’s exclusive PowerWave Technology for chest-pounding bass and crystal-clear highs. It also features hum-free noise floor and ultra-low distortion of .03-percent THD. To keep PLX running under the most demanding conditions, they’ve even added their Advanced Thermal Management System. The PLX line includes the PLX1202 (200w at 8 ohms), PLX1602 (300w at 8 ohms), PLX2402 (425w at 8 ohms), PLX 3002 (550w at 8 ohms) and the PLX3402 (700w at 8 ohms).

I also wanted to mention the PowerLight series, which includes a range of advanced-technology professional audio amplifiers, designed for touring professionals. PowerLights feature QSC’s exclusive PowerWave extraordinary audio performance, reliability and reduced weight. Twelve models offer a range of power from 200 to 4,500 watts per channel.

The Real Deal: As I mentioned above, I use QSC PLX exclusively. I have installed USA, PLX and Powerlight in different venues I have worked on. They definitely deliver and have proved to me to be winners.

Los Angeles-based American DJ (i.e. American Audio) has reinvented themselves with the introduction of some hot products. They have introduced the V series of amplifiers including the 1000, 2000, and 3000 models. The V1000 is rated at 130w at 8 Ohms, the V2000 rates at 280w per channel at 8ohms and the V3000 rates at 400w at 8 Ohms. The V3000 also features balanced XLR & ¼-inch (6.3mm) input, XLR balanced outputs (through), subcrossover switch with subwoofer frequency knobs.

The Real Deal: I have had the opportunity to take the V3000 on a gig and found my experience exceptionally positive. The unit doesn’t pack the big output punch, but if you need an amp that meets its specs, this would be one to look into.

Paramus, N.J.-based Crest Audio has been effectively producing amplifiers of every application, to huge touring series to the studio. Two series that I would mention for the DJ include the Vs Series and the CA Series. The Vs Series amplifiers are a more affordable version of their V series and they are identical to V Series in performance and electronic design. Vs Series models are simplified in construction and features to make them the most cost-effective in the Crest Audio product line. All connectors and switches are the same as the V Series. Attenuators are rear panel-mounted for "set-and-forget" applications. Vs Series represents exceptional value with outstanding performance. Their line includes Vs 450 (150w at 8 ohms), Vs 650 (200w at 8 ohms), Vs 900 (250w at 8 ohms), Vs 1100 (300w at 8 ohms) and the Vs 1500 (400w at 8 ohms). All Vs series amps weigh between 41 and 49 pounds.

Advanced technology and extensive TourClass protection circuitry allow CA Series amplifiers to operate with greater efficiency in difficult load and power conditions. The IGM (Instantaneous Gain Modulation) circuit ensures trouble-free operation into loads as low as 2 ohms. The CA’s utilize twin tunnel-cooled heatsinks and two variable speed DC fans. This cooling topology maintains a lower overall operating temperature, resulting in longer output transistor life, which will allow your CA amplifier to perform flawlessly for years to come. Their models are the CA4 (250w at 8 ohms), CA6 (400w at 8 ohms) CA9 (600w at 8 ohms) and the CA-12 (700w at 8 ohms). Weight ranges from 46 to 72 pounds, respectively.

The Real Deal: I service a club that drives four 18-inch subs off the CA-12 and also incorporates the CA-6 and CA-4 in their system. The amps have performed relatively well. I also have a DJ friend in Tucson who swears by the CA series.

Carteret, N.J.-based Gemini Sound Products has three lines of amps for the DJ market – the P series, XG series and the XMP series. The P series includes the P-600 (85w at 8 ohms) and the P-800 (125w at 8 ohms). Both amps are fan-cooled and weigh about 20 pounds each. The XG Series includes the XG-2000 (160w at 8 ohms) and the XG-3000 (200w at 8 ohms) – both weigh in at just over 21 pounds.

The XMP is Gemini’s newest series and it includes the XMP 600 (200w at 8 ohms), the XPM-900 (280w at 8 ohms) and the XMP-1200 (360w at 8 ohms). These amps weigh 26, 29 and 31 pounds, respectively. The XPM uses MOSFET technology for thunderous bass and crisp sounding highs, has twin-cooling fans and is two rack spaces high.

The Real Deal: I have had these amps installed in a cruise ship that we service and they sound and perform well.

Elkhart, Ind.-based Crown International is one of the world’s most popular amp manufacturers. Many major tour rigs are powered by Crown. The popular series for DJ’s include the CE, K and Macro Tech. The CE series includes the 1000 and 2000, with the 4000 coming soon (no specs available).

