Simon Lewis Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I often fit Behringer ULTRACURVE PRO DEQ2496 in installs, to provide system equalisation, dynamic control (if needed) and more importantly a password. I rarely use any real time feedback destroyer malarkey - unless it's a fairly high end, well behaved unit. A painful experience with a "Shark" is still etched on my mind.... :) However, when maintaining or upgrading low budget installs, the (typically) £165+VAT buying price of 2496 is sometimes too much. So I'm looking for an equaliser (GEQ or PEQ) that is significantly cheaper, doesn't mangle sound and has a password so that I do not get dozens of call-outs to reset some box that got nudged by the church cleaner.Searches of the lower cost Behringer product has not been fruitful... So, all you audio people who memorise whole product catalogues... is there something out there that fits the bill, or shall I keep buying 2496s from Uli? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart91 Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 The UltraDrive (DCX something or other) is Uli's take on the Driverack 260. Has EQ, limiting, delay, etc. 3 inputs to six outputs, and I *think* it's marginally cheaper than the UltraCurve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Beech Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 AFAIK The 2496 is as cheap and cheerful as it gets digital eq wise. Not to say it's no good. A great bit of kit, and even better for the money, I've got 5 left now (recently sold one). love em to bits. I wouldn't recommend anything else on a budget. The older ones are discontinued so if your clients are prepared to buy second hand you might be able to find something like the DSP8024 but without the reassurance of a guarantee it's not something many go for. I fully understand how it can easily go out of budget, but there really is very little the exceeds the quality of the Behringer under the £1000 mark (digital). There is someone flogging KT DN9340's cheap at the moment, with the KT tape on them. completely unmarked so I'm guessing brand new. For under 1/3 normal sale price. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Stuart, whilst the DCX has some onboard eq its fairly minimal and tends to run out of processing power before you can do much with it. That said, if you wanted to try a DCX Simon you're welcome to borrow mine for a week in exchange for a beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mervaka Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 yup, I wouldnt touch the DCX EQ with a barge pole. has anyone tried those mackie quadEQs? those look interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Beech Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I've got 3 DCX2496's. I don't have anything that needs the eq though, as room eq I'll do from FOH with a graphic. So I can't comment on the eq functions. However. they're not designed as an EQ, but as a LMS. So I don't think they're really suitable. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 I hadn't thought of the DCX... it's a little cheaper (around £20) but if the eq isn't up to much, I don't gain anything. In this one specific install, any eq that can't be messed around with would do. I have to go back on a regular basis to this job to correct the most basic errors. I'm almost embarrased to say that they've got a four channel Carlsbro PA head installed. Mervaka, perhaps the £800 Mackie quad is slightly OTT? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i_hate_fisicks Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I was browsing Thomann today looking for similar kit. They do a 2in 4out DSP for £130. Might be useful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mervaka Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Mervaka, perhaps the £800 Mackie quad is slightly OTT?sorry, I should have said I wasnt suggesting it, I was just going a little OT.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
live Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Behringer dsp 8024 are pretty cheap on e-bay, many come up for sale around the £50 mark (I recently got 1 for the local blind society charity) not a lot goes wrong with them (in my exp,others may disagree) usually a batt change and s/ware upgrade is ample to get them fighting fit again but I agree about the f/back destroyer been either over ambitious or lazy but as a budget solution I think you'd be harder pressed to better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upsuEnts Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 I put driverack PA's in most of my installs. They're about £300 from dolphin music and can do pretty much everything. They've got a graphic and parametric eq's, compressor, limiter, delays and crossovers. You can also lock the program so it doesn't get modified by dj's. I'd steer well clear of the set up wizard on them though... It's terrible. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 I'd prefer not to install second user equipment... and with regards to the Driverack PA - yup it's a good box (but we have a collective dislike for its lack of graceful switch on characteristics!). However, this thread's criteria are : an equaliser (GEQ or PEQ) that is significantly cheaper, doesn't mangle sound and has a password ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob_Beech Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Have you tried the XTA D........sorry couldn't resist. Al, I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope that your DRPA's you put in are being looked after and that not all or preferably none of them are driving just compression drivers or you may well be in for a funny phone call one day soon. "erm, hello, that system you put in sounds horrible, it's like all muddy and stuff" A real shame to what is otherwise a perfectly useable unit. (Even though the UI on the DCX2496 is so much better) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 The UI on my DCX is somewhat suspect. The backlight on my screen has gone intermittent, system tuning now involves a good whack to the crossover every few minutes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lewis Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 The UI on my DCX is somewhat suspect. The backlight on my screen has gone intermittent, system tuning now involves a good whack to the crossover every few minutes... Perhaps worth only half a pint in return for a loan then? ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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