New Behringer vs Vintage Tascam

  • Thread starter Thread starter BeatleFred
  • Start date Start date
Personally, I would avoid Behringer just based on principle. Companies that survive by knocking off products of other companies are parasites. The original companies sell less gear as a result, then put less into R&D or cut corners to survive. We all lose.

How good the Tascam sounds will depend on its condition. Any older gear may or may not have issues. But at least they can usually be fixed, unlike their Chinese counterparts.
I've never A-B'd a Tascam and a Behringer, but I've had both at different times (many years ago I bought a small Behringer mixer, then quickly returned it when I heard how noisy it was). I'd go with the Tascam.
 
I don't know. Going forward the Tascam will be easier to repair, but I'd be leery of buying one because it's going to be 30 years old or so and the prospect of recapping and replacing faders on that many channels is a big turn-off, at least for me.
 
I would look for a nicer new one in about that same price range, like maybe a Yamaha.
 
I'd never buy a Behringer.

As for new Behringer vs. old Tascam, well, they're both going to break...the difference is when it happens, you can actually fix the Tascam. I would also expect the Behringer to have a comparatively more anemic sound and lack of headroom, and overall cheap-feeling tactile experience. The Tascams were built to last. Behringers are disposable--built to work for a while, then there's a failure so you go buy another. It's a real shame, the products aren't great and the company is slimy. My disclaimer is that I haven't used that particular Behringer; I know it's vogue to slam Behringer, but I've sometimes had to use their gear as furnished by others so this is what I'm basing my thoughts on. My experience with Behringer has been that of 100% displeasure.
 
Well, the Behringer will probably be easier on your back than the M-520. That said, I'd concur with the above, the Tascam is going to be easier to repair, but caveat, given age, may need repair sooner. I've can't say I've A/B's these two particular boards sound wise. Price wise, you can find M-520 for half or less than the new Behringer. Also, the Tascam power supply I'd expect will be more robust and the M-520 no smd components. Feature wise they are fairly comparable, the Behiringer has 2 more aux sends, and more input capability. Also, more metering, although I prefer needles over LEDs and I'm not sure you really *need* VU on the channels (although it's nice)
 
For $1500...find a used TASCAM 3500 or 3700.

Better than a M520 and certianly bettet than that Behringer.
 
I agree with everything...

We have a 1224 here at work...It was cheap. It does the job. It is in a non-critical environment whoch is why I picked it. Cost was key.

I had a UB802...sucked the life out of everything I put through it, like it had a hard limiter inline with the input and my hunch is that it was a power rail issue for starters.

They're cheap. I think for non-critical work and with their smaller units there's nothing wrong with them, but if you have more critical work to do or are trying to fill a need for a larger unit I wouldn't do it, especially not for $1500...sheesh. I can certainly see dropping $1500 for a newer well-maintained Tascam 8 group mixer, and +1 to the suggestion toward Yamaha. There are others I'd be picking before Behringer, and I'm not a Behringer basher per se...I just think its wise to be choosy about what applications you include their products in the realm of choices and a 24 x 8 x 24 mixer ain't one of 'em AFAIC.

I have one of their headphone amps and a 2-way stereo/3-way mono crossover. I'm happy with both.
 
miroslav said:
For $1500...find a used TASCAM 3500 or 3700.

Better than a M520 and certianly bettet than that Behringer.
Click to expand...

Amen to that, a Tascam M3500 or M3700 would crush that Behringer in terms of sound and quality, the Behringer is probably a little quieter, but otherwise there's no comparison. Of course, those Tascams sold new for, what $10-15k depending on options. To be honest I like the faders in the M3700 better than the ones in the big old MCI console I've replaced it with--and that was $60,000 when it was new in 1980 and I consider the fader feel and taper of the MCi a slight downgrade! Heck, I have an M3700 for sale for half the price of that new Behringer, not trying to plug it, just illustrating a point (and admitting a little bias hehe) :D Personally, I wouldn't buy the Behringer if it were half the price. YMMV!
 
Didn't Behringer just buy out another company recently? I was thinking it was a notable audio equipment company. Not that any of Behringer's equipment would immediately benefit from the acquisition, but maybe something to watch for in the next year or two??
 
jjones1700 said:
Didn't Behringer just buy out another company recently? I was thinking it was a notable audio equipment company. Not that any of Behringer's equipment would immediately benefit from the acquisition, but maybe something to watch for in the next year or two??
Click to expand...

Hmm, I hadn't realized it, but it looks like they bought out Midas and Klark Teknik, both makers of time-tested high quality gear (and fairly expensive). Call me pretentious, but I'm feeling very cynical about that one.
 
Oh, if those are the companies then, I'm not concerned with it. I'll stick with my Tascam and Soundmaster boards.
 
Just say no to Behringer!

It's both a sound quality and quality control issue for me. But even if you where personally ok with the sound of the Behringer unit for what you're using it for the QC is going to bite you and probably sooner than later. While a Tascam unit like the M-520 will age gracefully, Behringer has a rep of failing in bits and pieces around the time the warranty runs out.

Some people will compare Behringer to Tascam saying that Behringer is doing basically what Tascam did in time past by bringing quality affordable products to the masses. But there’s no comparison. The old Tascam company had a tradition of well researched and engineered original products proudly made in the country of origin, Japan, by people who cared about reputation and long term customer satisfaction.

Behringer was once a good company with products made in Germany, but was one of the first to go to dark side of outsourcing to China. Vintage Tascam gear may or may not need major service and repair, but if/when it does it’s more practical and easier to do… and worth the trouble. Behringer products are temporary, more comparable to disposable razors or something of that nature. The products for the most part are future doorstops and paperweights waiting to happen.

I have a couple vintage Behringer products made in Germany. These are fine products from that era, but that Behringer is no more and exists in name only.
 
Oh don't get me wrong Tim, I'd take a beat-to-hell Mackie over any Behringer, any day. I've grown to be a bit of a Tascam fanatic, so that is what I usually go with nowadays. Well, other than the Studiomaster which sounds oh so nice.
 
Beck said:
Just say no to Behringer!

It's both a sound quality and quality control issue for me. But even if you where personally ok with the sound of the Behringer unit for what you're using it for the QC is going to bite you and probably sooner than later. While a Tascam unit like the M-520 will age gracefully, Behringer has a rep of failing in bits and pieces around the time the warranty runs out.

Some people will compare Behringer to Tascam saying that Behringer is doing basically what Tascam did in time past by bringing quality affordable products to the masses. But there’s no comparison. The old Tascam company had a tradition of well researched and engineered original products proudly made in the country of origin, Japan, by people who cared about reputation and long term customer satisfaction.

Behringer was once a good company with products made in Germany, but was one of the first to go to dark side of outsourcing to China. Vintage Tascam gear may or may not need major service and repair, but if/when it does it’s more practical and easier to do… and worth the trouble. Behringer products are temporary, more comparable to disposable razors or something of that nature. The products for the most part are future doorstops and paperweights waiting to happen.

I have a couple vintage Behringer products made in Germany. These are fine products from that era, but that Behringer is no more and exists in name only.
Click to expand...

Yeah...I can tell you from having a number of Tascam 80's products totally torn apart (by choice, not necessity) that they were masters at reaching price points via smart decisiions. Totally no comparison should be made between the two companies. They went beyond some "standards" for the sake of quality in some of their component selections. The M-300 mixers are a prime example. They had a conscience about how they reached their price points and that plays out in the longevity and performance of those products.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top