Should I get the Behringer MX9000

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Member Since: Oct 01, 2002

This is the first forum I've found that doesn't automatically trash Behringer just because..
I am going to upgrade my console. I like the features and most of all the price of the Behringer MX9000. But, this may be the last board I buy, so I am really checking things out carefully.
Would I be foolish to buy the MX9000?, or is it just as good as the Mackie 2482?
I would also appreciate any insights into the Behringer vs Mackie debate from this community.
Thanx,
mike

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 01, 2002 10:48 am

Oooohhhhh, you are going to find most of us here have Behringer and love it, the other Admin (who is out of town at the moment) has 3 Behringer mixers, acouple Behringer patchbays and some other Behringer stuff.

For the other visitors here, this is the board he is refering to: service.bfast.com/bfast/c...mp;bfmtype=gear

To me it's a foolish debate, they are both great mixers, I personally hear no real difference between the two, I will not say either one is better than the other, but considering Behringer is half the price that makes my decision right there. If there was a substantial sound difference (or any difference for that matter) I would have went for the Mackie, but there isn't so I didn't.

Through the years we have had many people come here from other forums because they have gotten frustrated at other forums for peeps trashing Behringer for no other reason than "Mackie is better". Personally, I need a little better info than that ;-)

Behringers preamps are nice, their console control is nice, smooth knobs and faders, the EQ is very good, and it has a very transparent, clean and strong sound.

For myself, and most people here the Behringer is the best bet for quality and price. Most of us our hobby musicians and project studio owners and a few (like myself) have studio that actually bring in a decent portion of the family income, and Behringer has worked well for all of us at all levels.

I can't wait to see what the remainder of this thread is like, I am sure more folks will chime in saying pretty much the same thing.

In closing, I want to say welcome to the community, you are actually member number 200! We relaunched the website in the end of April 2002 after moving platforms and servers so what you are seeing here has been built since then. So 200 registered members in that time...hmmmmm, not too bad.

Welcome aboard, stop back anytime, we love to talk :-)

Member
Since: Oct 01, 2002


Oct 01, 2002 11:24 am

Perhaps I could shed a bit of light on the Mackie vs. Behringer question. I work in college audio-visuals as well as a home recording studio. Since budget is very important in both areas I'm always on the look out for good, cheap stuff. I have both Mackie and Behringer mixers: Mackie 1202 VLZ and 1402, and Behringer MX602 and 1002.

Since our school has an electronics program I was able to do a bit of testing on both brands with some slightly more sophisticated equipment than "Hey, that sounds pretty cool..." The thing of most interest to me was testing the mixers with a square-wave generator. A square wave of any frequency will tell you if the frequency response is reasonably flat out to 10 times the wave's frequency, or to one-tenth of the wave's frequency (rounding off of the leading or trailing edge is the clue). Sharpness of the leading edge also gives you a clue to the transient response of the circuit.

The Mackie's response to the square wave indicates that its response time in all sections of the mixer, but especially in the mic preamp, is somewhat superior to the Behringer's -- something like flat out to 100 kHz or so whereas the Behringers I tried seem to roll off at around 40-50 kHz. The Mackie's transient response is also quicker than the Behringer.

In the real world, it took careful listening to see any difference between the two. But there is a little difference. The Mackies, when you put a digital percussive signal through them, like a drum or piano recording, have a bit more "snap"
to the signal than the Behringers. This is with VERY close listening and a real attempt to set equal levels.

So -- for critical music recording, I would probably go toward the Mackies, just because they seem to handle the really high frequencies better. That said, I will give the Behringers real props for good pricing! For most workaday recording the Behringers have been up to the job and produce a very acceptable sound quality. Plus they're built like tanks!

Overall, I'd say -- just listen. Your ears ARE reliable!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 01, 2002 11:48 am

Thanks for the interesting insight, I wish I had access to tools like that, that could be fun. I can't and won't argue with a square wave generator, I have used them before and they can be very informative if, as you stated, you know how to read them.

