Behringer

[MadGutts 0]

I have started this poll as i have had various Behringer kit come in and out of my workshop. Today i have just opened 2 (out of 10) new DEQ2496 DSP's and they are both faulty.

 

I was wondering if any one else had any problems with behringer kit and and what with?

Also let us know if your opinion of behringer is higher or lower that when you first had one of there products.

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/drama2.gif

[Kingy 0]

I have had bits from behringer that have been faulty, but have a lot of their stuff which is fine. I think their quality control is pretty poor personally.

 

Budget gear is always the same..... I usually avoid it, but the Behringer EQs are great.

 

What were the faults?

[brianmole 0]

I bought a comp/limiter thing, and I think it works. I also bought an eq and that's fine.

 

Both in the last 2 months...

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

I have vmx 1000 mixer. Other than producing high mic output its ok.

[MadGutts 0]

The VMX is a high mic output, but the behringer warrenty repair company told me that is normal! try convincing a dj that !

 

The 2 latest DEQ's both "trip out" One will sit for about 5 minutes, then start clicking the relay, the other takes a few moments to turn on and "boot"... then may/maynot decide to trip...

 

Both are very tempremental. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/014.gif

[spirito 0]

I have had a DJX700 mixer and its a great bit of kit.

[John Kidd 0]

I Have alot of Behringer Kit that is all good and works fine, the only problem that i have had is with my DX1000 mixers, both of them develop Dry Joints all over the board, across mic channels and the cd channels, they start appearing at 13 months and keep going until you spend a day blanket soldering, then no problems!

[YourBigEvent 0]

You get what you pay...........

[jeffwall 0]

QUOTE (MadGutts @ Sep 28 2005, 02:02 PM)

The VMX is a high mic output, but the behringer warrenty repair company told me that is normal! try convincing a dj that !

ive had to have a resistor (200 ohm) fitted to my sm58 coz of the very high (too high) beringer mixer mic output

And i know others who done the same

Trouble is when you take your mic to a walk in job, it wont work properly coz of the resistor!

2 MICS SOLVES THE PROB BUT NOT IDEAL!

[norty303 0]

The DCX and DEQ2496 have both got well documented probs with both I/O boards, and and board to board connections and component legs left too long so they touch the casing.

 

My 8024ultracurve is still going very well though. Composers/Pro also seem to stand up well

[transeurope 0]

Over the years Behringer kit has improved in Quality Control. Initially it was quite poor. Who says that? One Mr Uli Behringer. See the postings on newsgroups (Deja) before you jump down my throat on that.

 

And yes, it is THAT Uli Behringer, have no doubt about it. Behringer have an active and exhaustive legal department and they would ensure it was taken down if it was a spoof.

 

What has changed is how dealers portray Behringer. Back in a time when Behringer was mass-advertised in Germany and sold for low money, many shops sold it in the UK for a fortune. It paid them to pre-test the kit before selling, to play down faults with the gear and convince the user it was user error and to replace units that were faulty with brand new ones.

 

These days most dealers don't want to sell Behringer, but the customer demands it. When it goes wrong they are only too delighted to tell the customer what a fool he was to buy cheap gear etc etc. In fact even when the gear doesn't go wrong, but simple user error is the issue, dealers still assure the customer that it is faulty. Ask any Behringer repair centre. Upto 40% of returned goods are not faulty.

 

Madd Gutts the VMX1000 is a "hot mic" mixer, however there have been issues with the mic channel of that mixer. Going to the extreme of wiring resistors into microphones is unnecessary. There is a fix for particular VMX1000s that had what I would call VERY "hot mics" and it involves taking OUT a resistor in the mixer. It a is very common warranty repair in Germany and the US. Ask your service centre about it. If they don't know what you are talking about, report them to Behringer, because I know for a fact that it is in the service database.

 

Batches of DEQ2496 are problematic and frequently replaced by Behringer on warranty return. When they work though, they work great.

 

I never heard of the driverack thing though http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/huh.gif

 

New one on me, but perhaps something that I have just not come across...

[jeffwall 0]

QUOTE (transeurope @ Sep 28 2005, 08:22 PM)

Going to the extreme of wiring resistors into microphones is unnecessary.

