New behringer mixers

[pandamonk]

Look what Behringer say about the preamps with their new XENYX sseries mixers:

The new XENYX Mic Preamp matches the sound quality, transparency, headroom and even the dynamic range of boutique-style, stand-alone mic preamps.

Wonder if it's true. Anyone heard them?

 

[altitude909]

I doubt it. Ripping off Mackie (which is pretty cheapo to begin with) is dumb, calling it something similar to Onyx is dumber.

The only thing I actually own that is made by Behringer is a patchbay, and that is about as far as I will trust their electronics

 

[dinorocker]

I doubt it. Ripping off Mackie (which is pretty cheapo to begin with) is dumb, calling it something similar to Onyx is dumber.

The only thing I actually own that is made by Behringer is a patchbay, and that is about as far as I will trust their electronics

I wouldn't be quite so harsh. I have had a few friends check out the new B mixers, and they say that apart from market position (low, but definitely in the same space as Mackie with their low-end mixers, and yes - the name is cheesy), there is little, if any, similarity between the B offerings and those from Mackie. This includes "mass market" USB connections from Behringer, as opposed to theup-market, more elite firewire connections from Mackie.

One should also remember that the real point of contention in the Xenyx-Onyx faceoff is the fact that both are low-end, digitally connected mixers. Mackie certainly doesn't own exclusive rights to that idea, so if someone else brings out something in that space, it is probably more of an endorsement of Mackie's position than a rip-off.

One should not forget that while the Behringer equipment is cheap, these low prices are what allow many people to get a start in the music field. Behringer obviously benefits from the Chinese mass manufacturing by being able to offer stuff at low prices, just as Mackie benefits from its "Made in the USA" position and greater quality control, albeit making them more expensive.

I'd say this is similar to Fender with its Mexican Strat models, or Gibson with their Epiphones. There is obviously a market for both.

I own a few pieces of Behringer equipment, and I also own other makes - I can honestly say that while you definitely get what you pay for, what you get from Behringer is well worth the money for a beginner.

 

[altitude909]

these low prices are what allow many people to get a start in the music field.

And when you are overwelmed with hiss, noisey everything, failing parts and a cruel joke of a warrenty system is it worth it? I doubt it. Just starting out and broke? Buy used gear

Every piece of Beh gear I have used (I run alot of sound boards) has been horrible. The noise floor through there analog gear is almost twice as high as anything else and all their gear degrades quickly under normal club environments. I know ppl that have had that Pioneer clone for less than a month before it started acting up.

Offering a fairly complex device as a USB mixer (usb no less) is asking for problems. If they cant get a easy analog device like a compressor to work right, why should I ever expect them to have a working USB audio interface. I would REALLY like to know how they plan to have 24 channels sent via USB

 

[pandamonk]

And when you are overwelmed with hiss, noisey everything, failing parts and a cruel joke of a warrenty system is it worth it? I doubt it. Just starting out and broke? Buy used gear

Every piece of Beh gear I have used (I run alot of sound boards) has been horrible. The noise floor through there analog gear is almost twice as high as anything else and all their gear degrades quickly under normal club environments. I know ppl that have had that Pioneer clone for less than a month before it started acting up.

Offering a fairly complex device as a USB mixer (usb no less) is asking for problems. If they cant get a easy analog device like a compressor to work right, why should I ever expect them to have a working USB audio interface. I would REALLY like to know how they plan to have 24 channels sent via USB

If you actually knew anything about it, you'd know that they aren't trying to send 24 via usb, but actually offering this with the mixers, for connection to the computer via the tape i/os.

 

[noisedude]

One should also remember that the real point of contention in the Xenyx-Onyx faceoff is the fact that both are low-end, digitally connected mixers.

But really, the Onyx stuff has been getting a very good reputation and is a few notches above its older range ... hardly low-end!

 

[thedaveness]

I am going to get one, with USB. For only one reason though. They are CHEAP. I fully understand that they are not quality and only expect to get out of them what I pay for them. Also I will not be taking them on the road due to reliablilty etc. It will sit in my house next to my computer and thats where it will stay. Mainly to mix and record simple demos on my computer. If you are looking for high end I would look further, but if you need a cheap, capable little mixer there really is no other alternative. Just don't expect the results to blow you away.
I dont think they are even worth bashing, because they are to cheap for me too give a shit.

 

[altitude909]

or connection to the computer via the tape i/os.

huh? what is tape i/os? That thing has optical SPDIF (useless) and it is only 2 channels, woo hoo.

For $20 more you can get a 16 Channel Yamaha MG which has the same functionality, and is light years ahead in sound quality

 

[pandamonk]

huh? what is tape i/os? That thing has optical SPDIF (useless) and it is only 2 channels, woo hoo.

For $20 more you can get a 16 Channel Yamaha MG which has the same functionality, and is light years ahead in sound quality

tape ins and outs. You know, the red n white phono ones

 

[dinorocker]

But really, the Onyx stuff has been getting a very good reputation and is a few notches above its older range ... hardly low-end!

I was talking about market segment, not quality.

