It’s about drive and power — power amplifiers, to be precise. These are essential to driving your speakers effectively, but with so many available power amp options, what one do you choose?
For those new to power amps, the most important factors to consider are how many channels you need, compatible wattage and ohms, what connections you need, and if you want extra features, like DSP, Ethernet, or power-saving capabilities. Power amps also come in different power classifications, like Class D or Class H. Rather than measuring the quality of the amp’s sound, these classifications denote different circuitry designs, and you may find that you prefer one over the other. At Sweetwater, we want you to have the best amplifier for your application. That’s why we compiled a list of some of the best power amplifiers for live sound right here! These powerful, popular, and high-quality power amps cater to various requirements and budgets, so we know you’ll find the perfect match.
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
- Ashly KLR-2000 2-channel 2,000-watt Power Amplifier
- Peavey IPR2 3000 Power Amplifier
- Behringer NX3000 3,000-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
- QSC GX5 700-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
- Crown XLi 3500 1,350-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
- DynaCord V600:4 600-watt Power Amplifier
- Yamaha PX8 1,050-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
- Lab Gruppen PDX3000 Power Amplifier with DSP
- LEA Professional Connect 354 350-watt 4-channel Power Amplifier
Ashly KLR-2000 2-channel 2,000-watt Power Amplifier
Efficiency with options
Our list starts with the powerful Ashly KLR-2000 2-channel 2,000-watt power amplifier. Built for maximum performance in large, high-powered systems, the KLR-2000 offers 1,000 watts per channel into 2 ohms, 600 watts RMS per channel into 4 ohms, or 350 watts RMS per channel into 8 ohms. You’ll get clean, stable, and quiet amplification plus features like a 3-position switch for gain, mode (bridged, stereo, and parallel), and highpass filtering (30Hz, 50Hz, and off). You can drive high-output speaker systems, line arrays, subwoofers, and more. Plus, per-channel limiting and a forced-air-cooled system ensure maximum, worry-free performance. Whether outfitting your touring rig or using it for a fixed installation, the KLR-2000 delivers flawless lows, punchy mids, and crystalline highs.
Peavey IPR2 3000 Power Amplifier
Peavey power for pros
Peavey broke new ground with its IPR series. The lightweight, efficient, and reliable Peavey IPR2 3000 power amplifier will take your rig to new heights with its 2-channel independent fourth-order Linkwitz-Riley crossovers, high-speed Class D topology, and switch-mode power supply for top-shelf audio resolution. The IPR2 3000 delivers 1,750 watts at 2 ohms, 950 watts at 4 ohms, and 525 watts at 8 ohms. Because the IPR2 3000 is designed with Peavey’s DDT (Distortion Detection Technique) circuitry, you can run it without fear of blowing your speakers — even with loads as low as 2 ohms. With classic Peavey style and tone, the IPR2 3000 is ready to bump your rig to the professional level.
Behringer NX3000 3,000-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
Budget-friendly Behringer with benefits
Behringer’s always a good stop when you need quality equipment that won’t break the bank! Delivering superb Class D power, dynamic bass, and ultra-smooth highs, the Behringer NX3000 3,000-watt 2-channel power amplifier is a piece of gear worth every penny. You can choose from outputs of 900 watts into 4 ohms, 1,500 watts into 2 ohms, or 3,000 watts into 4 ohms bridged. The NX3000’s secret weapon? SmartSense Loudspeaker impedance compensation that serves up linear frequency response at any speaker load impedance. Furthermore, the NX3000 takes the worry out of the equation thanks to its “Zero-Attack” limiters that keep the watts pumping with trustworthy overload protection. Lastly, a switch-mode power supply makes for low power consumption, low noise, and exceptional transient response.
QSC GX5 700-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
Tailored to popular loudspeakers
Loudspeaker lovers, your ship has come in: the GSC GX5 700-watt 2-channel power amplifier is ready to optimize your live sound. Another lightweight power amp, the GX5 tackles amplification through expertly designed Class H power that can shift from low to high power in less than a millionth of a second! Whether using 4-ohm or 8-ohm speakers, the GSC GX5 delivers optimum wattage, reliable power, and efficient operation. The unique GuardRail system of the GX5 will prevent abrupt and fiery ends to your shows by protecting the amplifier and loudspeakers from high temperatures and excess overdrive. Subwoofers are welcome here, thanks to the GX5’s crossover switch that routes 20Hz to 100Hz to the sub in the first channel and 100Hz to 20kHz to the top box in the second channel. Connections include XLR, 1/4-inch, RCA, speakON, and binding posts.
