The 4 Best 1000 Watt Amps – 1000W Amplifier Reviews 2023

best 1000 watt amp, good 1000 watt amp, 1000w amps

Photo by David Fant / CC BY

Building your own home studio is a fun and rewarding experience. With that said, it is also the type of hobby which pushes you to search for better and more powerful equipment all the time. Once you reach a certain level, you will find out that you are missing something important. A lot of high-performance gear requires an external power source that will keep that gear running. One of the most popular devices that fall within this category are power amps.

There are many different types and power bands to choose from, but we have focused all of our attention on bringing you the best 1000 Watt amp you can get at the moment. We’ve chosen our models based on their build quality, performance, and overall ease of use. With that said, let’s get into it!

QSC GX7 Power Amplifier 1000W

QSC is one of those companies that is actively trying to find a way to deliver more performance to their customers without pushing the price too far up. Their QSC GX7 Power Amplifier 1000W is a true working man’s unit that is definitely not cheap but is also worth the investment. Let’s find out what this bad boy has to offer in terms of specs

Features

The amp features a pretty simple layout with all the necessary I/O options. These include two balanced XLR and 1/4 inch TRS inputs along with RCA phono connectors and speak on combo XLR/TRS connectors. It’s capable of delivering 1000 Watts RMS using a great Class H output section, which also allows it to be fairly lightweight.

Performance

In terms of performance, you are looking at great audio quality. Some might even go so far as to say it’s on a professional level. With its power rating, you can use this amp (see full specs) in combination with just about any PA system on the market. There are two channels, each capable of supporting two 8 ohm speakers. Overall, this is one of the most capable and best 1000 watt amps on the market.

Crown XLS1000

Crown is the master of mid range power amps that offer both a good performance as well as reasonable pricing. Because of that, it’s really no wonder that many home studio builds have a Crown unit sitting somewhere among the equipment. X:LS1000 is a perfect example of what you can expect to see in one of their more popular models.

Features

A sleek-looking power amp that packs a lot of heat is what most people are after. It just so happens that XLS1000 brings you that exact combination. You get 1000 Watts in total, or 215 Watts per channel at 4 Ohms, routed through a great Class D amp. Low weight paired with a great I/O cluster make for a pretty attractive unit at the end of the day.

Performance

This is definitely one of the flatter amps (see full specs) on the market in this price range. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the quality of sound is impressive. Hooking this amp to an oscilloscope will only confirm these claims. We mention this because so many other models fail this rather simple test. Whether its home use or semi-professional use, Crown XLS1000 will keep up with your needs and demands.

DIY Amp with DIY bookshelf speakers and Crown XLS1000 on a DD 3512G

Crown CDi 1000


Another option from Crown is their CDi, which comes out of the higher end of their catalogue. The more substantial investment you’ll have to make for the CDi 1000 is worth it, however, if you’re looking for something that can handle professional stage and sound applications. The CDi series were designed to be tools for recording engineers and other sound professionals, meaning they can give you a quality of sound you just won’t find in the home amplifier market.

Features

The versatility of the CDi 1000 is its first big selling point. It’s rated for loads of 2-ohms, 4-ohms, and 8-ohms, and has outputs for both 70 and 140 volts. You also have the choice to use a stereo configuration (2X500w) or to bridge the connections for 1000w of mono power. The combination of these configuration options makes it compatible with a wider range of equipment than most amps. In terms of signal processing, you can use the on-board EQ filter, output limiter, and other signal processors, or make your own tweaks. The amp has 20 user-defined presets and can be connected to a laptop to further adjust the signal in a compatible software program.

Performance

This amp is durable and ready for anything. It has advanced circuitry protection to prevent damage from things like electrical shorts and mismatched loads. The fan-assisted cooling keeps the unit from overheating. Once you buy this amplifier, you’ll have it for a good long while. The LCD screen and user interface are intuitive, making it easy to use right out of the box. Overall, this is one of the best 1000 watt amps in an affordable price range.

TruAudio TechTip - Crown CDi DSP Presets

Behringer iNuke NU1000

Behringer is an old player in the amplification game, covering anything from guitar amps to power amps. Their iNuke NU1000 was supposed to be a cheap way for beginners and budget builders to get some juice into their system, and that is exactly what it delivers.

Features

For an affordable model, Behringer iNuke NU1000 has a lot to offer. you get two channels capable of pushing 500 Watts each, although at 2 Ohms. Another solution is to push 300 Watts at 4 Ohms. The golden 1000 Watt output is possible only in bridged mode. What defines this amp is the build quality and simplicity. It doesn’t have issues with heat, and there are enough safety features to protect it and your equipment from any potential problems.

Performance

While it might not being the best-sounding amp you can get, Behringer iNuke NU1000 is definitely going to be among the more reliable ones. There is really no distortion even when you reach higher wattage, and the tone is pretty clean considering the price. Most importantly, it’s a stable amp that will keep working as long as you need it to. That is something you rarely see in this price range anymore.

Behringer iNuke NU1000 Unboxing TiM

Conclusion – What Makes the Best 1000 Watt Amp

We’ve shown you some pretty awesome amps which are capable of delivering 1000W of power on demand. All of the amps meet our criteria, which is mostly revolving around good sound and stable operation. Our list includes something for every budget group, so you should definitely find something that fits your specific needs.

In general, the key part here is that you typically need these amps to rock big crowds and larger venues, and you should look for certain values associated with such shows. Specifically, you’ll need the ability to deliver the power, not crack under pressure, and be as portable as possible for such a massive beast. With that out of the way, each of the listed choices is worthy of your consideration. Rock on!

Written and Reviewed By

  • Micah Johnson started playing music in high school, when he taught himself the bass to join his friend’s band. He added guitar and drums during his twenties playing in local clubs, and along the way, he picked up unique, hands-on experience from hand drums to studio mixers. On Song Simian, he aims to share this knowledge from 20+ years playing and recording music. When not in gearhead mode, he enjoys photography and travel.

  • Marko is the senior editor and writer on Ultimate Guitar, the No. 1 guitar spot on the web, since early 2013. His work was also featured on a variety of other notable gear spots such as Guitar Fella, Consordini, and, of course, Song Simian. His musical journey began at a very young age, and he finally opted to pick up an instrument in his early teenage years. A fan of King Crimson. A travel enthusiast.

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