Behringer DEQ2496 Ultra-Curve Pro

Given that I wrote a fairly scathing review just below, I feel complelled to "set the record straight". I took the machine back to the store with the mindset of getting my money back, or pehaps giving a replacement one more try. The only reason for persevering with a replacement was that any alternative that I could find on the Internat was at least 3 times the price. The store swapped the machine without question (after I made then open it and plug it in to make sure it worked) and I headed home. The story from that point below........

All I really want at this point in time is a parametric equaliser to control the sound of an accoustic guitar (boomy bottom end, jangely top end). The PEQ function was extremely easy to figure out. Even after I had acheived good results by a bit of trial and error I them used the RTA (Real Time Analyser) which showed me exactly were the offending frequencies were. This added some real science to my PEQ adjustments.

Both the PEQ and RTA functions (plus storing some presets) were VERY easy to figure out and use.

For the application I'm using it for (accoustic guitar) it makes a hugh difference. 1000% better than just adjusting it at the mixer, speakers, or guitar. I've set all other adjustmnets to zero and all toneal adjustments are made using the PEQ function, brilliant result.

There is no 'noise' whatsoever that I can hear. So without comparison to a very high end and simuarily priced bit of kit, I'll have to rate it highly regarding sound quality.

See my last post. To early to tell on this replacement so'll I just leave it a "no opinion".

The store swapped the faulty one without question. As I'm a good customer I'd expect this. So while this isn't Behringer itself, I'm ok with the support given. Givem that I've had problems in the past, if they didn't have a "replacement no questions asked" approach I probably wouldn't buy the stuff.

So after a really hopeless start on the first unit, after 2 days I'm really quite impressed with the replacement. How long it continues to work is obviously the great unknown at this stage. However, as it didn't really cost a lot when compared to the alternatives, probably a risk worth taking. At least it allows me to do a cost effect evaluation of this type of kit, and if it does fail after 12 months when then at least I'll feel much better informed and comfortable parting with a couple of $K to buy a top line unit.

Took it out of the box, plugged it in, turned it on, software starts to load, couple of flashes on the display, and then nothing. Just a blank flickering screen. Turn it on and off, just a blank flickering screen.

Brand new and it lasted a whole 1 second. Is certainly difficult to use - CAUSE IT DON'T WORK

Didn't get even the slightest sound out of it.

What do you think I should rate this one, let me think..... Even a rating of "1" neans it worked once. It didn't even do that.

I'll be asking for my money back tomorrow.

I was a Behringer supporter. Now after trouble with a REV2496 (replaced without question) only problem is that the 'fault' is just a crappy operating system that doesn't work in any logical manner. The replacement was exactly the same as the original, its a design problem. I'd just come to except it as not well designed. So it was with a bit of trepidation I ordered the DEQ2496. It never worked.

So in summary I'll probably never buy another piece of Behringer again. However, to be fair I am happy with the B212A active speakers I recently bought and would still recommend them for the price. But certainly if its got software runing in it, forget it.

Not that easy to use. Explains how, but not the why's of use. Definitely written for a pro to use, not a layman. Not releiable. Made a feedback loop that could not be figured out by any of the techs. I got it to go away, but do not know why. Now a year later the left and right channels blled together in stereo link mode. Considering I have used this in pro situations, I am forced to switch products do to unreliability. I think i'll go with TC electronics. Tried to save money with Behringer, but like the old saying goes"you get what you pay for. In thsi situation i paid little and got unreliability. NOT GOOD.

Decent, but not reliable.

Horriuble. All Behringer products so far are very unreliable.

Good. Always got my moneyback on any broken item. But, the point is nothing should break this much or quickly. Every Behringer product I've purchased has had a major problem.

Poor reliability. Doesn't matter how nice it sounds if it does not work right.

very easy to use, a bit fiddly with the display so small, but with custom software, the MIDI interface does absolutely everything, including screen updates onto the PC, and upload/download of presets.

I could not detect any colouration of this unit in either AD-DA mode, or as a DAC. not as sparkly as the Burr-Brown 1704's but still nice and clean. Up-sampling works a treat.
Some interaction between GEQ bands at high frequencies, but manageable.

I had one which died after 6 months - lights on, but no-one home, got a replacement straight away.
I have two in daily use; at home and in the car.