Crown XLi 3500 1,350-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
The apex of Crown’s XLi line
If decades’ worth of experience is your cup of tea when it comes to manufacturers, then check out Crown and its XLi 3500 1,350-watt 2-channel power amplifier. Sitting at the head of the XLi line, the XLi 3500 offers powerful, reliable, and high-quality sound for musicians, DJs, entertainers, pubs, and even houses of worship. You can run this powerful amplifier at 1,350 watts at 4 ohms, 1,000 watts at 8 ohms, and 2,700 watts at 8 ohms bridged. Next, electronically balanced RCA and XLR inputs plus binding post and speakON outputs set you up for connective success. A forced-air-cooling design also keeps this amp at a safe operating temperature while your stars steal the show. Lastly, with protection against shorts, empty loads, on/off thumps, and radio-frequency interference, the Crown XLi 3500 will grant you all focus on deck for creating a captivating show instead of troubleshooting fussy electronics.
DynaCord V600:4 600-watt Power Amplifier
Your amp for commercial installs
Upping the channel ante is the DynaCord V600:4 600-watt power amplifier, as it delivers four channels and power-saving ecoRAIL technology that culminates in professional sound quality with low energy consumption for education, retail, houses of worship, hospitality, and more. Thanks to DynaCord’s VLD (Variable Load Drive), the V600:4 offers flexible load options, including 4 ohms, 8 ohms, and 70-volt or 100-volt operative capacities. The V600:4 also makes it easy to drive multiple audio zones running at different power requirements thanks to features like powerTANK technology that acts as a power reservoir for the amplifier. Send 100 watts of signal to three small zones, and you can still send 300 watts to your main auditorium! DynaCord’s dualCOOL technology and proven PFC (Power Factor Correction) also maintain optimal operating temperatures even under intense conditions.
Yamaha PX8 1,050-watt 2-channel Power Amplifier
Class D power and flexible control
Yamaha released its first professional power amplifier in 1976, and the company has continued to improve and innovate since then. The Yamaha PX8 1,050-watt 2-channel power amplifier boasts Yamaha’s renowned digital signal processing technology, leveraging a powerful Class D engine with a custom LSI. To fine-tune your sound, the PX8 provides flexible onboard parametric EQ, crossovers, filters, delay, and must-have limiter functions. With these processing capabilities built into the amp, you can forgo a bulky speaker management processor and pare down your rig. Magnificent for many sound reinforcement environments, the PX8 can deliver 800 watts at 8 ohms and 1,050 watts at 4 ohms. Did we mention it also has onboard presets for Yamaha speakers?
Lab Gruppen PDX3000 Power Amplifier with DSP
Powerful Class D power with onboard DSP
Integrate the Lab Gruppen PDX3000 power amplifier with DSP into your system to tackle your live sound. This power amp boasts two IDEEA Class D power channels meticulously matched to its 3,000-watt output. Plus, with features like a built-in limiter, preconfigured settings for speaker arrangements, and a switch-mode power supply, the Lab Gruppen PDX3000 is a star player regarding reliable sound quality and performance. Its onboard DSP will cover all your bases, flaunting a configurable crossover, parametric EQ, delay, limiter, and more. Not to mention, you can also remotely control the PDX3000 with PDX Controller software. When you need power for a wide range of sound applications — whether for houses of worship, hotels, or lounges — choose the Lab Gruppen PDX3000 power amplifier with DSP.
LEA Professional Connect 354 350-watt 4-channel Power Amplifier
Leveraging built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Rounding out our list is one of the most influential and well-connected power amplifiers on the Sweetwater site: the LEA Professional Connect 354 350-watt 4-channel power amplifier. Made for not only getting the job done but also for getting the job done well, this almighty amplifier amasses 350 watts of power per channel, has a web browser UI, leverages built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and boasts a 96kHz DSP processor with a 32-bit core. This power amplifier can easily interface with a wide range of your existing equipment, even packing direct hi-Z and lo-Z options for impressive compatibility with differing impedances.
Power Your Productions to Their Full Potentials
A power amplifier is an essential piece of the live sound puzzle. Luckily, any choice from this list will surely drive your speakers in the best way! Sweetwater makes it easy to choose the proper power amp for your setup by outlining the specs and features of each model. If you want to explore more options for power amplifiers or just like chatting about Class D circuitry, then contact one of our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700. Or, if you want to learn more about choosing a power amp, then check out Sweetwater’s Power Amp Buying Guide!
