Karaoke Forums

Seriously here, with a budget like $1500, the OP will be hard pressed to attain good sound, without making a few sacrifices. Even with Behringer products. I started with a total Behringer set-up. It worked for me quite well. However, I spent about $1800 dollars way back then. The beginning system was a UB1222 mixer, with Behringer B300 powered speakers. Needed a player, so a Numark CDG player and a small rack were purchased. All brand new. The hidden costs are what will eat up the budget in a hurry. Cords, cables, mics, the TV, stands, etc. usually aren't put into the budget. I honestly liked the original stuff, but I knew there was better stuff, just didnt have a large budget either. Try looking for used in Craigslist or your local classified. You might get lucky. I did like the suggestion of asking the congregation for some donations to help augment your budget.

you spelt the word, you simply had the wrong word

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

like so many, I can only speak from experience. The active speakers I use are cheap but robust and produce a great sound especially when driven hard (something I rarely get the opportunity to do sadly...I want more outdoor gigs)
I know they can be obtained in the USA because I have messages from people who say they decided to take my word for it and purchase them and wanted to tell me how delighted they are with their purchase. As to where you get them from I have no idea, but they are available and Micky (although he lives in Canada) may be able to help you as to who stocks them. Karaoke for food (george) lives in Michigan and he purchased them. the brand is Wharfedale. I have the 15inch powered evp-x model and I team them up with a yamaha mixer. I have an RCF powered monitor (and if I could afford it I would probably go either all RCF or yorkville)
But while I am just a poor girl singing for her supper the wharfeys will do me just fine, they have proven themselves as being versatile and robust and I am happy with the sound and the control...I can seat old people with hearing aids underneath them in a restaurant and know they will be able to conduct a normal convo yet the folks the other side of the room will still be able to hear. And I can set them up outside at a street party and know that folks will be able to hear clean clear sound from a long way away....edit...they have one drawback...they are hellish heavy and I struggle to lift them on my own, especially now I have no cruciate ligament in either knee

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

I really appreciate all the responses........I know absolutely nothing about electronics, etc........so I learn from every response (like in life, I learn from the negative and positive!). I'm a craigslist's junkie, but only on things within my comfort zone.....so that rules out speakers, amps, etc unless I have specific model number(s) I know to search out.

Even though it may not be the ultimate set up, I'm leaning toward a Yamaha set up....perhaps EMX512SC/S112V.

I know it would be a different direction, but was wondering your thought/experience with the QSC K10 powered speaker?

Again, I appreciate everyone's time and help.

SO which BEHRINGER products did you actually use and have problems with ? It may be helpful if you can list your bad experiances so others can learn and understand. In this business people tend to become BRAND LOYAL for some reason -- FORD DRIVERS will never admit a Chevy is a good truck and vice -versa.

craig's list is a great way to go if you're on a budget. I've gotten many good deals, however, find out what brands are good, what are relatively newer models, do your research if you don't need to buy your equipment right away.

Speaker brands to consider: Yamaha, Peavey, Electro Voice, QSC, Yorkville, RCF, FBT, B-52. I DON'T receommend JBL or Mackie because of what you get for the money, you're better off with Electro Voice, Yamaha or Peavey in my opinion. From my limited experience with them, Behringer speakers seem to be a pretty safe choice and a lot of bang for the buck. If the price of a speaker is really low, way lower than other products, run away. You'll be wasting your money.

Consider physical size and weight. If you have trouble lifting 50 or 60 pounds up 5 feet onto a stand there are lighter and smaller speakers that are available. They are usually made of plastic, but for most people other than the very pickiest audiophiles they are just fine. 8", 10" or 12" speakers are just fine for most bars and restaurants. They will sound better with a subwoofer or a pair of subs. If you don't want to carry around a pair of speakers and a subwoofer then go with a pair of 15" speakers.

What mixer and amp you choose WILL make a difference. Mixers to consider:Yamaha, Alesis, Peavey, Soundcraft. For Karaoke you geerally don't need more than a 8 channel mixer. This will cost you from $100-$400. I good amp will cost between $250 and $1,000 depending on how much power you want to push. Brands to consider: QSC, Crown, Peavey, Yamaha, Electro Voice, Behringer, GTDAudio.

Pick your speakers and then get an amp with at least 50% more power than what your speaker program power rating is. If the speaker program power rating is 400wpc@8ohms you will need an amp that pushes at least 600wpc@8ohms for best results. You can have a workable system @400wpc, but you won't get the full potential from your speakers. Speakers are usually rated with 3 numbers continuous/program/peak, for example 200/400/800.

Musician's Friend, Sam Ash ZZounds and many other online merchants are great places to do research. DJ forums are great places to learn about Pro audio gear.

Not as portable, but is very much a nice system all around.