The guys at Behringer Australia are great.
they have good product knowledge, and are helpful.
Tech support is a bit thin though, unless you get onto the Germans.
Sooooo much better than a bank, or major software vendor.

I use the unit in-car as a ADC and EQ, works great.
I use the unit at home as a DAC and EQ, works great.

Pity it has no MVC function, that alone would make it a 9 in my book.

Since it has a lot more features than the DSP 8024 it is more difficult to use initially. But once you spend some time with the unit your intution makes it easy to use the unit.

Important point to note : The stereo width function does not work in dual mono mode. But when you switch to the stereo link mode the damn thing copies the eq curve settings of the left channel to the right channel or vice versa, overwriting the absolute curve settings obtained from the RTA!! for each channel seperately(holy cow?).

Sound quality from this unit I must say is outstanding for the price.

96 KHz sampling and all!

NOTE : In my case the party got busted after about an hour of using the unit as the unit started to generate a crackling kind of a noise from the left channel even when there was no input signal?!! (ridiculous for Behringer and equipment in this category)

I am a audiophile and i used this unit in a tape monitor loop on a Musical Fidelity Pre Amp 8. I have 2 Mono block power amps from the same manufacturer and my speakers are B & W Matrix 803 Series II with high end Monster inter connects & speaker cables. The speakers are also bi-wired.

The pits I must say. The first unit worked fine for about 12 days after purchase. And then the crackling noise from the left channel. The problem supposedly got fixed at the service centre in Mumbai India after about 3 weeks of waiting, but hey once I got it back it worked fine for only 10 days before the crackling noise came back!!!.
The reseller gave me a replacement but guess what the replacement would not even switch on properly (blank display et al)and used to restart itself again & again after about an hour of use. I demanded a refund and got my cheque from the reseller. At this rate of reliability forget using this in a gig, you cant even use it with your home system without risking damage to your speakers.

I could not figure out the stereo width function and related problem. Even Behringer's local tech team dont have the answers?!!

But hey I am using a Behringer DSP 8024 for the past 2 years and have had absolutely no problems & it works all the time & it sounds great!!.

With the DEQ 2496 I did get my money back! :)

You dont know when this damn unit will pack up and how long it will work without any problems, the great sound quality does not matter as it is rendered useless because of poor reliability. Behringer I think you need to pull up your socks fast (DEQ 2496).

This unit has the most intuitive user interface I have ever seen on any sound processor. There are several modules inside the box, each having its own access key. By hitting the key briefly you get to edit the effect parameters, by holding the key bit longer you turn the module on/off. Can't be any easier. Managing and naming presents is also very easy

Firmware 1.4

I used it as mastering processor between mains on the mixer and the PA. Sounds pretty transparent and does its job. Parametric and Graphic (PEQ/GEQ) equalizer modules feel like that things really happen when you play with them. Likewise the 3D-type of panorama called "sound width". In combination with good condenser mic, the unit can also be used as real-time signal analyzer feeding back data into the GEQ. This helps to compensate for eventual frequency response problems in PA of studio monitors. Tried at home, works pretty fine.

Feedback destroyer is bit lazy, though. Not really useful in shooting down sudden loops on stage ('cos it takes 2-3 seconds before FBD reacts), but quite handy when trying to catch problem with the venue.

The first unit I bought didn't start at all. After power on, backlight on the display went on, but that was about it. I got bit shocked, considering that the price was EUR 300+. Second unit works fine so far (2 months; light usage).

Perhaps I wouldn't consider obtaining backup, since in the way I use the DEQ2496, I might still be able to make solid sound, even if the unit gets completely busted. It would just take more sweat ;)

New box should work, however. No excuse for that - 6 points max...

What customer support?

When the first unit got broken, I followed instructions in the manual. It says: "send the unit to us, but call us first to discuss the issue". Well, despite the fact that Behringer is based in Germany, I called the UK number mentioned in the manual (naive me). Friendly voice on the other side told me to contact the re-seller and not to bother..... cheers, mate! I guess, the "support line" is only intended for corporate customers.

The unit is a master piece regarding its user interface, and it does pretty well what it is meant to be. Due to the known quality issues, however, I'd be rather reluctant to use it in very important gigs with complex audio setups. Certainly OK for small and mid-range gigs...

Not easy but with a little time and effort, you should get it working fairly well. Manual is good. Firmware is 1.2b

Sounds OK. Some noticable coloration and noise but for the price, it's good.

