Comparing the two, the DBX is generally what could be called "more musical". It is a single strip solution to get everything you need to get the job done, with the sort of sound that works extremely well in so many ways. It most certainly gives you that solid radio station voice, but from all samples I have heard it appears also to give a great general voice over quality that keeps the performance in check without making it into mush. The 1/4 inch out is simply because you don't want to run the "hot" output from this device down an XLR cable and into ANOTHER pre-amp on your console or interface. You want to run it in as the higher level and bypass what would become just an extra noise stage. It's also configured to be easily used as an insert with quarter in and quarter out. It's a pretty common concept. That lack of a power button is because a lot of rack gear is basically powered from the rack, and turned on and off together. I can remember having racks of 166 units with no power switch, pre-wired as inserts and idling in case I needed them in a live situation. Pretty awesome, actually.
The reason that the DBX only has a TRS output is because it’s a line level output, so you really should be using a line input on your interface or on a mixer. Since line level is much stronger than mic level, you risk clipping if your pre on the mixer/interface can’t be cranked back enough, or having to pad it to counter the amplification of the unnecessary extra pre-amp stage you’re going through. It usually works OK, you’re just risking losing dynamic range and/or adding noise.
You may need to get at least a small pop filter.... you keep popping it, a lot of folks might not notice it or be bothered by it, but being an audio guy I hear each and every mic pop clearly!.....
@@danmcbmusic i do think it has a built in "pop filter" so i dont think the capsule will take any spit damage. It still pops though so it definetely needs a seperate pop filter
Mike Sloan I hope you don’t mind, I like to get some advice in regards to my setup I’ve tried reaching out to a few RU-vidrs but no one has answer me yet. I use my set up for live streaming and for recording audio lectures. I recently got the dbx 286s and the Stellar X2 mic 🎙. But when I stream my audio gets cut off so it goes in and out, but when I pressed the bottom to bypass the processing on the dbx everything is fine! So my question is since I’m bypassing all the processing do I really need The dbx? Thanks In advance for your help.
Pastor Aris sounds like you have the noise gate set too aggressively, or have a defective unit. You shouldn’t have to bypass to get a solid signal, and yes, if you’re bypassing it, there’s no use in using it, other than gain I suppose.
I got the Behringer setup and the DBX. The Behringer setup sounds better to me. I still can't get the noise gate to work but I just use a noise gate in post and it is great.
I just ordered the MDX2600 with 2 TRS to XLR insert cables so I can use it with my Mackie mixer. I think that combo and using the 3 band equalizer on the mixer will give me a good result. Can't wait to try it out. :)
I’ve been a fan of the dbx for a few years… a die hard fan. As soon as you began speaking through the mdx I couldn’t listen past about 5 or so seconds. I had to turn it off. The dbx sounds amazing. I love it.
I own an old 286 and a new 286s, and both have XLR inputs for microphone. The outputs are symmetrix TRS, as it's standard for line connections. using XLR for line signals is not /that/ common.
Thank you for this! I recently bought the Ultragain Pro MIC2200, but I'm starting to feel like I should have gone with the MDX 2600. I have seen many reviews that say the Ultragain has a lot of noise and I feel like the added noise gate feature on the 2600 would have been good feature to have. Your review of the Ultragain had pretty much no noise from what I could hear so I'm hopeful.
Thank you so much. I genuinely mean this, you're my favourite tech channel period. Your reviews are gold because you don't bullshit your audience. You just talk about the features, say your piece and you're done. You have earned my sub!
Splur i've been working with this setup for years. the recipe for the least noise is setting input gain of 2200 as high as possible (but not past 42db, there's a leap in noise), output gain is best at +1 click from zero. Also, microphones are really noisy sometimes. However, condenser mics with high sensitivity are best with mic2200. Dynamics? Not really, since they require lots of noise-free gain plus high frequency boosts, where noise resides.
Your DBX setup sounds better (on an iPad). Your voice is warmer and can be understood much easier. With a Behringer it sounds harsh and not really pleasant. I couldn’t listen to it for like an hour.
The DBX sounds, much, much, MUCH better here. BUT -What matters most is what it sounds like in THE MIX... You never know until you've got it in the mix...
Thank you for doing this comparison. I was on the fence between the two but for me, now that I've heard how different they sound, I much prefer the DBX and will pick that up over the Behringer. Didn't think they would sound that different. Really surprised to be honest.
Chris A low cut at 80hz on the behringer preamp killed the bass you liked in dbx. plus, dbx had bass added on its eq, while it was also possible to make behringer setups's sound brighter or darker. behringer wins in knowledgeable hands.
just ordered the two Behringer units. I noticed that you have the threshold maxed out. The signal is squashed too much in my opinion and is harsh to listen to. It would sound so much better with lowered threshold. Just my 2 cents, but thanks for the god review! I believe the Behringer would sound better than the DBX if it had a proper threshold. It looks like there is 15-18 db of gain reduction, yikes that's a lot.
