So I have some decent gear for live band use (Martin Audio, MA Controller/Limiter, and L Gruppen amps) and want to add a decent graphic eq, primarily for feedback reduction and basic eq. How much difference in audible sound would say a behringer be to a Klark Technic mixer? Is it worth waiting longer to fund something for 1k or would I get a good eq (for my needs) from say behringer or dbx for about £200? Road worthiness is not essential as this would be flightcased and transferred to gigs via car and usually situated away from anyone on stage. My only concern is, if I insert between my desk- (add name...) mixer, limiter/controller-amp-speakers, would a cheap eq make my current good system sound cheap?
I hope this makes sense and would budget up to £800 if I had to, but my applications would be very basic so how good should I go?

Steve,

Both listening and measurement tests have turned me away from Behringer graphics. The low cost dBX units are quite reasonable, as are the 31 band Samson units (although we had to send two back before we got one that fully worked). I still like the Yamaha Q2031 units - the design's a little old now, but still quite accurate. If you don't want to spring the money for a DN360, you could consider a KT Square One, or a BSS Opal.

Overall, I'd suggest that if you've invested in high level equipment, it makes sense to maintain a good signal path, have well behaved filters and output electronics that can drive a long multi at full audio bandwidth and maximum level, without distortion.

Simon

I agree with Simon.

By the sounds of it you have some decent gear, introducing behringer kit into the signal chain will not do the sound any favours.
I have a behringer, but have since removed it, the difference is truly staggering.

Vote +1 for the dBX, they are a nice little unit.

+1 more. the DBX is probably the best tradeoff between price and quality imo.

Thanks for all the feedback so far, and as expected I believe that I will need to add a decent eq and DBX comes well recommended, however a decent DBX seems around the £400-£500 (something like the Opal) and I could probably find a Klark 360 for about £700. So how much of a difference now in say the Opal and 360 (again for my application)?

You could probably find a s/h KT DN360 for about £450 to be fair. Look on ebay, they sometimes go cheap there. Otherwise, all the usual pro audio second hand dealers.

I use Kt and LA Audio and to be honest on a show can't tell the difference. my .02p's worth

snap - I use bss opals and dn370s and both to my ears sound equally as good - tho the BSS faders have a habit of snapping off if you tour them. I also like the DBX 2231 as a budget option.

You'll find dn360's for anything from £300 - £500 second hand depending on age. I'd highly recommend these above pretty much anything else.

The KT Square ones arnt that bad a graphic. Clean and Percise. Plus they have both high and low pass on them. Seem pretty robust out of about 10 only had one side go down.

I was mainly referring to the DBX 231. I guess I didnt read your budget was somewhat higher than £130

Another vote for the KT graphics here. If you can't afford a DN370 or even DN360 have a look at the Square One graphic. They're in the same market as the BSS Opal stuff but are more robust and the faders are less likely to snap off.
DON'T buy Behringer; it has it's place, and that's in small pubs/churches/village halls etc where adding a bunch of noise to the signal won't make much difference because the mixer/amps/speakers aren't that good anyway. To put it into a system with Martin Audio and Lab Grup would be a shame (yes you will definitely hear it).
I remember seeing the results of a test run on various different graphics to see how accurately they could affect the frequency that you were altering. Can't remember where though, may have been on here. BSS/KT stuff was pretty good at only notching out the frequency that you were working on; the Behringers were all over the place...

I think the review you read might have been the 'shootout' which is online here and which is really detailed. Some surprises along the way in it. Not all the costly stuff did well, and not all the cheap stuff was bad!

Guys, thanks for all the feedback so now I am on the look out for a used KT360 or BSS 960, so if anyone knows of anyone who has a used one for sale, can they please let me know?

...or XTA (appears to be getting good reviews)

Was going to say, no-one's mentioned the XTA GQ600 yet. I like them as they are variable Q and so give you control over feedback and the "shape" of the sound.
You can pick up a second hand one in good condition for around £600 inc VAT - LMC Audio currently have some going, give them a ring

HTH
Chris