Best General Power Amps Under $500 2026
Affordable general power amps under $500 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: January 14, 2026 • Next update: January 21, 2026
#1
⭐
4.5/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Behringer NX3000D
by
Behringer
Band
General Applications
Passive Speakers
Key Feature:
• Can drive multiple speakers
✓ PROS
- • Professional audio quality
- • Higher power than integrated solutions
✗ CONS
- • Requires separate rack and cabling
- • Requires impedance matching knowledge
Behringer NX3000D2-Channel Class-D Amplifier with DSPPower: 2x 900 W at 4 Ωs2x 1500 W at 2 ΩsInputs: 6.3 Mm jack and...
⭐
4.5/5
(27 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 448418
$435
#2
⭐
4.8/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Behringer EP4000 Europower
by
Behringer
Band
General Applications
PA Systems
Key Feature:
• Versatile for various PA applications
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for various PA applications
- • Upgrade flexibility for speaker systems
✗ CONS
- • Additional cost on top of speakers
- • More equipment to transport
Behringer EP4000 Europower Power AmplifierPower AmplifierPower at 4 ohm: 2 x 950 WPower at 8 ohm: 2 x 550 WPower at 2...
⭐
4.8/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 227530
$411
#3
⭐
4.5/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
the t.amp TA 1400 MK-X
by
the t.amp
PA Systems
Passive Speakers
Events
Key Feature:
• Professional audio quality
✓ PROS
- • Higher power than integrated solutions
- • Professional audio quality
✗ CONS
- • More complex setup than active speakers
- • Requires separate rack and cabling
the t.amp TA 1400 MK-XPower AmplifierRMS power: 2x 850 W @ 4 O2x 570 W @ 8 OInput sensitivity: 0.775 VTHD: < 0.05%/...
⭐
4.5/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 156556
$366
#4
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Crown XLS 1002
by
Crown
General Applications
Passive Speakers
Live Sound
Key Feature:
• Upgrade flexibility for speaker systems
✓ PROS
- • Upgrade flexibility for speaker systems
- • Can drive multiple speakers
✗ CONS
- • More equipment to transport
- • More complex setup than active speakers
Crown XLS 1002DriveCore Power amplifierWith Class-D circuitPower: 2x 550 Watt / 2 Ohm2x 350 Watt / 4 Ohm2x 215 Watt / 8...
⭐
4.5/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 372524
$428
#5
⭐
4.4/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
the t.amp TSA 2200
by
the t.amp
General Applications
Live Sound
PA Systems
Key Feature:
• Professional audio quality
✓ PROS
- • Professional audio quality
- • Versatile for various PA applications
✗ CONS
- • More complex setup than active speakers
- • Requires impedance matching knowledge
the t.amp TSA 2200Switched-mode Power Supply Power Amplifier2x 910 W/ 4 ohm2x 590 W/ 8 ohm2x 1200 W/ 2 ohm1x 1800 W/ 8...
⭐
4.4/5
(6 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 218913
$384
#6
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
the t.amp TSA 4-300
by
the t.amp
Band
Events
Live Sound
Key Feature:
• Can drive multiple speakers
✓ PROS
- • Versatile for various PA applications
- • Professional audio quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires impedance matching knowledge
- • Additional cost on top of speakers
the t.amp TSA 4-300Switched-mode Power Supply Amplifier4x 550 W/ 4 Ohm4x 350 W/ 8 Ohm2x 1000 W/ 8 Ohm (bridge mode)XLR...
⭐
4.5/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 325986
$373
#7
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
the t.amp TA 1050 MK-X
by
the t.amp
Events
Live Sound
PA Systems
Key Feature:
• Professional audio quality
✓ PROS
- • Professional audio quality
- • Upgrade flexibility for speaker systems
✗ CONS
- • More complex setup than active speakers
- • More equipment to transport
the t.amp TA 1050 MK-XPower AmplifierPower: 2x 520 W @ 4 O2x 380 W @ 8 OInput sensitivity: 0.775 VSlew rate: 40...
⭐
4.8/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 156555
$318
#8
⭐
4.7/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Auratone A2-30
by
Auratone
Live Sound
Passive Speakers
General Applications
Key Feature:
• Higher power than integrated solutions
✓ PROS
- • Higher power than integrated solutions
- • Professional audio quality
✗ CONS
- • Requires impedance matching knowledge
- • More complex setup than active speakers
Auratone A2-30Dual-Channel Class D Power AmplifierDeveloped in cooperation with BettermakerEspecially suitable for...
