Behringer Studio XL Monitor Controller

[amirm]

This is a review and measurements of the Behringer Studio XLR Monitor Controller (audio interface and mixer). It was kindly drop shipped by a member and costs US $239.

Hard to imagine getting so much for so little. Not only is there a lot of functionality but the controls feel good as well. Even that large rotary volume control feels professional and nice. And check out the back side:

Let's hope the rich functionality is backed by proper performance.

Behringer Studio XL Measurements
I downloaded the ASIO drivers, selected the USB as input and captured Monitor A output. This is what I got:

What the heck is going on? I checked every control to no avail. Adjusting volume/trim controllers would change the output voltage but clipping would remain. On a hunch, I reduced the input by 1 dB in digital domain and clipping went away:

Only 55 dB? There are dongles that do 100 dB! If we sweep the input, we see that performance is best at just half a volt output:

This is below consumer output levels let alone professional. I don't think we need to measure the DAC any more so let's test the ADC:

Oh come on now. Spec says +22 dBu and we are well below that yet there is clear clipping signature. Sweeping the analog input level shows us again that this device can't handle much input voltage:

EDIT: additional ADC test using different inputs/connectors:

ALL inputs act the same. There is clipping near max digital input, just as there is on output.

We are really done here.

Conclusions
What a waste of all that physical hardware. I guess the blew the budget by the time they crammed all that connectivity in there, leaving $5 for actual processing. Someone should take this box, throw out its guts and build a proper interface/controller. I think it could be sold for $500+ and still would be good value. As is, it is not worth anything. It will cause no end of frustration as it clips left and right, leaving the user guessing as to what is going on.

I mean if the company documented all of these limits, then maybe it would be something. You simply can't use the device without the measurements I just performed. Clipping is nasty business as it causes severe audible problems that can be confused with overload in source/output devices.

I can't in any way, shape or form recommend the Behringer XL.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.

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[Yasuo]

That's a shame, I kinda like how it looks.

 

[holdingpants01]

Those things are mostly used as an analog monitor controller between the interface and monitors. Digital connections are just a bonus and there are a lot of similar devices without it. Was the performance tested this way, or everything going in also goes through ADC stage? Also XLR inputs are microphone inputs, not line ins. I would like to see how the knob performs with it's VCA rather than usual potentiometer, especially at the beginning of the range. Was only ADDA tested? Confusing review of a confusing product

 

[JSmith]

I can't in any way, shape or form recommend the Behringer XL.

What is this mess? Survey says...

It's very helpful to see the terrible results on this device... so no one else buys one. Thanks for the testing anyway.


JSmith

 

[Sokel]

Typical Behri the way I see it, its cheap reflects the performance.

Thanks Amir!

 

[boxerfan88]

Could that be a defective unit?

Surely design/engineering would have caught such poor performance at prototype stage.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Usually Behringer stuff is mediocre but not broken. Clearly this product is broken. It also costs about the same as the Motu M4 which is certainly not broken. Though I don't know how they compare on feature sets, the Motu clobbers it on basic functionality (DAC, ADC).

Thanks for the review, Amir.

 

[Geert]

The XLR inputs are microphone inputs, as mentioned in the specs. They won't do + 22dB. Use the jacks for line input.

 

[VietnamRadioEnjoyer]

 

[welwynnick]

Behringer strike again.

I think this could be an all time low.

 

[boxerfan88]

The XLR inputs are microphone inputs, as mentioned in the specs. They won't do + 22dB. Use the jacks for line input.

Good point!

 

[amirm]

Digital connections are just a bonus and there are a lot of similar devices without it.

Then there should be a big disclaimer stating such. As is, the owner specifically asked me to test it as an interface. If it is there, it needs to meet minimum level of performance.

 

[amirm]

The XLR inputs are microphone inputs, as mentioned in the specs. They won't do + 22dB. Use the jacks for line input.

No. This is what the manual says: "INPUT 1/2 – balanced or unbalanced mic or line level input."

I adjusted the gain down to get a level just below 0dBFS as I do with other interfaces.

 

[Sokel]

Could that be a defective unit?

Surely design/engineering would have caught such poor performance at prototype stage.

Judging by other behringer gear its highly unlikely:

(link)

And that's for -3dB (about a Volt), going higher and you could see havoc.

 

[DanielT]

Thanks for the test Amir.

Nasty distortion clipping on that one. So high, so bad that you wonder why users haven't complained and why in that case Behringer hasn't done something about it?
(My guess is that for some reason users haven't complained.)

 

[Bob101]

No. This is what the manual says: "INPUT 1/2 – balanced or unbalanced mic or line level input."

I adjusted the gain down to get a level just below 0dBFS as I do with other interfaces.

It could be the first typo in Behringer specs history?
Nah. Just crap.

 

[Geert]

No. This is what the manual says: "INPUT 1/2 – balanced or unbalanced mic or line level input."

I adjusted the gain down to get a level just below 0dBFS as I do with other interfaces.

The manual is not clear on that point. The specs say:

Which should be read as mic input on the XLR and Line input on the TRS. A mic preamp can't handle line level signals, unless it has a ’pad’ switch. Worst case they also messed up the spec’s and you should use the dedicated TRS line inputs. If the TRS inputs perform OK it’s the manual that’s broken and not the ADC. (The DAC definitely is).

 

[amirm]

The manual is not clear on that point.

It is if you look at the diagram for all the connectors in the back:

And I quoted what it said for 52:

A mic preamp can't handle line level signals, unless it has a ’pad’ switch.

Per above, it is not a dedicate mic input. To wit, I didn't have to go to minimum on the input gain if it were a mic-only input.

 

[amirm]

It could be the first typo in Behringer specs history?

It is not a spec. It is the manual. And per above, I can tell it is designed to also be used as Line input or I would be running out of negative gain.

 

[Sokel]

It is if you look at the diagram for all the connectors in the back:

View attachment 440635

And I quoted what it said for 52:

View attachment 440636


Per above, it is not a dedicate mic input. To wit, I didn't have to go to minimum on the input gain if it were a mic-only input.

Is there any chance that this one toggles between the two?