FYI - I own an older 1204FX, and I have experienced none of the issues that friend altitude909 has experienced.

Of course, I *do* remember to turn off the noisy FX module if I was to use it to record (which I do not - I mix "in the box" at home, using a Delta 1010LT), and I don't use it in a club environment.

I use it for band practice, and as a fancy patch box. The pre-amps aren't $deity's gift to mankind, but they certainly do the job in the environment in which they are used (and which this unit was bought for).

For the price that I paid, I certainly got my money's worth.

I guess it boils down to what your expectations were when you bought the equipment. And my expectations were low to begin with - and what I got exceeded those expectations.

 

[dinorocker]

huh? what is tape i/os? That thing has optical SPDIF (useless) and it is only 2 channels, woo hoo.

The connectors at the top are RCAs - two for input, two for output. You can also use the optical SPDIF. And given that most recording is done a track at a time, this seems reasonable, and useful, especially when used with the low-end mixers that have only two output channels, anyway.

For $20 more you can get a 16 Channel Yamaha MG which has the same functionality, and is light years ahead in sound quality

Actually, you cannot, and that's apples and oranges. No YMG has digital i/o at that price you made up ($34+$20). In fact, the smallest YMG costs about $100, has 10 channels, and is pure analog. This is not knocking the quality of the YMGs, which is certainly decent.

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMMG102

The lowest priced 16 channel mixer in the MG series is the Yamaha MG164 16-Channel Mixer, which costs about $280.

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--YAMMG164

And, of course, a mixer != digital audio interface. So I am not quite sure what you are talking about, but it seriously is beginning to sound like an argument for argument's sake.

I didn't know that the USB interface is available separately - will pre-order one at zzounds.com for $30 plus shipping.

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHUCA202

Sounds like a useful gimmick to have in the kit bag.

 

[travelin travis]

so the new berry is in fact just a regular mixer that comes with separate 2 in/2 out $30 interface. the interface seems pretty much useless for use with the mixer. i could see buying the interface for a laptop rig on the cheap though.

 

[noisedude]

I was talking about market segment, not quality.

FYI - I own an older 1204FX, and I have experienced none of the issues that friend altitude909 has experienced.

Of course, I *do* remember to turn off the noisy FX module if I was to use it to record (which I do not - I mix "in the box" at home, using a Delta 1010LT), and I don't use it in a club environment.

I use it for band practice, and as a fancy patch box. The pre-amps aren't $deity's gift to mankind, but they certainly do the job in the environment in which they are used (and which this unit was bought for).

For the price that I paid, I certainly got my money's worth.

I guess it boils down to what your expectations were when you bought the equipment. And my expectations were low to begin with - and what I got exceeded those expectations.

There's nothing I can particularly disagree with there ... except to point out that the Mackie Onyx stuff is FAR ahead of any Behringer mixers I've heard. I had a UB1204 (no FX) for quite a while and never had any problems with it, it didn't sound great but it gave me four pres for recording with and that kept me happy for a time.

Peace,

Nik

 

[altitude909]

Um, the only thing that makes the Behringer mixer "digital" is that little 2 channel USB thing so it is just as analog as everything else. You could make any mixer just as digital by plugging that USB thing into it. Even Beh claims "Introducing XENYX: Premium Analog Mixers with USB from BEHRINGER"

That USB thing only has SPDIF OUT and it is optical, which is useless (no one uses optical SPDIF).

a mixer != digital audio interface

Thats a real stretch, you have a stereo input and stereo output. Your stock sound card has that

Pricewise, these are not all that either. I shall use a 16 chn MG yamaha as a reference (zzsounds)

Behringer XENYX 1622FX Mixer with Effects = $209
Yamaha MG164 16-Channel Mixer = $279

I didnt check the list price (only the MSRP) so it's $70 difference not $30 but you get 6 more preamps, 4 busses (beh has 2), so thats a whole hell of a lot more mixer for $70

You should also take note that the cheapest Xenyx that actually comes with the USB interface is the 1240 which lists a 139.95. You could buy a Soundcraft compact 4 mixer(99$) and the Beh USB interface for less than that

 

[MadAudio]

Maybe they should've called it the Xanax!

 

[travelin travis]

hey now, there's not a damn thing wrong with xanax........don't tarnish the image of a perfectly good drug like that.

 

[countrylac]

Yamaha MW Series

At the end of the month Yamaha will be selling a usb mixer. It looks like a usb version of the mg and I for one will be one of the first people to cop it. I have some mackie stuff and a mg (which I sold a week ago when I saw the ad for the mw). I do some live recording work for churches from time to time and I only record to two channels even when I use an interface with more inputs, so this will be perfect. I know its not as good as an onyx or a soundcraft M series, but it should be better than the behringer stuff and the alesis usb mixers.

 

[travelin travis]

Does the mw all inputs to be recorded over usb or just stereo? It looks like it's just stereo.

 

[countrylac]

It may just be stereo, it's hard to tell from the specs.

 

[altitude909]

Its stereo in/out (look at the brochure)