Behringer NX1000 Stereo Power Amplifier

Behringer NX1000 Stereo Power Amplifier

The Behringer NX1000 is a two-channel Class D power amplifier for passive loudspeaker systems where weight, rack space and running temperature matter as much as output. It delivers a manufacturer-rated maximum of 2 x 300 W into 4 ohms and 2 x 500 W into 2 ohms in stereo, or 1000 W into 4 ohms bridged, yet it weighs just 3.3 kg and occupies a standard 19-inch rack format. Behringer quotes these figures as maximum output power rather than a conservative continuous RMS rating, so they are stated that way here: plan your speaker matching around the load and mode you will actually run, and treat the numbers as the ceiling the design is built to reach. For small venues, houses of worship, rehearsal rooms and portable rigs, that combination of output and portability is the whole point.

Key features

• Two-channel Class D amplification in a lightweight 3.3 kg rackmount chassis
• Maximum output rated at 2 x 300 W into 4 ohms, 2 x 500 W into 2 ohms, stereo
• Bridge mode rated at 1000 W into 4 ohms and 620 W into 8 ohms
• SmartSense loudspeaker impedance compensation for linear response at any load
• Built-in stereo crossover with full-range, low-frequency and high-frequency modes
• Zero-Attack limiters for overload protection without shutting the system down
• XLR and 6.35 mm TRS combination inputs, twist-lock speaker connectors
• Independent DC, low-frequency and thermal protection on each channel

Class D efficiency and SmartSense

High-density Class D topology is what makes this amplifier possible at this weight. Instead of the heavy heatsinks and toroidal transformers of older designs, the NX1000 uses an efficient switch-mode power supply that runs cool, draws less power and responds quickly to transients. SmartSense impedance compensation addresses a subtler problem: a loudspeaker is not a fixed resistor, and its impedance swings with frequency, which can tilt the response of a conventional amplifier. SmartSense compensates for that behaviour so the frequency balance you set at the mixer is the balance the audience hears, whatever cabinets are connected. A damping factor above 155 at 8 ohms keeps tight control over woofer movement, which is audible as cleaner, better-defined low end.

Protection that keeps the show running

Live sound fails loudly, so the NX1000 layers its defences. Zero-Attack limiters react at the onset of overload to protect both amplifier and speakers while keeping output at the maximum usable level. Each channel carries independent DC, low-frequency and thermal protection, and the back-to-front ventilation system, driven by a continuously variable-speed fan, moves air through the chassis in one direction so rack neighbours are not cooking each other. Detented gain controls make settings repeatable between gigs, and four-segment signal and limit LEDs per channel give an honest read of how hard the amplifier is working at any moment.

Connections and operating modes

Inputs are combination XLR and 6.35 mm TRS jacks, accepting balanced or unbalanced line-level sources from a mixer or processor, with input sensitivity of 0.775 V for rated power into 4 ohms and input impedance of 10 kOhm unbalanced or 20 kOhm balanced. Speaker outputs use professional twist-lock connectors that cannot pull out mid-show. A rear mode switch selects stereo, mono or bridge operation, and the crossover switch routes full-range programme, low frequencies below 100 Hz to subwoofers, or high frequencies above 100 Hz to tops, so a simple two-way system can be built without an external crossover. Frequency response runs from 20 Hz to 20 kHz within plus 0, minus 1 dB, with distortion below 0.05 percent and signal-to-noise above 100 dB.

Where the NX1000 fits

This is an amplifier for systems that get moved, re-racked and re-patched often: portable PA for bands and DJs, installed sound in small venues and worship spaces, and monitor or fill duties in larger rigs. Note that this is the NX1000, not the NX1000D: there is no programmable DSP, display or USB control on this model, and that honesty is part of its appeal. What you get instead is a light, cool-running, well-protected stereo amplifier with sensible onboard crossover options and enough rated output for the rooms it is designed to serve.