I have both of these and the Expander on the DBX 286s works much better than the MDX 4600 and 2600. I have use my DBX 286s with the air condition, computer fan running and loud jets flying over my house and the DBX 2862 took all of that out with ease. The MDX didnt do a good of a job with these same noises when tested.
@@StartToFinishPodcastingTV Thank you! did you test Behringer UV1? it looks promising, it has switch and options looks similar. Did you have any chance to check it?
Listening from MBP + soundcraft 12FX mixer with AT M50x headphone the Behringer combo is sounding thin and very sibilant. I know sound is very subjective but the DBX sounded like it has Body while the Behringer combo kinda like lost all the low ends and all presence without any warmth which is the opposite of what I'm expecting from a tube preamp.
I didnt know that you were moonlighting on an audio tech channel? I thought that In the Blues was your only gig. Are you the hardest working guy on RU-vid?
As a result of your review I went ahead and purchased the MIC 2200 and compared it against my Klark Teknic mic booster and although the 2200 has a ton of headroom it has a small hum to it in comparison to the mic booster that has none at all. Maybe I'll do another test soon but if I had to choose, I wouldn't use the 2200. Side notes, at the end of your video I can hear a small hum (less present with enhancements) I also notice that your b's produced a noticable pop. Levels might have been to high. Other than that, great video and really appreciate your review and advise.
Update: Really quick. I invested in some new Mic cables and guess what? The noise was completely gone. I didn’t realize that my XLR Cables were bad! At 2 of them are full of noise. The MIC 2200 works just fine now....
Behringer makes a Direct rival to the DBX 286s. The Behringer VX2000 or Behringer VX2496 Single Channel Mic Preamp Channel Strip Processor. Thank you Shane for this excellent comparison demo.
Great vid..... The power button issue.... it's kinda not needed if the unit stays on in a control room rack. I'm not sure if it's universal across the dbx range.... But maximum audio the compressor models will take is 26dBu..... berhringer tops out at about 17dBu. There is where the two products vary if you are setting up a chain. Cheers
The Behringer sounds more natural to me. 286 has a 'big bottom' I don't care for. You've got great pipes. We just bought a Wheatstone M1 mic processor for our main studio mic and I love it. A bit more expensive ($850 USD) but it's got a sweet sound and more control over lows, mids and highs.
It's a shame too. The dbx sounds so good and butter smooth, but the bottom end is so overdone to the point there's no question it's massively coloring the sound. The mdx2600 sounds more neutral, albeit possibly a bit grainy. There's some tradeoffs with both, but the mdx2600 feels like you're getting away with murder at its price. The dbx should be better.
I've used the Behringer alongside very expensive preamps and it holds up just fine, sounds a lot better without that enhancer thing in the compressor in my opinion.
Thanks for the informative video. However please use a pop screen filter. I noticed a number of equipment demo guys don't use them in their videos when they should have and I don't know why.
Current prices here in Europe: Behringer Composer MDX 2600 & Ultragain Pro MIC2200: 280 EUR 2 DBX 286s devices: 310 EUR (or one for 155 EUR if you only need to support one mic) I'd pick two DBX 286s for these prices because Behringer audio quality sounds a bit more robotic to me. DBX sounds more like high quality fully analog device to me. In addition, DBX units have pretty high second hand unit prices (around 125 EUR right now) so you can nearly get your money back if you want to switch to other hardware later.
Man, the Behringer is harsh, tinny and sibilant! Can't listen to it for more than 5mins. (Listening on a macbook pro through a SSL 2+ out to JDS Elements amp and Audeze LCD 1 headphones)
IDK... DBX actually sounds better just how you mentioned it, sounds more natural and clear to hear. The Behringer sounds very bright with much treble, the voice sounds too polished and modified.
Thanks for the great video! I'm thinking of using the Behringer set-up for live band main vocals. Just to be clear the microphone goes to the ultragain pro xlr, then out to the input of the composer xlr, then out to the input of the mixer xlr- correct- ( I am using the Behringer Qx2442USB- which does not have a pad function on the input) so will this be really hot signal for the mixer? Let me know if I'm doing something wrong please. Thanks again for a great video!