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ALL-PA20CP-PAK

If you stick with the Yamaha, i'd still opt for the S115V for more option if you need the system in different places.
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i- ... 512SC-PAK2

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UB2442FX-PRO - 3 dead channels & effect section within 6 months. - this was the last straw with Behringer - got repaired & sold, guy who bought it said effects are dead again & now 6 channels as well.
MX3242X - worked with in a small studio for 1 year, 5 channels would short out periodically, noisy board (hiss/very low level underlying hum even with ground lift). Repaired 3 times - twice over 4 weeks at authorized service center, last time at local music stores in house repair (5 days).
UB1832FX-PRO - effects section dead upon arrival, returned, new one same thing. Returned, effects worked, 3 channels dead on XLR inputs. Returned for refund & bought Mackie CFX12.
MX1804X - Noisy board (hissy), otherwise worked ok, this was anothers company I worked with
XENYX 1204FX - effects section died within 2 months - they just continued using it with an outboard. Again not mine but with another company I worked with.
MulticomPro MDX4400 - very entry level 4 channel compressor, would rate under the 3630 Alesis sound wise.
Multigate Pro XR4400 - 4 channel gate system (used in live rig). This one worked ok, was kind of hard to dial in & it seemed the threshold would change on it's own at times.
DSP1124P Feedback Destroyer - don't even bother. It takes out frequencies that aren't even feeding back & will continue to do so as it starts to sound bad after a while. Use it as a parametric EQ & it actually was a decent little processor, feedback destroyer, not so much without harming the sound.

Their amps are loud, not the cleanest but probably one of their better products. Never cared for the sound of their speakers.

Only one that I would ever give kudos on is the MX8000 recording console. Since it was basically a direct rip off from Mackies 24*8*2 console. This one was a good solid console.

So that's my experience with Behringer.

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Lonnie,

The list of products you have used of Behringers is exactly the type of responses I would like to see when someone asks for suggestions. If people would list their problmes with specific items and not the entire line, it would be of great help. More so than giving a "Brand X sucks" response.

All of the gear you have used, I have never used myself, with the exception of the amps. And for the most part on them, I agree. They are loud, and are pretty good work horses. I own 3 EP2500's, and all have worked flawlessly. The only other item that you mentioned that I even considered was the UB1832fx pro. But instead talked myself into buying the xynyx 1832FX. I will also agree that Behringers onboard effects leave something to be desired. But for karaoke application, it seems to work just fine. Recording is another issue altogether.

Thanks for you honest input, i'm sure it will be of help to others who are wondering the same thing as the OP.

Scott

Hey Wink,NICE post for a newbie.How about this instead of trying to upgrade the whole thing at one time, upgrade your weakest link of your current system.You will have more to spend on one or two pieces and get a better quality product.After two or three times of upgrades you will have a great system.

Not sure what you should upgrade first but if it is a powerd mixer your on the right track with yamaha.

Now the mackie 808m (I own) is a great powerd mixer,now the 1008 mackie is carp(yes mrscott it is america).

Some buddies of mine bought the 1008 after using my 808m and the 808m kicks the carp out of the 1008.I'm no londonlive or lonman but I think mackie not only went cheaper but put to much in the signal path of the 1008(10lbs of carp in a 5lb bag), and removing the heat sink and putting two fans in? I like the fact that I'm not pulling in dust and smoke into my mixer.

Just because I gave the 1008 a hit I'm not a behringer flag waver,I also have had problems with behringer. Three differnet major problems, years apart, behringer had its chances with me.

Ok ready for MorganLeFey spell check.

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE LAST TUESDAY

to Jam, have I not already explained that no matter what the product, the fact that I live an hour from the city (in either direction) and the warranty is back to base and takes time to fix, is reason enough for me to select something with a more reliable track record. I live in New Zealand, its about as far from the action as you can get...even behringer is expensive here...it has to WORK cos there is no option to take it back and get another under warranty...we dont have full replacement here...our laws are such that they are bound to return it to you in orig working condition within the warranty period...so we dont get options for full replacement unless it is unfixable.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel... Because those that matter... Don't mind...And those that mind... Don't matter."

My turn, and I think I was indirectly mentioned in this thread.

Danny G said "
I am very happy with my behringer Ucontrol202 usb soundcard and Eurorack1202fx mixer. "

I won't recommend the 202 to anybody. Could tell no difference from my internal sound card in sound quality and it caused me a couple problems including a sonic boom that would give most a heart attack.

Although they only performed 7 actual shows, I used the Behringer 215As a lot at home as I practiced both singing and mixing. They are still going, sound decent (for the price) with my Carvin sub. Of course they are gathering dust now that I have the Yorkville NX55Ps. Yorkies cost a lot more, might not be a fair comparison but they drive 2 to 3 times more power, are absolutely quiet when no music is coming thru (Behringers were easy to hear from 20 feet away in a quiet room) and no comparison in clarity. I hear things from the Yorkies that were getting eaten up in the Behringers.

Overall, my two purchases of Behringer I would put at 50% happiness. In my particualr field, 50% will get you gobbled up by the competition.

I see no one quoting returns or customer complaint %. Without those numbers, hard to compare for sure but I will tell you this, people I have talked audio to in person since November hate Behringer. I don't believe it is due to the name but experience and reputation. As far as all brands of all products having lemons, yep. But one lemon in a million isn't bad. One in 50 is bad.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

That's is all that needs to be said. Quality costs money! No comparison - in your own words!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

Exactly --quality does cost money, but for someone who is needing to stay within a budget their are alternative manus ( Like Behringer) who do offer some good products at a reasonable cost. And YES for many KJ's past the start up budget -you may never see the need or BENEFIT to buying product from a BEHRINGER. But there are also many who do use Behringer products without a problem and put together some great sounding rigs. If money was not an issue I would probably never buy another product from Behringer because I know there are BETTER products out there.... But Behringer does put out good products at a great price

I guess there's no way I could go back in time and convert my first post on this thread into a private message to the OP, so his thread didn't go off on this tangent?

Does the delay on this DSP go below zero?

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Jeff Wheeler, moonlight DJ/KJ