May be......but a 50p resistor fitted in 5 mins solved the problem! Saved me going through the route of getting it sent back and waiting ages for a fixed one etc etc

Otherwise a very good mixer and sound quality is brill

[Kingy 0]

QUOTE (Jeffwall @ Sep 28 2005, 10:11 PM)

QUOTE (transeurope @ Sep 28 2005, 08:22 PM) Going to the extreme of wiring resistors into microphones is unnecessary. May be......but a 50p resistor fitted in 5 mins solved the problem! Saved me going through the route of getting it sent back and waiting ages for a fixed one etc etc Otherwise a very good mixer and sound quality is brill I would not have put the resistor in the mic, I would have put it in the cable, and marked the cable accordingly. Then you could still use the mic for other things.   The real reason retailers slate Behringer? Less than 20% mark up!!

[norty303 0]

QUOTE

I never heard of the driverack thing though  New one on me, but perhaps something that I have just not come across...

 

here's a link to a thread about them on ProSoundWeb. Near the bottom there's a link to another thread detailing the fixes one can do to cure them.

 

http://srforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/...b634b5#msg_7532

 

You might need to copy/paste into address bar coz its wrapped

 

I've done all the fixes on mine now, the last one was to reseat the ribbon connectors using switch cleaner in the process. Been clean as a whistle since.

 

There was comments elsewhere that one of their mixers used the same connectors and suffered similar probs. Shame such a good, well featured unit is let down by some 1p parts.

 

Still, i can buy 3 for less than a dbx DR260 and when they run they're superb. I will be getting a second so i can run my system in stereo.

 

 

[transeurope 0]

Quality contribution Norty. Very interesting.

 

I sure wish I could believe in some of the premium brands as much as these guys do. I have had gig-ending failures with Yamaha, Carver, Allen & Heath, Pioneer etc.

 

Touch wood a Behringer has never actually caused me to shut down. I have had some troublesome units but not terminal during a gig.

 

I have a particular problem with "high-end" amps. Bose, Carver, Crown, QSC, Matrix, you name it they have all failed completely on me without abuse. This has yet to happen with my trusty Behringer or Numark amps.

 

The only "premium" brand that has never failed me is Labgruppen. These are crazy money to Joe Punter though and I know "the right people" get them at substantial discount, close to 50% off list. If they want to play ball only with their pals, let them...I can live without.

 

Nice contribution thought Norty. Thanks.

[norty303 0]

Prosoundweb is very American, and populated mostly by live sound people. They certainly have a way of looking down their noses at DJ's or nonmixed music styles. The American market is based very much on brands, especially for rider friendliness.

 

They often quote JBL as being up there as far as 'pro' gear is concerned, whereas this side of the pond its not very well respected unless you're dealing with the top of range stuff - clearly SR is not a good system!!

 

The benefit of buying big brands is generally for the support that they provide compared to smaller brands. Most of the big names (I was surprised to see Yamaha in your list BTW - have you seen they now own a chunk of Nexo, can't wait to see what comes of that - if you've never heard of Nexo you really MUST seek out a PS15 system or Alpha rig (same as Radio1 use for outdoor stuff), aural porn!!) will have VERY fast turnarounds on breakdowns or supply loan gear until fixed because of the mission critical nature of these products. Thats where smaller companies fall down (see the PSW post about not having heard anything for months from Behringer)

 

Lab Gruppen are stunning amps agreed.

 

 

Sorry for the OT.. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/533.gif

[jeffwall 0]

QUOTE (Kingy @ Sep 29 2005, 08:16 AM)

I would not have put the resistor in the mic, I would have put it in the cable, and marked the cable accordingly. Then you could still use the mic for other things.

Fair point that kingy! will un solder it and put into the cable cheers (god knows why i didnt think that at the time too easy i suppose http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html//emoticons/tongue.gif

[superstardeejay 0]

I'm a service engineer, a little biased 'cos I only see broken equipment but I have very specific views on Behringer.

 

Most stuff is Good Value For Money, I've repaired a couple of their DJ mixers which failed as a result of the mains transformer being wrongly wired from new.

 

I've repaired about 10 of the B300 powered speakers which rattle themselves apart regularly; they suffer metal fatigue within the PCB's.

 

I've had several band PA desks which have failed as a result of bad soldering.

 

Most of the stuff is a cut above the other 'budget' brands (which Behringer undoubtedly are) and remain good value given their price.

 

Behringer use sub-contractors in Taiwan/China to manufacture their products so it's down to them. Their speakers and amplifiers are made by the same company who make Warrior, DAP Audio, Prosound, DARE, Carlsbro, Audiohead etc, a firm called Guangzoung Wind Force Electric Co!

 

Guangzoung Windforce Electric Company

 

Their studio rack products are brilliant.