which powermixer?

[Freaky Styley]

hi! I'm buying a powermixer for my band. It shjould be used in small clubs. my budget is about 400$.

I decided to buy behringer. But i dont know which of these 2 to choose:
http://www.behringer.com/PMH880S/index.cfm?lang=ENG
http://www.behringer.com/PMH880S/PMH880S_medium.jpg
OR
http://www.behringer.com/PMH3000/index.cfm?lang=ENG
http://www.behringer.com/PMH3000/PMH3000_medium.jpg

i like second one more because of it's looks, but the first one seems to have better features...

What do you think? Which one would you choose?

[RainsongDR1000]

personally, neither. While it seems Behringer has a lot more power/features etc. for the dollar, it's reliablilty has come into question more than once on this and other forums. For $400 I'd look into the new Carvin XP650 ($399). For an extra $100 you can get the XP880, 8 channel w/ clip lights on ea, channel, Stereo main + monitor amps, 800 watts.

[Freaky Styley]

carvin products are not available here.

please just tell me which would you choose if these were the only 2 powered mixers in the world.

[ratthedd]

After all the horrible things I've heard about Behringer, I think I'd try one of these first:

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/63/630923.jpg

Soundcraft GigRac for $299.





http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/63/630098.jpg

Yamaha EMX66m for $359.




http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/63/631360.jpg

Peavey MP600 for $299.


Obviously, if you've already decided that you are going to buy a Behringer, there's nothing anybody here can say to make you change your mind, but maybe you should check out a few other options before you commit you hard earned money to a brand which has a less than stellar reputation in the PA community.

[J.]

Where are you located? My first choice for a low cost powered mixer would be Peavey. I love the XR600F and the newer version (the XR600G) is supposed to be even better. I'd take Peavey over Behringer any day.

As for the two choices you provided... I pick the first one.

[Preacher Will]

Originally posted by J.
Where are you located? My first choice for a low cost powered mixer would be Peavey. I love the XR600F and the newer version (the XR600G) is supposed to be even better. I'd take Peavey over Behringer any day.

As for the two choices you provided... I pick the first one.

J. has one of the acceptable answers. Peavey's powered mixers are great bang-for-buck workhorses with good features that actually work and excellent reliability. They're not the most powerful boxes you buy (you'd have to go to Yoorkville for those) but quite suitable for smaller gigs (frankly, about the only place a pa-on-a-stick works). They are also readily available used.

Here's one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41474&item=7324958380&rd=1

Another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41474&item=7324710179&rd=1

[ChuckM]

Yamaha all the way.

[Freaky Styley]

Peavey mixers are not available here. I can choose yamaha, but 66m cost almost 500 euro here.

Please, can you tell me which behringer you would choose, feature-wise.

Thank you for your time.

[tlbonehead]

Originally posted by Freaky Styley
Peavey mixers are not available here. I can choose yamaha, but 66m cost almost 500 euro here.

Please, can you tell me which behringer you would choose, feature-wise.

Thank you for your time. Where in the heck is Peavey not available? What is,besides Behr? Phonic? As for the two Behr choices,which ever one you personally like better. They will probably perform similarly and break down in similar fashion too. Not a big deal if you aren't in a position where you have to count on it working.

[DaBender]

The top one gives you 2 eq's, the bottom gives you 1 with a feedback detection system. The top one appears to have one monitor send, while the bottom has two. Buy the one with the features that appeal to you.

[Freaky Styley]

Thanks for your answer, dabender.


Guys from the store guarantee that behringer will work as good as any other mixer.

There are some phonic mixers here, as well as alesis and yamahas.

Would it meybe be better to buy used dynacord for the same money?

what should i check on used powered mixers?

[Singin' Dave]

Freaky,

There are a lot of us here who have had very embarrassing and often expensive (time & money) breakdowns of Behringer equipment, particularly (in my case) their mixers. The memory of the pain and aggravation wrought by these supposedly "reliable but cheap" products causes many of us to be a bit over emphatic in our advise against their products (Twice = shame on me). This is even more the case with powered mixers - when a powered mixer goes down on you.......end of show, so go with proven reliability whenever possible.

Used is a great way to go if possible...just be sure to test ALL channels and functions (tape in/out, master busses, patches etc.) BEFORE you buy!

I'm surprised that Peavey doesn't have a dealer in Europe---rock solid performers. Not too familar with the others...


good luck

[Preacher Will]

Lesseee . . . if Behringer, Phonic, Dynacord, Alesis, and Yamaha are our only choices then i'd rate them Yamaha, Alesis, and Behringer--in that order since i have no experience with either Dynacord or Phonic. Yamaha, in my book, is about equal to Peavey. Along with Alesis, they are mid-level Mi grade equipment suitable for a week-end warrior band that's playing smaller local venues. Behringer is low-end Mi grade gear really suitable only for high school garage bands. Caveat emptor.

[Freaky Styley]

ok.


i think i'd buy some used mixer (non-powered one) and some decent power-amp... Thanks for your suggestions.

[twostone]

Yea that's alot better decision I was in a band that had the first Behringer piture It quit right in the middle of our first set he took it to his dad after that embrassment. His dad is a Electronic service tech. He took apart and said that the DC car amp they put in it fried. So do you want to take a chance with that kind of Power mixer and waste your money. Plus there's no re-sale value on those kind of power mixer.:p

[flip333]

freaky:

As a Behringer guinea pig myself, I must advise you to steer clear of Behringer. The rate of failure is too high compared to the other choices given to you.

Sure there are success stories with Behringer, and there is a chance it would work for you.

The rate of failure is too high compared to the other choices given to you.

Choose one of the other brands available to you.