Which of these mixers would you buy?

  • Thread starter Thread starter misterx
  • Start date Start date

Which mixer would you purchase?

  • Behringer MX2442A 16 mono 4 stereo $600.00

    Votes: 10 27.8%

  • Yamaha MX20/6 16 mono 2 stereo $750.00

    Votes: 6 16.7%

  • Mackie CFX20 16 mono 2 stereo $900.00

    Votes: 20 55.6%
  • Total voters
    36
M

misterx

New member
I've narrowed my choices down to the following, based on available money and studio needs.

Beheringer EURODESK MX2442A 16 mono 4 stereo - $600.00
http://www.behringer.com/02_products/prodindex.cfm?id=MX2442A&lang=eng


Yamaha MX20/6 16 mono 2 stereo - $750.00 *
http://www.yamaha.com/cgi-win/webcgi.exe/DsplyModel/?gLMC00008MX+CONSOLES


Mackie CFX20 - 16 mono 2 stereo - $900.00 *
http://mackie.com/Products/CFX_Series/CFX20.asp


* Have on board effects.

I'm leaning towards the Behringer due to it has more channels. Plus it's cheaper and I don't need the built in effects of the other two units. I currently own a Behringer mixer and no one has ever complained about the mix quality. However, I want to use the new mixer on my new cd so I'm willing to purchase one of the other units if the end result would be superior to the Behringer.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
 
I know everyone has their opinions. I have owned a small Behringer mixer for small quickie projects and haven't had any problems with it either. But... Do some searches on Behringer mixers on this BBS. There are too many really bad reviews and experiences from too many people with these mixers to ignore.

Reputation means a lot when I'm making an investment, and most of the folks here have earned their knowlege the hard way - I'm usually not willing to learn lessons the hard way if I don't have to.

I currently use an older Yamaha mixer for recording, and I love it (I just dig the analog VU's). But I've worked with mostly Mackies (live and studio), and (in my opinion) that's the best quality mixer of the 3.
 
Hi Seanmorse79,

Thanks for the reply. I guess the next question would be, will the extra $300.00 make a difference in the bottom line of the sound? And I have researched the comments on this forum. Alot of Behringer bashing. :) Thanks for your comments.
 
I got a Beheringer MX8000 because the Mackie 8 Bus
was to expensive, I had never used a Beheringer mixer
before, just heard a lot of bad things about them.
because of the big price difference I had to go for the
Beheringer and surprise, it's a very,very good mixer.

Beheringer have defiantly done a lot of thing that I don't
agree with but I have never given there products a bad
revue unless I've used them and I wasn't impressed with them.

I think if a lot more people did this instead of just copying
what every body is saying, it would make choosing a
product a lot easier.

I've used mixers from Mackie, Mitec, Yamaha and now Beheringer,
and I think the MX8000 is a very good mixer I defiantly wouldn't
think twice about getting a Beheringer mixer again.

Save the $300 and get a nice Microphone or pre-amp.

Ty :-)))
 
Hey Ty,

I did alot of research and while there seems to be alot of copy-cat Berhinger bashing I have yet to see any real comments about the MX2442A that make it a bad mixer. There are a TON of bad posts about the CXF20 in the newsgroups. That has me concerned about the Mackie. But the Yamaha and the Behringer surprisingly have very negative comments on the newsgroups. I'd still like to know if you were blind folded and the same mix was running on all 3, would there REALLY be any noticeable difference sonically? I'm starting to doubt that there would be. Hmmmm... Thanks for the comments.
 
i use the CFX 16 (i assume it is similar to the CFX 20)all the time at the bar where i am the house sound tech. great board for live, except if you need more than 2 monitor sends or 2 effect sends. Eq is limited (only 1 sweepeble mid), but it works. also the built in graphic eq is helpful........HOWEVER: it is designed as a live board! you cant disable the graphic eq, and there are no direct outs on the channels. also, you HAVE to assign to a subgroup to get signal to the mains. there are no control room outs..... the list goes on.
it is a good board, just not for recording. i would reccomend the mackie 1604...less channels, but more features that will be helpful in the studio. or get an allen and heath....way more features than similar sized mackies, but more money. pre amps sound warmer. but i wouldnt get a CFX for the studio
 
Yo' Mr.X, this is Mr.Q and you already KNOW how I feel about
Beh mixers!
 
Well, here's another way of looking at it... mic pre's will definitely make a difference, and the Mackie's are better - hands down. I can't say for sure about the Yamaha.

But, other things will make a BIGGER difference. If you're most concerned about vocals, you could go with the Behringer and do like Ty said, and get a good mic and preamp.

