Behringer NX6000 vs 2x EP4000 bridged

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#41
CharlieLaub said:
If you are operating the NX3000 bridged into a 4R load, then each channel is seeing 2R... at low frequencies this might not be able to provide more than a few hundred Watts of continuous power, but it's probably at least 500W if I had to make a guess.
Click to expand...
Charlie,

I think you underestimate the output by a good margin.
I have not tested the NX3000, but from what I've seen it seems pretty close to the NU-3000 in terms of output.

I have tested the NU4-6000, which appears to be basically two NU-3000 in one chassis. From that test, my estimate would be a bridged NU-3000 (or NX3000) may be capable of in the range of 1800 watts ("continuous") using sine waves. I did not try 20 Hz sine wave testing, but there was little difference in output between 60 and 30 Hz.

Just before the 2015 Christmas holidays I conducted a battery of tests on some old amplifiers and a new Behringer NU4-6000 four channel amplifier.
The NU4-6000 appears to be within 3 dB of the Powersoft K10 published rating on sustained (more than 1 second) output.

The NU4-6000 with two bridged mono pairs each driving four ohm loads just below the illumination of the clip/limit light each put out 85.5 volts at 60 Hz (1828 watts), 84.6 volts at 30 Hz (1789 watts), dropping the mains voltage on a 100' 10AWG 120V line from 118.1 volts down to 107.2 volts, drawing 31 amperes.

Using just one bridged mono pair, the amp ran for 40+ seconds before I terminated the test, as the amp was drawing 19.8 amperes, and the "tired" 20 amp mains breaker had popped several times in various tests already. The amp would have put out more power given a full 120 volts, but the test represents a "real world" situation, we don't generally plug our amplifiers in to an outlet two feet from the mains transformer.

I also tested my old "heavy iron" bass favorite, a Crest CA9. Bridged into a 4 ohm load the CA9 dropped the mains to 99.6 volts, drew 37.8 amps but only put out 80 volts (1600 watts). The NU4-6000 put out more power, and drew only 50% of the power from the mains compared to the CA9, and weighs a small fraction of the "heavy iron".

Art
 
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#42
Hi Art,

I'm just drawing my conclusions based on the continuous power test done on the NX3000 at 20Hz, that I posted earlier in this thread.

The measurement shows that the amp could put out only 268W into 4R stereo at 20Hz. Might be closer to 300W for 1% THD. I think you can see how I drew my conclusions about the 2R performance.

I would put more confidence in an actual test of the NX3000 over running part of the NU4-6000, which likely has a beefier PS so that it can support twice the number of channels. I would be interested in seeing how the NU3000 does into 2R/4R when only one of its channels is used, since the PS only has to run one channel and power is likely higher.
 
#43
CharlieLaub said:
I'm just drawing my conclusions based on the continuous power test done on the NX3000 at 20Hz that I posted earlier in this thread.

The measurement shows that the amp could put out only 268W into 4R stereo at 20Hz.
Click to expand...
Trying to reconcile differences in conclusions, ran across bolserst's NU3000 tests:

Behringer iNuke NU3000 Measurements

Although his NU3000 tests indicate power of near 2000Watts 4 ohm bridged mono, a single side driven at 20Hz into 4 ohms power dropped to 280W after about 10 seconds, very similar output to the NX3000 result you posted earlier in this thread.

Having done no "full power" tests below 30Hz on the NU4-6000, had not run into what appears to be current limiting brought on by <30Hz frequency content in the NU3000/NX3000 tests.

In light of the above, I'll revise my estimate to "a bridged NU-3000 (or NX3000) may be capable of in the range of 1800 watts into 4 ohms above 30 Hz for several seconds".

Having burnt voice coils in just "several seconds" of testing, just wanted to put that out there ;^).

Art
 

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#44
I replaced a Dayton SPA250 (Class AB) plate amplifier with a Bheringer NX3000D (class D) both in home use and to power subwoofers exclusively,
and my conclusions are:
A switched power supply is cheap but prone to failure, how many have failed on desktop computers? Hundreds of thousands !
The fan noise is solvable (I did it), but do not intend to do it for PA use, the PWS will explode, it needs maximum cooling from the moment you turn on the amplifier.
The sound of the Dayton was better, cleaner. Linear fonts are irreplaceable for sound quality.
Just my two cents.
 
#45
weltersys said:
Trying to reconcile differences in conclusions, ran across bolserst's NU3000 tests:

Behringer iNuke NU3000 Measurements

Although his NU3000 tests indicate power of near 2000Watts 4 ohm bridged mono, a single side driven at 20Hz into 4 ohms power dropped to 280W after about 10 seconds, very similar output to the NX3000 result you posted earlier in this thread.

Having done no "full power" tests below 30Hz on the NU4-6000, had not run into what appears to be current limiting brought on by <30Hz frequency content in the NU3000/NX3000 tests.

In light of the above, I'll revise my estimate to "a bridged NU-3000 (or NX3000) may be capable of in the range of 1800 watts into 4 ohms above 30 Hz for several seconds".

Having burnt voice coils in just "several seconds" of testing, just wanted to put that out there ;^).

Art
Click to expand...

Wow, that's very interesting. That is a pretty steep difference in continuous power output between 20Hz and e.g. 40Hz! Thanks for posting the link to the measurements by bolserst. I hadn't seen it. Also, sorry to hear about your experience with a voice coil and the magic smoke! Ouch.
 
#48
There are EDM tracks with sustained low frequency (<100Hz) with the similar crest factor (3dB) as sine waves, some even less.

Whether that is "actual music" is another discussion, but there is plenty of it out there, ready to smoke voice coils if long term RMS limiters are not set low enough.
 
#50
Here i am back after 4 years.
I had a system malfunction and a noise burst into my system, and one of the PLX3402 safety failed, and it blew some chips. (the other amp's safety triggered and is working fine). Looking at 300€ish repair bill, but the guy says it isn't necessarily gonna fix it for good and it might be that something else pops up when he opens it up.

I have a few options here:
  • 2x NX3000 (bridged) ~ 660€ NEW
  • 2x Proline 3000 (bridged) ~ 1350€ NEW
  • 2x QSC PLX3602 (bridged) ~ 1200€ - USED

I'm a bit scared of buying another used pair of QSC just to come back in 4 years with the same issue.
I've read around that PLX aren't in facr the best for subwoofer duties.
Running STW350F if it matters
 
#51
PLX is fine. Just not the best. The T.Amp units are not built from high grade components either, especially their protections, and output stage setup circuity can and does drift. Yet for the price, these provide very nice value. If weight is not a concern, the Proline will do for sure. That would be my bet.
 
#52
Fine absolutely and I got good 4 years out of them, but still, one exploded on me so i’m vary of going for another used pair for basically the same price as a pair of Prolines which come with a warranty.

Weight doesn’t matter they’ll be set in a rack and left there, it’s for studio install
 
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#53
Well, any amp deserves Electrolytic caps replacements and adjusting after few(4-5) years. If you had it 4 years and someone had it 4-5 years, you were due, and it was rather negligent behavior from you. I wouldn't want to risk that again either.
The Proline is only praised, and warranty is cherry on top.
 
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