That said, and as you said, I have thrown a lot at my Behringer and never had a problem yet, it did save me a ton of money and my clients are still very happy with any work I have done.

If I had oodles of money burning a hole in my pocket, I probably wouldn't choose either Mackie or Behringer but lean more toward a full ProTools or Nuendo system, hardware and software. But, as long as money is a factor, Behringer will get my dollars every time :-)

Thanks again for the interesting insight, very cool, and welcome to the community, I see from your user record you are a new registrant as well. We could use a dude like you around here.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 01, 2002 11:47 pm

I have used both of them, and as dB stated I now own only Behringer gear. You can look at all the spec's you want, and yes according to that, the Mackie may come in up front. But not far enough ahead to justify that high of a price tag. When I switched to Behringer I jumped in head first purchasing 2 of them at once. I have never looked back. I also use their compressor's and FX unit's and have never had a lick of trouble with any of it. I do a lot of sonicly sensative work, creating sample's and intricate and delicate sound scape's, so good audio quality is needed here. I have never had anyonw complain about noise, or sonicly inferior sound coming from these mixer's.

So Behringer get's my vote every time. I could easily afford a Mackie or better, but my money is better spent on other thing's needed and or just wanted.

Contributor
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 02, 2002 10:33 am

ive got a behringer 1804x.. and have never had any problems with it. line noise is non-existant. and like someone else said, they are built like tanks.

i personally have never been able to hear any differences between their sound quality.. but i have been able to see the price difference.

when i get ready to upgrade my mixer, im definitely getting another behringer.

Member
Since: Oct 01, 2002


Oct 02, 2002 11:15 am

This thread has been great. It has helped me to make up my mind to purchase the MX9000.

Rock on,
Mike

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 02, 2002 11:18 am

Awesome! We will have yet another happy Behringer evangelist in our midst :-)

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Oct 02, 2002 11:19 am

Basically everyone on this board uses a Behringer mixer. We love em.

Brother in Christ
Member
Since: Jun 12, 2002


Oct 02, 2002 01:53 pm

Err...I use a Mackie, can I still be on the board? :D

That was very interesting reading. I would point out that the frequencies that robert saw the roll off was at 40-50 kHz. Well above the human ear's range. I didn't know about Behringer when I bought my Mackie or I probably would be using Behringer instead. Just can't beat that price!

Blessings, Terry

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Oct 02, 2002 02:14 pm

Sorry Terry, we are going to have to kick you out now...it's been fun having your around, but...well, we just can't have your kind here ;-)

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Oct 02, 2002 09:23 pm

I think he was kidding?

Brother in Christ
Member
Since: Jun 12, 2002


Oct 03, 2002 09:16 am

:D

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Oct 03, 2002 02:22 pm

...I still use a phonics... :| but you love me, I can stay right?

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Oct 03, 2002 11:09 pm

Sounds like I am a little late to help, but oh well better late.....

Have the MX9000 and it is faba-u-less! Simply a sweet mixer for a 24 channel studio. Intuitive, simple, clean, and excelent sound! I feed an HD24 with it, and it is a hard combo to beat! I'm presently using it for everything from radio and tv ad production to recording demo's for a 17 piece big band. No complanits from a client to date. I appreciate the lab testing mentioned earlier, however, in a real world setting with mic's, cables, room acustics, amplifiers, effect units, pick ups, ad on infinum.... null set! Buy the Bear-ring-er! Live happy....use the saved bucks on a damn good mic! You'll love yourself later for it!

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Oct 09, 2002 03:31 pm

I've got a small 8 channel Behringer Eurorack and I think It's a great deal. I've never had any problems and I love the look/feel of the whole board. It's build just as tough as the Mackie's from what I can tell, and the sound sounds great. No complaints. I love the compact size and wealth of features. In fact, the comparable Mackie doesn't even have sliders on the channels, and I believe it costs more.

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