There are a million things that will affect the quality of your sound, and I've had to learn a lot of things the hard way. If you're happy with the sound of the Behringer you have, then maybe the money can be spent better elsewhere. I don't think anyone's going to argue that the Mackie is the better mixer with better pres, but is it $300 better? .... that, you'll have to decide for yourself.

Good luck in either case,

Sean
 
I wont say you cant do good quality work on a Behringer mixer but you would be a fool to believe it will still sound as good as a Mackie or Soundcraft.

In your price range the analog Mackie's or Soundcraft M would be your best bet.

If you do decide to try a Behringer go turn up all the trim pots and volume faders and see how much noise you get. Do the same on a Mackie to compare. That is the best way to determine how quiet a board will be. On top of that you will have much greater headroom before distortion on the better mixers.

Once again, I am not saying that Behringer's are crap or their users are idiots. I am just saying the difference in quality is pretty obvious, though.
 
Our Behringer was in the shop more than it was in use. The 32x8 was junk. We got the Mackie 32x4 and have not looked back. Avoid the Behringer at all costs.

T
 
900 is a bit steep for a 2 bus board and no direct outs with only 2 aux sends. What happens if you want to track a band but have them play live?? Or what if you want to do live sound?

Do yourself a favor and don't get a board that doesn't have direct outs on it or at least 8 busses I mean getting individual tracks to tape really gives you a ton more options.

For 900 dollars you could get a 32 channel 8 buss board by behringer that would give you a hell of a lot more options.

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=3424&Category=Mixers

For 799 you get 32 channel 4 buss and 16 direct outs and digital effects

http://www.8thstreet.com/product.asp?ProductCode=3422&Category=Mixers

I don't care what anyone says about Behringer. Thge fact is that the Mackie board is simply not worth it. Have you looked on EBAY?? There are some great deals on ebay....go check it out.

Beezoboy
 
Beezo, You are saying that Behringer is a better value than Mackie?

They are cheaper yes, but a Mackie or Soundcraft is worth every penny they cost. A behringer is not worth the gas money to go and pick one up.

The analog Mackie's have inserts on every preamp channel. The smaller Behringers do not.

I would recomend a Behringer if somebody was just starting out and got one of their under $200 models just to play and learn with. To pay $800 for anything of theirs is a huge waste of money in the long run. Especially if you look at the relative resale values.
 
Thanks for the comments, did some MORE research, based on my input needs, these are now the models I am considering. I don't think I can afford anything over $750.00, but I threw those in here just to hear some comments...

Behringer Eurodesk MX2442A 16 mono 4 stereo $600.00
Spirit Soundcraft Spirit SX 12 mono 4 stereo $675.00
Spirit M Series M12 12 mono 4 stereo $700.00
Yamaha MX20/6 16 mono 2 stereo $750.00
Mackie CFX20 - 16 mono 2 stereo with effects! $900.00

Allen & Heath WZ20S Stereo Source Console 4 mono 8 stereo $1400.00 - THIS is my dream mixer!!!
 
Why are you ruling out used?

If you would like to spend $700 or so, get a Mackie 1604 VLX PRO used. Shop locally or check eBay. The first one I pulled up had a buy it now for $675.

You get 16x4x2x1 and GREAT preamps.

T
 
I guess my point here is, do not let $$$ limit the quality of what you are looking at. If you can find a nice, low mileage Mackie, grab it. A decent used Mackie is a 100% improvement over ANY Behringer. The 1604VLZPRO is amazing. Really, the ones with built in effects are better for live. You are not going to get the same results in the studio....

T
 
I don't know what they go for now, but the Allen & Heath Mix Wizard and the Studiomaster Trilogy both went for just under $1000 a few years ago when I bought them, and I think either one would be better than a Mackie 1604VLZ.
 
I recently purchased a Soundcraft Spirit M12, and I find it a great board for recording. The pres sound great, it has balanced direct outs, direct pre switches, etc., yadda yadda. In short, it's a really nice board, so much so that when you hear the pres, you'll wonder how they could ever sell the board that cheap.

And I'd have to agree with MINIMUTT that the Allen & Heath boards would smoke the Mackie 1604 for recording.
 
Go with Berry overy the other 2. It will sound as good and you can use the money you sabed for a decent headphone amp or mic.

DA
 
David, You are flat out wrong. The Ber WILL NOT sound just as good.
 
Chris F said:

And I'd have to agree with MINIMUTT that the Allen & Heath boards would smoke the Mackie 1604 for recording.
Click to expand...


MINIMUTT???:eek: :( :confused: :mad:

I'll have you know I'm a 100% pedigreed Old American Fat-ass! :D
 
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