The strange case of the Behringer A800 amplifier...

[tuga]

ASR has measured the Behringer A800.
Could this be why most people have found it to sound bad?

 

[StingRay]

Why do you keep posting ASR reviews on here?

 

[Shadders]

ASR has measured the Behringer A800.
Could this be why most people have found it to sound bad?

Hi,
You should have included the THD graph instead :

3rd order is dominant, so perhaps less pleasing to the ear.

The Naim Uniti Atom :

Here the 2nd order is slightly higher than the Behringer 2nd order distortion, but the Naim 3rd order is the same as the Behringer.

Even though the Naim class AB has a worse THD than the Behringer, it is possible that the Naim higher 2nd order harmonic compensates for the 3rd order, making it more pleasing to the ear. Or it could be marketing.

A blind test would help to determine the preference.
Regards,
Shadders.

 

[tuga]

Why do you keep posting ASR reviews on here?

Some people like to discuss objective performance, others only subjective impressions - the Wam is a plural house as far as I know.

Also, I am not in breach of the AUP. I've been a member for a few years, though, maybe I need a refresh...

 

[uzzy]

What kind of measurement did you expect from a budget Behringer class D amp. With the best respoct in the world why would anyone buy one of these and hope to achieve high fidelity?
I do not wish to sound like a hifi snob but for the same money second hand there are some great performing little hifi amplifiers to be had .

 

[Shadders]

What kind of measurement did you expect from a budget Behringer class D amp. With the best respoct in the world why would anyone buy one of these and hope to achieve high fidelity?
I do not wish to sound like a hifi snob but for the same money second hand there are some great performing little hifi amplifiers to be had .

Hi,
I posted the Naim Uniti Atom THD results which is 2x worse than the Behringer. Yet Naim is not seen as less than "high fidelity".

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[uzzy]

Hi,
I posted the Naim Uniti Atom THD results which is 2x worse than the Behringer. Yet Naim is not seen as less than "high fidelity".

Regards,
Shadders.

True Shadders ,, can't stand the stuff personally. Lost interest in Naim when i saw the early amps thermal trip with moderately difficult loads.

 

[Beobloke]

The Behringer A500 so beloved of many on t’web turns in a perfectly decent performance for crossover distortion at 1kHz; the frequency at which it is usually measured.

Measure it at 10kHz, though, and it’s a different story, which I believe accounts for why it sounds terrible at anything other than bass frequencies!

 

[bobovox]

Probably fine for bass duties in an active set-up, but look elsewhere for mid / tweeter amps?

 

[MF 1000]

Without putting too finer point on it ……but what the f**k do all those graphs mean !!!

 

[Shadders]

Without putting too finer point on it ……but what the f**k do all those graphs mean !!!

Hi,
The Behringer A800 has half the distortion of the Naim Uniti Atom for a 1kHz signal.

The higher frequencies (5kHz+) may be different, where the Behringer may be worse, but a £299 amplifier (Behringer) out performs the Naim (£2k) through most of the audio band.

The Naim has power supply issues - high 120Hz (US testing location) signal, and its 2nd and 3rd harmonics are high too. The 120Hz noise from the PSU is higher than the 3rd harmonic (the highest) of the amplifier due to the 1kHz test signal.

From this, objectively, the Naim is poorly engineered on the amplifier section, but does contain a streamer which adds value. The designs of Naim amplifiers are on the internet for the NAP series - clones are sold too - and the design is not up to date.

The fact that the Behringer is £299, has the name Behringer and not Naim, and is a class D, does cause criticism where it is perhaps, unwarranted.

Regards,
Shadders.

 

[StingRay]

Hi,
The Behringer A800 has half the distortion of the Naim Uniti Atom for a 1kHz signal.

The higher frequencies (5kHz+) may be different, where the Behringer may be worse, but a £299 amplifier (Behringer) out performs the Naim (£2k) through most of the audio band.

The Naim has power supply issues - high 120Hz (US testing location) signal, and its 2nd and 3rd harmonics are high too. The 120Hz noise from the PSU is higher than the 3rd harmonic (the highest) of the amplifier due to the 1kHz test signal.

From this, objectively, the Naim is poorly engineered on the amplifier section, but does contain a streamer which adds value. The designs of Naim amplifiers are on the internet for the NAP series - clones are sold too - and the design is not up to date.

The fact that the Behringer is £299, has the name Behringer and not Naim, and is a class D, does cause criticism where it is perhaps, unwarranted.

Regards,
Shadders.

Can buy it new for £219 inc. shipping.

 

[It Cost How Much!?!]

Not again.

 

[Juancho]

Not again.

Does anyone really care whether a £219 amp from a pro brand, makers of the awful A500, is particularly bad?

 

[rabski]

Does anyone really care whether a £219 amp from a pro brand, makers of the awful A500, is particularly bad?

Well, I don't. But then you wouldn't expect me to.

 

[THOMO]

A.S.R.-Aspbergers for Soulless Reproduction.
Two of the best sounding amps I have heard and ones universally admired for sound quality are the Sugden A21 and the Dartzeel NHB 1080.They do not measure well by SS standards.

 

[tuga]

Does anyone really care whether a £219 amp from a pro brand, makers of the awful A500, is particularly bad?

I like to understand why an equipment sounds bad.

 

[Shadders]

I like to understand why an equipment sounds bad.

Hi,
I did a quick google, and most reviews rate the sound highly.
Regards,
Shadders.

 

[Fourlegs]

Hi,
I did a quick google, and most reviews rate the sound highly.
Regards,
Shadders.

I was intrigued so I also had a look around but came away with a slightly different conclusion summarised by one comment, “Looks ideal for clubs, pubs and mobile discos.”

 

[Shadders]

I was intrigued so I also had a look around but came away with a slightly different conclusion summarised by one comment, “Looks ideal for clubs, pubs and mobile discos.”

Hi,
If you examine :
https://www.thomann.de/gb/behringer_a800.htmThe 5 starts gets 64 votes, 4 stars gets 16 votes, and 3 stars gets 2 votes. There is a single vote for 1 star.
If you examine :
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/A800--behringer-a800-power-amplifier/reviewsThe 5 stars gets 6 votes, and 4 stars gets 3 votes. No other votes for 3 or less stars.
If you examine :
https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Behringer-A800/art-REC0013905-000The 5 stars gets 16 votes, and 4 stars gets 7 votes. No other votes for 3 or less stars.

Regards,
Shadders.