Need an Amplifier for my speakers

Let me refrain from commenting on the speakers 🙂 other than that they seem to be 500W/4 Ohm.

Assuming you use a 2-channel amp, which is usual, you would connect one speaker to each channel. Ergo, you need about a 2x 600/650W into 4 Ohm amp.

On the El Cheapo there is this one: http://www.bax-shop.nl/versterker/skytec-sky-1200-mk2-versterker @ 179 euro. One step above that (and quite a bit below anything decent) is this: http://www.bax-shop.nl/versterker/behringer-europower-epx2800-versterker/product-details.html @ 269 euro.

Keeping your speakers in mind, I really wouldn’t invest much more than that into an amp any way. The extra quality of a 500+ euro amp would be lost on the speakers, imho.

Quite frankly, I would not suggest that upgrade path. Until such time you can afford new speakers, you’ll be stuck with a good amp with (at best) lower end speakers. Then when you upgrade to speakers that match the quality of your amp (probably still on a budget), you end up with used, if quality gear. But still with components. Quite frankly I don’t see any reason anymore for buying a component PA in this day in age. With the quality of active speakers being what they are these days, it more cost efficient, better redundancy (play on when the amp in one of your speakers cuts out), easier (less cabling and the amp sits in the speaker cabinet rather than in another bulky, heavy flightcase), no thick speaker cables to run, but simple XLR balanced. In most cases easy to cascade (even various types of speakers) independent of Ohm load or power handling.

I’d toss your speakers on eBay and use that money, the money you have set aside for the amp and a perhaps save some extra and get either a small 1 sub/2 top system (LD Dave, HK Audio Nano, new Denon set – reviews on the blog) or something like the new Numark speakers (with built-in lights). Those look to be great for smaller parties AND practice.

Alternatively, sell your current speakers, add the money for the amp (and some saved money perhaps) and buy some serious brand used active speakers.

In both cases you will have spent your money more wisely.

Hi Alex,

I don’t expect you to agree with our assesment of your gear (or to put them down yourself), but take it from some (very) old hands at DJ-ing/PA use, if you think your current speakers ar not that bad, wait til you get your hands on some serious PA gear for a bit!

As for the clipping, I can make any amp clip. Just run them too hot with the volume at max and presto they WILL clip. Just that the better amps have good clipping detection and will just shut down the signal to the speakers to protect them. So instead of an audible and potentially speaker damaging clip you will hear … silence.

So, making the Skytec amp clip is 95% in the hands of the person using it. The rest would be the amp quality. The higher the quality, the closer to the max volume you can get without it clipping/distorting. Get the wrong Behringer amp (too low on power, it’s why I recommend getting an amp that is 20-25% overpowered), run it hot and it will clip just as your Skytec. Guaranteed.

I am no big fan of anything Behringers (a few minor exceptions), but it’s a brand that matches the budget and quality of your current speakers. It makes no sense buying (even a used) high end amp for those speakers, just as it would make no sense to get really good speakers and hook them up to a Skytec or Behringer amp.

As a general note, let me repeat what I advised earlier to those contemplating buying a PA: go for active speakers and don’t mess with amp/speaker combo’s, especially if you have no experience with them. And remember: with PA you get what you pay for!

At the end of the day, if it works for you, it works for you, right?