Behringer KM1700 Stereo Power Amplifier

Behringer KM1700 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Behringer KM1700 is a two-channel rackmount power amplifier for passive PA speakers, stage monitors and subwoofers in small to mid-sized venues, houses of worship and mobile rigs. It is a straightforward workhorse design: line-level inputs on the back, serious power on tap, switchable operating modes, and protection circuits that look after both the amplifier and the speakers connected to it.

Behringer’s published ratings are 2 x 500 watts into 8 ohms and 2 x 800 watts into 4 ohms in stereo mode, and 1700 watts into 8 ohms bridged. Read those figures with their loads attached, as with any power amplifier: the model name is not a per-channel rating, and the right figure for your system is the one that matches your speakers’ impedance and the mode you select.

Key features

• 2 x 500W at 8 ohms and 2 x 800W at 4 ohms in stereo mode
• 1700W into 8 ohms in bridge mono mode for a single subwoofer or stack
• Class H output stage with ATR (Accelerated Transient Response) technology
• Stereo, mono and bridge modes selected by switch
• Balanced XLR and 1/4-inch TRS inputs on each channel
• Locking speakON outputs plus touch-proof binding posts
• Switchable limiters and independent DC and short-circuit protection per channel
• High-current toroidal transformer and front-to-back ventilation in a 2U steel chassis

Power for tops, monitors or a bridged subwoofer

One KM1700 can cover several common jobs. In stereo it drives a pair of full-range cabinets for a small venue or a pair of monitor wedges for a band. Switch to bridge mode and the two channels combine into a single 1700-watt output into 8 ohms, a natural match for one passive subwoofer. The Class H design varies the supply rails with the signal so the amplifier runs efficiently while keeping headroom for peaks, and Behringer’s ATR circuitry uses fast output devices chosen to follow demanding bass transients, which is where smaller amplifiers first sound strained on kick drum and bass guitar material.

Connections that drop into any rack

Each channel accepts balanced XLR or 1/4-inch TRS connections, with 1/4-inch TS unbalanced sources also supported, so the KM1700 connects directly to a mixer, DJ controller or crossover without adapters. Speaker wiring is equally flexible: professional locking speakON connectors for cables that cannot pull out mid-show, and touch-proof binding posts for bare wire or banana-terminated leads. Front-panel gain controls with signal, clip and protection LEDs show the amplifier’s status at a glance, and precise power indication helps you run the system hard without running it into distortion.

Protection and long-term reliability

Live amplifiers fail loudly when they are not protected, so the KM1700 layers several defences. A switchable limiter on each channel controls overload before it reaches the speakers. Independent DC and short-circuit protection guards each channel separately, so a fault on one side does not take down the whole system. The high-current toroidal transformer supplies the output stage, front-to-back ventilation keeps air moving through the rack in the right direction, and the all-steel 2U chassis is built for repeated transport and installation work.

Planning your system

Match the amplifier to the speakers, not the other way round. Check the impedance of each cabinet or combined load, choose stereo or bridge mode accordingly, and confirm the total load never falls below the amplifier’s rated minimum for that mode. The KM1700 measures 482 x 88 x 375 mm and weighs 12.5 kg, standard 19-inch rack width in a 2U height. If your rig needs honest stereo power, a bridged subwoofer option and connections that suit both installed and portable systems, the KM1700 covers all three from a single rack space pair.