It drives me nuts that the 286s has no power button. I like it as an all-in-one unit and I think it's a great value for the price. Tweaking the knobs can make the sound get a little out of control but when even remotely close to being dialed in, it still sounds very good. I have no problem with them using 1/4" outputs, since I'm obviously not going to be feeding a preamp into my audio interace's preamp. The Behringer setup just does not sound good, in my opinion. Your voice sounds mid-boosted and harsh on the high end. The "tube emulation" feature doesn't sound anything like a tube and I don't see what the point in using that is if you've already got an actual tube in your preamp. I guess you could argue to just forget the "tube emulation" concept and use it if it sounds better, but to me it does not. In fact, I think the tube preamp is half of the problem: it's making the sound muddier than the clean preamp of the 286s which makes it need more enhancement. The Enhancer actually seems to do a decent job of this, and I think it sounded the best when you had that enabled without the tube emulation enabled. I think that's what kills the Behringer setup for me. Yeah, you get two channels, but in two rack units, and you still don't have a decent EQ adjustment. The Enhancer and Tube buttons are static effects, so you basically only have 4 settings options. There's no shaping of the overall sound to really dial in the bottom and high ends. Those two knobs on the 286s do a great job of this, so much so that I probably wouldn't even bother with an EQ. The Behringer setup needs a proper EQ, so to me it kind of defeats the purpose of the setup. For instance, the MIC2200 is $124, the MDX 2600 is $153, and a FBQ1502HD is $149. These are current Sweetwater prices and the FBQ1502HD is 2-channel 15-band graphic EQ with good reviews. Your total is $426. If you only need one channel, this is a waste of rack space and money. However, if you need two channels, then it might make more sense. Two 286s will cost you $438. But I would also argue that it would still safe rack space and significantly simplify the setup, while ultimately probably still sounding better because IMO you're starting with a better preamp and adding less potential for noise into the signal chain. So personally, I would just go with two DBX and if you want to save a little bit of cash, find a couple open box units for well under $200 and you're in business. But that's just my opinion. I really liked the comparison and found it very interesting. I love seeing gear alternatives, not only to see what else is out there and how much it costs, but also what features are or aren't included and advantages and disadvantages to each setup. That lack of a power button though is something I might have to take into my own hands to address. Who doesn't want a power button on a piece of rack gear?
Maybe it’s just me listening on my Air Pods, but honestly the Behringer sounded really bad to me. It was like cheese graters to my ears way overloaded on the high end. The DBX sounded smooth and high quality. It could very well be my listening environment, but as I heard it just now there is no comparison. The DBX sounds amazing.
I'm not a Behringer hater. They have some great items. But with the Behringer setup you turned a Procaster sound into a Podcaster sound. Not my taste but you seem to like it. I'll take the DBX. I sold my Ultra stuff gear because of signal noise. However their Xenyx mixer series (Mackie clones) are awesome.
Interesting comparison - thanks. The tube sound on the B. is unsuited to your voice. It was so much better when you turned it off! In that moment I decided to buy the ver2 of the B. Mic Pro, I believe it has the composer included. Apart from that, you shouldn't need to put the mics in the plosive path as you would on stage. Still too much room noise for a pleasant interview.
Nice Review man, I also use a Zoom R16 you seem to be using here. Do you just plug the Behringer output into the Zoom channel preamp and turn the gain all the way down in the zoom ? thanks !
I'm Brazilian and I only speak Portuguese: I'm using the translator. Answer me, I'm in doubt about buying a Dbx 286s or a Behringer Ultra Voice Vx2496, which one should I buy?
note most sound cards have there inputs switched so if you go in with trs you go in with line input if you go with xlr it triggers the mic input. If you have youre setup like you said around 7 min. You are not getting the best sound because of two preamps in a row. Also its not really good for the mic preamp in the soundcard. because its getting to hot of a signal. I heard soundcard inputes and mixer that had so mutch noise on there preamps because of this practice. You can actualy hear that when you switch the mics in on the start. there is this extra compresion.
Shane, other than the enhancer/tube switches on the Behringer, I think you'll find the DBX 166xs (like I have) is very similar to it. The DBX is probably a little more now though (around the $300 mark).
also might get a better sound out of the Ultragain pro by changing out the vacuum tube to something higher quality than stock. I have a ART Studio V3 and changed out the tube to something better, made a very noticeable difference
Great video! I'm considering one of these units. In your opinion for your setup is the Expander mode on the MDX superior to the Expander mode on dbx? Even for a single mic application? If I understood you right the gate on dbx is better and expander on mdx is better?
the Behringer sounded better without that tube button engaged. I currently own a dbx 286s and I love the warmth and non harsh element it gives my voice and I don’t think you can achieve that same sound with the Behringer.
This is not a fair comparison. The DBX is a preamp and the Behringer is a compressor/limiter. Granted you are running through the tube Behringer preamp. A better comparison might be the DBX 166 against the Behringer using the same preamp for both compressors. Thanks for sharing...
Thanks Sean! Marcelo here from Argentina. I just got an AT2035 and I was looking into some compressor. I plan to use it for recording singing and some voice overs for abridge series. .I found in our local ebay a Behringer Composer Pro XL for around 40usd (used), new goes for around 250usd. the DBX brand new here goes for around 400usd. Would you recommend the used Behringer for my needs and the lower price?
I believe the only difference between the two versions is the built in power supply. This allows the v2 to be more compact. By the looks of it, he is using the v2 version.
Nice comparison, but the Behringer sounds like crap compared to the DBX. The DBX sounds "warmer" despite not having "tubes". It's about the sound quality at the end of the day. I would rather get 2 of the DBX 286's than one gimmicky Behringer. Just my 2 cents.
You are the second person to mention the lack of a "on/off" switch on a piece of equipment. Broadcast studios, radio stations, never turn the equipment off. Once the station is on air the equipment is always on, much like your computer.
@@annekedebruyn7797 yes I normally leave mine on all the time been a little over two years now doesn't seem to hurt it or hurt my electric bill either!
