• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Behringer Eurorack MX802A some measurements.

Lambda

Major Contributor
Joined
Mar 22, 2020
Messages
1,785
Likes
1,519
Don’t we all love to hate Behringer?!
But how is it actually measuring?

behringer.jpg


1.Microphone in XLR Balanced in main out.
Gain @min. (10dB labeld 10,5 messured)
Channel 0dB
Main 0dB
VU meter showing 0dB at Input level 433mVRMS (-7.3dBV) (-12dbFS)
output level is 1.43VRMS (+3.1dBV) -14,3dBFS
gain about 10,8dB
0dBmicin.png


This measurements is limited by noise and the performance of my audio interface!
We can’t just reed of the SINAD number and call it a day!

We can see the first distortion product is abut -106dB below the signal but hum and noise is only at -95dB.
Distortion spec is "0.007% +4dBu" aka. -83dB @1.8dBV
If i add second and third harmonic i get about -103dB @ 5.3dBu


2.Microphone in XLR Balanced in --> Main out.
Gain @min.
Channel "+15"dB max.
Main "+15"dB max.
VU meter showing 0dB at Input level -43dBFS (-38,3dBV) (0.0121V)
output level is 1.42VRMS (+3.0dBV) -14.1dBFS
gain about 41,3dB
2x+15db.png

With about 41,3dB of Gain the noise from the Mixer becomes strong enough to be way over the DAC and ADC noise

3.Microphone in XLR 150Ohm short --> Main out.
Gain @min.
Channel "+15"dB max.
Main "+15"dB max.
150ohmmingain.png

Jnoise meter shows -88dBFS of noise. before it was -16.5dBFS with (+3.0dBV) input.
Output voltage noise is about -74dBV but remember this is with 10dB Preamp gain + 15dB channel gain + 15dB main gain (41,3dB in toatal)

EIN 115,8dBV @ 150Ohm

Same thing but preamp gain at max:
150ohmmax.png

Output voltage noise is -58.1dBFS (+13,5) = -44,6dBV but remember this is with 60dB Preamp gain + 15dB channel gain + 15dB main gain (91dB in toatal)
EIN gain max. 135,6dBV @ 150Ohm (-133.38dBu)
Datasheet value is -129,5dBu

"0dB VU meter"
SINAD at "0dB VU meter" is is about 85dB?
SNR is about 107dB
Distortion is ruffly at -100dB
EIN -135.6dBV


This is all very ruff and there is a lot of error margin. but i see no reason not to believe the specs
photo5379748513551857081.jpg


photo5379748513551857084.jpg
 
Last edited:
OP
L

Lambda

Major Contributor
Joined
Mar 22, 2020
Messages
1,785
Likes
1,519
What about Headroom?
All this was measured a 0dB... but the scale goes to +10dB
photo5379748513551857094.jpg


My interface is clipping before the is clipping so i can’t measure it

headroom.png

Lot of distortion is coming from the interface itself clipping!
but SINAD still over 83dB
Output voltage is 7VRMS 16.9dBV or 19.120dBu. (datasheet says 22dBu)
 

sergeauckland

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
3,440
Likes
9,100
Location
Suffolk UK
I don't hate Behringer at all. I use a lot of their stuff, both professionally and at home. Mostly, it does what's expected of it. It may not always meet its spec, but then specs seldom give enough information as to measurement conditions. Nevertheless, the measurements are generally 'adequate' for the task rather than anything SOTA.

Reliability has been variable. My Behringer stuff at home has been fine, a couple of their compressor/limiters at the radio station have failed within a few years of being on 24/7, whilst other items have been fine for 12 years again on 24/7. No different I would suggest from any other equipment. I regularly have to repair other fully 'Pro' equipment costing hugely more and that's also on 24/7.

Their mic amps are actually quite good on the two small Behringer mixers we use for live music mixing.

S
 
OP
L

Lambda

Major Contributor
Joined
Mar 22, 2020
Messages
1,785
Likes
1,519
Headphone Output power:
Tape in >> Headphone out
4.13V 12.3dBV in 100Ohm load. = 170mW, 41mA
SINAD <84.6dB
THD<-91.8dB
SNR>85dB
All limited by analyzer!
Output impedance 61Ohm
The potentiometer at 12 o'clock =9dB gain
Max gain 20.5dB

((+12.3dBV=-6.6dBFS) 18.9dB gain Lowest gain setting on the interface)
headphone.png

((+12.3dBV+6.6dBFS) 18.9dB gain Lowest gain setting on the interface)


Noise:
100Ohm resistor noise Headphone out @ max gain.
-88,95bBV Noise
SNR=101.25dB

At 9dB gain -97.25dBV Noise
SNR=109.55dB
noisehp.png


4.13V 12.3dBV in 100Ohm load. = 170mW, 41mA
SINAD <84.6dB
THD<-91.8dB
SNR>109dB
Except for 61 Ohm Output impedance this is good and powerful headphone amplifier.
 

AnalogSteph

Major Contributor
Joined
Nov 6, 2018
Messages
3,338
Likes
3,278
Location
.de
I would recommend also looking at distortion with preamp gain at or near max. With these relatively basic circuits, you may be seeing H3 go up to like -70 dBr before clipping.

The other difference I saw between my old Behringer compact mixer and my current Mackie is in handling of maximum internal levels... something like 6 dB between them.

In case of the Mackie in particular, I felt like measured performance was held back by the tone control amplifier... I wouldn't mind having some sort of direct out on these so you can use just the mic preamp in isolation.

There generally doesn't seem to be too much wrong with Behringer equipment, except the odd parts quality issue. Old Eurorack mixers seem to have had quite a few issues with bad electrolytics, and then there's the 2496s where the signal path is full of tiny X7R ceramic caps for some reason.
 
Top Bottom