Behringer EP series Fan Modification
DISCLAIMER:
Performing this modification will void your warranty. It is not recommended by Behringer at all. It can also be hazardous to your health if proper and safe precautions are not taken while modifying these amplifiers! You may perform this at your own risk.
I own three Behringer "Pro" amplifiers that I use in my home theater system. The model EP2500 (2) and the model EP1500 (1). These amplifiers are an inexpensive alternative to the higher priced "boutique" brand high end audio amplifiers. But, they have active fans in them that can be disturbing to hear while listening to soft passages in music or quiet moments in a movie. These fans are meant to keep the amplifier cool during usage by bands in hot, smoky clubs or outdoor environments. Since I am using them in my air conditioned home, I do not need the full cooling capabilities afforded by these fans nor do I want to hear them.
In addition to decreasing the fans RPM, I also reversed the airflow of the fans by turning them around. The amplifiers were built to intake air in from the rear of the unit and exhaust out the front. There is a filter on the front of the amplifier that is inaccessible to the end user for cleaning without removing the top cover. By reversing the airflow cool air is taken in from the front and passes across the filter which can then be easily vacuumed from the front panel of the unit and exhausts out the rear of the amp.
The parts needed for this project are a 100 ohm, 10 watt resistor (Radio Shack) and some heat shrink tubing (Home Depot). The tools needed are a razor knife, soldering iron, wire cutters, Philips head screwdriver, and a heat gun or BIC lighter. The following pages illustrate what I did to reduce the fan speed. If you do not see the captions for the pictures, scroll down so that you may read them.