Rather than make a cheap amplifier and hang all sorts of semiprofessional features on it, Crown focuses on providing powerful, reliable performance with many of the same controls and features you’ve come to expect from Crown. You’ll find front panel detented level controls, useful function indicators, proportional fan-assisted cooling, short circuit protection and more. And, to make the amplifier more flexible to the way that you work, Crown provides a new SST (System Solution Topologies) module, which allows you to customize the amplifier with true professional features such as fixed-point crossover cards. The CE-1000 rates at 275w at 8 ohms (32 pounds) and the CE-2000 rates at 400 at 8 ohms (40 pounds).

The K series is all about the K2 and K1. The series delivers more power and more sound, while using less energy than any other amplifier available on the planet. The new patent-pending Balanced Current Amplifier (BCAtm) circuitry provides massive amounts of real-world power, while generating virtually no component-degrading heat. In fact, the K Series is so thermally efficient, it generates just one-tenth the heat of conventional amplifiers and, according to the company, is over three times more thermally efficient than any other amp on the market today. In everyday terms, this means that at full output, the K2 produces the heat of just two 100-watt bulbs! The K2 rates at 475w at 8 ohms and weighs 38 pounds. The K1 rates at 350w at 8 ohms.

Crown’s MacroTech series pf amplifiers deliver enormous amounts of power from a low-profile design perfect for touring and fixed installations where space is limited. And they include a combination of features and flexibility not available from any other amplifier. Features include three separate power supplies, P.I.P. compatibility, XLR connectors, precision detented level controls and much more. The MA-600 is 235w at 8 ohms (39 pounds), MA-1200 is 320w at 8 ohms (44 pounds) and the MA-2400 is 520w at 8 ohms (51 pounds).

Also worth mentioning for the high-end DJ is the Macro-Tech 3600VZ, which packs 3,600 watts into a mere 3.5 inches of vertical rack space. The Macro-Tech 5000VZ jams an incredible 5,000 watts into little more than five inches of vertical rack space. Quite simply, that’s more watts per-cubic-inch than any other amplifier. The 3600VZ rates at 1,165w at 8 ohms (56 pounds) and the 5000 rates at 1300w at 8 ohms (77 pounds).

The Real Deal: I can’t go anywhere without seeing Crown amps. In Mexico where I do plenty of club installation work, the brand of choice is Crown and everything else is considered inferior. I have worked with all their amps and feel they are great. The CE series uses only Speakon outputs, but other than that they have all the features I need.

The "P" Series Power Amplifier from Buena Park, Cal.-based Yamaha provides the user with excellent cost-per-watt value, building on that cost performance with efficient power consumption. Utilizing Yamaha’s new EEEngine technology, this amplifier delivers outstanding sound quality with remarkable efficiency. Models include the P1600 (160w at 8 ohms), P3200 (340w at 8 ohms) and the P4500 (460w at 8 ohms).

Yamaha’s H-series amps are approximately twice as efficient as conventional types. This means that for the same power output you only need half the power normally required from the AC supply. The amps themselves run cooler for significantly improved reliability. The H series includes H3000 (350w at 8 ohms), H5000 (550w at 8 ohms) and the H7000 (750w at 8 ohms).

The Real Deal: It’s been a long time since I have used Yahama amps, but I have always had a very positive experience with them.

If you’re in a money pinch, you might try the CR Series from Niagara Falls, N.Y.-based Yorkville Sound. These value-priced amplifiers have been specifically designed for the budget-conscious consumer, and will be a competitive alternative for commercial and rental applications. The first offering, the CR5, features 180 watts per side at 8 ohms in a rugged three-rack space package. The quiet, passively cooled unit delivers professional quality at a surprisingly affordable price.

The AP6040 and AP6020 are the most powerful amplifiers Yorkville has ever built. These three-rack space powerhouses solve the problem of not having cost effective and practically configured power for subwoofers. With serious power (AP6040 is 1,250w at 8 ohms, AP6020 is 800w at 2 ohms), the AP6040 and AP6020 put plenty of clean power just where you need it. The incorporated "soft turn-on" eliminates nuisance breaker-tripping on power-up, while internal protection protects against DC output, thermal overload and inappropriate loads. The user defeatable limiter also prevents audible clipping.

The Real Deal: I have installed many of Yorkville’s products in some of my jobs and have found them to be reliable and priced very reasonably.

Other notables include: BGW (Performance Series), Carver (PM, PT, CA, PX and PXm series), Carvin (DCM2000 model), Electro-Voice (Precision Series), Gem Sound (PA Series), Numark (SA Series), Pioneer (M-V2000 model), Pyle Pro (PT3200 model), Rolls (RA series) and Soundtech (PL and PS series).

 

If you have any questions for Paul Binder, please write to
DJ Times, 25 Willowdale Ave., Port Washington, N.Y., 11050,
fax 516-944-8372 or e-mail djtimes@testa.com.