Mixer Sound Quality?
How much difference in actual sound quality is there with different mixers?
I currently have a Soundcraft mixer with 8 XLR inputs, and want to buy a smaller unit with just 2 XLR inputs for portability to solo gigs. My Soundcraft sounds great, and I'm wondering how much different a cheaper brand small mixer will sound. I'm not concerned about features, as long as it has phantom power. Thanks to all who respond! |
The cheaper mixers tend to have pre-amps that are less strong and noisier. In most situations, you are unlikely to even notice.
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I know longer use a mixer since Bose came out with the T8 mixer to go along with my Bose stuff. In the past because I needed more channels than their only mixer (4 ch) I used several different small mixers.
The Soundcraft stuff is very nice sounding and maybe a touch different then the other offerings in small mixers that are affordable. I've had small Mackie and Yamaha mixers both with a little bit of effects. Of those two I preferred the tone & effects of the Yamaha Mig series mixers. Not a lot different but I thought a touch better Reverb. A lot of people love the Allen & Heath little mixers as well but I've never owned or tried. |
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The Yamaha MG series are good mixers, a step from the absolute basic. |
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I was previously using an inexpensive PA amp with EQ until I got the Soundcraft mixer, which I run into the same PA amp. There is a noticeable difference in sound quality with the Soundcraft added. This led me to wonder if a cheaper, smaller mixer (like a Beringer) would take away the improved sound quality. |
I can only comment on what ive owned and
played with but yes i think quality sound comes with quality preamps. Our band used to use a big 16 ch Mackie VLZ product. We went with a newer digital touchmix And our sound quality went down in a way that probably isnt noticable to the audience but is to me. Buy used if you cant get the quality you want. |
We've been using Behringer mixers for years and are happy with the sound. It's not going to cost a lot to roll the dice for a 2 XLR channel w/ phantom power to find out if it'll work for you.
I would add that I bought a small Mackie board as a back up to the Behringer and it is definitely unsatisfactory. I'm done with Mackie. |
Thanks to everyone for your input. I guess it always pays to buy the best quality sound equipment that you can afford.
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I like my EFX8 as much as anything I've owned. |
A few years ago I was part of the crowd that snubbed my nose at budget mixers, but now I think the inexpensive Behringer mixers sound wonderful. My least expensive one is a 1002B which cost me around $80 used. No sweepable mids or DSP, but otherwise sounds great. I'm still pretty picky on mics, pickups, speakers and passive DI boxes, but the inexpensive Behringer mixers sound fine.
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The guts of a good mixer are so inexpensive to manufacture these days and the good mic preamp circuits have been long available in the public domain that there is no reason to make a bad one at any price point. Buy for features.
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I've had good results with a little Behringer that has four XLR/mic inputs plus a couple stereo line ins. It's an older one & doesn't have FX, compressor, etc, but it works great with a small power amp (Carvin-50w per side) and a couple of signal processing units through the aux buses.
I've been using it for almost 20 years now; inexpensive & reliable. |
IMO, you've spoiled yourself. The Soundcraft analogue units sound really, really good compared to it's competitors. Only the Allen & Heath competes... it's preamps are different but equally pleasant. The Peavey, Yamaha, Mackie and Behringers don't sound as good. YMMV.
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I went from a Zed 10FX to a Soundcraft EFX8, I definitely liked it a lot more than my Zed. IMO, better FX, Pre's, and EQ plus mutes, faders and double the XLR's in about the same height and width as my Zed 10FX. The only thing I gave up was HPF's. |
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