⭐
4.7/5
(33 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 464335
$395
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
the t.amp TA 2400 MK-X
by
the t.amp
Band
PA Systems
Passive Speakers
Key Feature:
• Professional audio quality
✓ PROS
- • Can drive multiple speakers
- • Professional audio quality
✗ CONS
- • More complex setup than active speakers
- • Requires separate rack and cabling
the t.amp TA 2400 MK-XPower AmplifierRMS power: 2x 1200 W @ 4 Ohm2x 760 W @ 8 OhmInput sensitivity: 0.775 VTHD: <...
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 156557
$417
#10
⭐
4.5/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
the t.amp D4-500
by
the t.amp
Events
PA Systems
General Applications
Key Feature:
• Professional audio quality
✓ PROS
- • Professional audio quality
- • Can drive multiple speakers
✗ CONS
- • More equipment to transport
- • More complex setup than active speakers
the t.amp D4-500Digital AmplifierClass D4 x 500 W @ 4 Ω4 x 250 W @ 8 ΩFrequency range: 20 Hz to 20 kHzConnections:...
⭐
4.5/5
(13 reviews)
Sound:
7/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 218916
$438
#11
⭐
4.4/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Crown XLi 1500
by
Crown
Passive Speakers
Band
General Applications
Key Feature:
• Professional audio quality
✓ PROS
- • Higher power than integrated solutions
- • Versatile for various PA applications
✗ CONS
- • Requires impedance matching knowledge
- • More complex setup than active speakers
Crown XLi 15002-Channel Analogic Power Amplifier2x 450 Watt/4 Ohm2x 330 Watt/8 Ohm900 Watt/8 Ohm bridge monoSignal to...
⭐
4.4/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 307248
$417
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Behringer EP2000 Europower
by
Behringer
General Applications
Events
Band
Key Feature:
• Higher power than integrated solutions
✓ PROS
- • Professional audio quality
- • Higher power than integrated solutions
✗ CONS
- • Additional cost on top of speakers
- • More complex setup than active speakers
Behringer EP2000 EuropowerPower Amplifier2x 500 W @ 4 Ohm2x 350 W @ 8 Ohm2x 650 W @ 2 OhmBridge mode 1x 2000 W @ 4...
⭐
4.5/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 227529
$325
#13
⭐
4.6/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
the t.amp E-1500
by
the t.amp
PA Systems
Passive Speakers
Events
Key Feature:
• Upgrade flexibility for speaker systems
✓ PROS
- • Professional audio quality
- • Versatile for various PA applications
✗ CONS
- • More complex setup than active speakers
- • Requires separate rack and cabling
the t.amp E-1500Stereo Power AmplifierPower: 2 x 1220 W at 4 ohm2 x 850 W at 8 ohm1 x 2440W at 8 ohm bridged...
⭐
4.6/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Art. 460283
$318
#14
⭐
4.7/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
the t.amp TSA 1400
by
the t.amp
Events
Band
Live Sound
Key Feature:
• Higher power than integrated solutions
✓ PROS
- • Upgrade flexibility for speaker systems
- • Higher power than integrated solutions
✗ CONS
- • More equipment to transport
- • Additional cost on top of speakers
the t.amp TSA 1400Amplifier with Switched-Mode Power Supply2x 670 W/ 4 Ohm2x 450 W/ 8 Ohm2x 800 W/ 2 Ohm1x 1380 W...
⭐
4.7/5
(28 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 218912
$328
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
the t.amp TSA 4-700
by
the t.amp
Events
PA Systems
Band
Key Feature:
• Higher power than integrated solutions
✓ PROS
- • Can drive multiple speakers
- • Upgrade flexibility for speaker systems
✗ CONS
- • More complex setup than active speakers
- • Requires separate rack and cabling
the t.amp TSA 4-700Switched-mode Power Supply Amplifier4x 490 W/ 8 Ohm4x 810 W/ 4 Ohm4x 930 W/ 2 Ohm2x 1600 W/ 8 Ohm...
⭐
4.5/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 218915
$438
How to Choose the Best General Power Amps
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced general power amps typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
