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[Tommy Shannon]

Hello PSW's,

I have some 'vintage' Community speakers (RS325) that I still love taking out when I need higher vocal projection than I can achieve with my EAW RSX126/129 boxes. I am thinking of installing power modules in them so I won't need external amps. The internal passive crossover works fine in each box, and I use an external active crossover to direct sub frequencies to my Danley TH115's (which cannot keep up with the RS325's! but not an issue).

I would consider bi-amping the boxes internally just to see if I can squeeze a little more juice out of them, but not really a hard requirement because I high pass around 100hz into the RS325s. Any recommendations for reliable amp modules that can safely/cleanly provide ~600+ watts RMS? The boxes are rated around 325 watts IIRC, and like to have the headroom for peaks. I can tell you for certain that you don't want to be in front of these when you get ~anywhere~ near their rated output. Ouch. 

Thanks in advance!
Tom

[John Halliburton]

Hello PSW's,

I have some 'vintage' Community speakers (RS325) that I still love taking out when I need higher vocal projection than I can achieve with my EAW RSX126/129 boxes. I am thinking of installing power modules in them so I won't need external amps. The internal passive crossover works fine in each box, and I use an external active crossover to direct sub frequencies to my Danley TH115's (which cannot keep up with the RS325's! but not an issue).

I would consider bi-amping the boxes internally just to see if I can squeeze a little more juice out of them, but not really a hard requirement because I high pass around 100hz into the RS325s. Any recommendations for reliable amp modules that can safely/cleanly provide ~600+ watts RMS? The boxes are rated around 325 watts IIRC, and like to have the headroom for peaks. I can tell you for certain that you don't want to be in front of these when you get ~anywhere~ near their rated output. Ouch. 

Thanks in advance!
Tom

Not worth the effort, IMO.  Decent amp modules are going to be expensive, and if you don't go fully active with modules that have DSP, AND you know what your doing, you won't get that bit of extra juice out of them.

Save your money and invest in good powered cabinets down the road.

Best regards,

John

[Art Welter]

Hello PSW's,

I have some 'vintage' Community speakers (RS325) that I still love taking out when I need higher vocal projection than I can achieve with my EAW RSX126/129 boxes. I am thinking of installing power modules in them so I won't need external amps. The internal passive crossover works fine in each box, and I use an external active crossover to direct sub frequencies to my Danley TH115's (which cannot keep up with the RS325's! but not an issue).

I would consider bi-amping the boxes internally just to see if I can squeeze a little more juice out of them, but not really a hard requirement because I high pass around 100hz into the RS325s. Any recommendations for reliable amp modules that can safely/cleanly provide ~600+ watts RMS? The boxes are rated around 325 watts IIRC, and like to have the headroom for peaks. I can tell you for certain that you don't want to be in front of these when you get ~anywhere~ near their rated output. Ouch. 

Thanks in advance!
Tom

Tom,
ICEpower makes the OEM amps for many manufacturers and millions (possibly billions..) of phones.
Here is a 500 watt unit for $311:

https://www.parts-express.com/ICEpower-500ASP-Class-D-Audio-Amplifier-with-Power-Supply-Module-1-x-500W-326-204?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI16e458nT8AIV3TizAB1fCwnrEAQYASABEgK0JPD_BwE

They make amps in pretty much every power range, MiniDSP markets a (FIR & IIR) version, stereo 250 watt or mono 500 watt for $475:
https://www.minidsp.com/products/plate-amplifiers/pwr-ice250

Art

[Tommy Shannon]

Tom,
ICEpower makes the OEM amps for many manufacturers and millions (possibly billions..) of phones.
Here is a 500 watt unit for $311:

https://www.parts-express.com/ICEpower-500ASP-Class-D-Audio-Amplifier-with-Power-Supply-Module-1-x-500W-326-204?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI16e458nT8AIV3TizAB1fCwnrEAQYASABEgK0JPD_BwE

They make amps in pretty much every power range, MiniDSP markets a (FIR & IIR) version, stereo 250 watt or mono 500 watt for $475:
https://www.minidsp.com/products/plate-amplifiers/pwr-ice250

Art

Hi Art - thanks for the recommendation. Any info on their field reliability?

Regards,
Tom

[Art Welter]

Hi Art - thanks for the recommendation. Any info on their field reliability?

Regards,
Tom

IIRC, Brian Oppegaard said that QSC was using ICEpower plate amps while he worked there, don't recall him mentioning any reliability issues.
ICEpower has a three year limited warranty, a reasonable time period, and I have found Parts Express to be good about warranty and damage replacement.

Brian started, and later sold SpeakerPower, some of their initial plate amp offerings were ICEpower, his SP-4000 was all USA built. They seem to only be offering subwoofer plate amps now, and the price is rather high compared to ICEpower.

Art

[Rick Powell]

Marani, an Italian company, also makes 1, 2 and 3-way powered modules with DSP, of varying power output.

https://speakersandamps.com/collections/marani

[Mike Caldwell]

Hypex is another OEM that also offers plate amps, EV uses them in their cabinets.

https://www.hypex.nl/plate-amplifiers/

[Tommy Shannon]

Marani, an Italian company, also makes 1, 2 and 3-way powered modules with DSP, of varying power output.

https://speakersandamps.com/collections/marani

Thanks, Rick - I'll check them out.

[Tommy Shannon]

Hypex is another OEM that also offers plate amps, EV uses them in their cabinets.

https://www.hypex.nl/plate-amplifiers/

I'll take a look - thanks, Mike

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