I own two of these units. The first broke around 6-9 months of use, the second is breaking now, about 15 months after purchasing new.

When they work, these are very good units. Lots of usable features and fairly intuitive to program once you get the hang of it. But after having two out of two go bad, I have to conclude these units have long term problems and therefore they are junk if reliability is an issue. The first unit developed an intermittent sound loss. The second unit shuts down after getting warm and goes into limp or by-pass mode. Both are permanent installations (non-mobile) in non-smoking, conditioned (AC and heat) equipment rooms; firmware on both is 1.2B. My old & featureless Rane gear has never given me an ounce of trouble--I'm going 100% Rane for EQs.

Service under warrantee was OK. I sent the unit in and was told 3-6 weeks. I heard nothing from them during that time. No reply saying they got the unit or a real ETA.

If it works now, enjoy it... your luckier than me.

This unit takes some time to set up correctly. Behringers manual doesnt give much advice. I updated the unit to v1.4

This thing can make ANYTHING sound great. I use it with a PODxt Pro and Rocktron Piranha into a Marshall 100/100 Dual Monoblock

Looks sturdy, but with all digital products, you need to be careful and not abuse it.

I actually had a proble setting it up (my Pod wasnt configured correctly) and a Behringer phone tech worked with me for 25 minutes.

The Behringer DEQ2496 is a great product and is worth every penny. It has a lot of options and can help shape any sound.

I wanted to point out that you need to buy several cables to use this product...which will most likely cost an additional $50.

This unit can take some time to set-up porperly, days to be exact. I just bought one for the TV Station I engineer for, and after like 5 hours I needed some time away from the unit. The only thing difficult is the Pink-Noise Generator is on the RTA page 2 of the unit, and then you have to select Pink-Noise as the main input to the unit.

Overall I felt the unit was great, the one problem in this area is the limiter makes a slight distortion noise when starting to limit. It's kinda tricky to tune in properly. Also, it's not very flexible on input and out levels. 22db range, and doesn't allow any boost or cut, what you feed it gain wise, is what'll come out depending on your dynamic changes.

One TV show down, I'd say it'll be around for a long time.

lly much info on the net or from Behringer about this unit, and the manual was basic, when it should have been detailed.

Overall, the unit performs in classic Behringer truth, great for the $amount paid for the unit, but not quite anything you'd expect to be 100% solid. However, the unit has made a vast improvement in my TV mix, and allowed for much more detail in the mix, left room for more effects, made speech more intelligible, and left me hoping I never have another bad word to say about it. The RTA works great, and auto-Q is great, but not 100% accurate, after you let it run all the way until its done, then to be acurate, just adjust it manually to correct what the auto-Q didn't. This unit would be great for a large band for live applications, and some general clean-up. Maybe not for studio recording if planning on using the limiter.

Behringer Ultra Curve Pro - DEQ-2496

(Stereo EQ and dynamics rack module - see the manufacturer's site for all the details)

Overall, quite intuitive with good graphical displays, and practical menus and shortcuts. The graphic is easy to use, and the "virtual parametric" allows you to dial in some settings very quickly, that would take a lot longer to set up on a real graphic with sliders. The parametric is likewise easy to use, with a clear display of your settings. The dynamic EQ is interesting for some mutil-band dynamics effects. I haven't tried the feedback or dynamics modules yet (only 'cause I don't need them ;-)

Saving & recalling patches is not as easy as some units, but it works. There's no indicataion of which patch was last recalled (except an optional brief message box when patches are recalled by MIDI).

Excellent. No discernable noise, plenty of headroom with "normal" settings. And I like the true response graphic mode; it works like the pro graphic EQs that use constant Q filters - what you see is what you get.

No problems yet, and with one exception, the build quality is excellent.

There's not much support for some rear connectors. The worst is the MIDI IN jack that visibly flexes the PCB when plugging in. If you're using MIDI, I'd recommend hard wiring this unit to avoid reliabilty problems later.

Behringer have already provided firmware updates (this review is based on ver 1.4) - this demonstartes good csutomer and product commitment.

I'll update later if I don't get a response from them on some minor but counter-intuitive defaults relating to MIDI messages and patch changes.

Overall fantastic value for money. Some might me scared off with the parameter editing instead of real sliders, but with the 3 jog dials and the virtual-parametric (and a small amount of practice), it's not an issue at all.

Unbeatable functionality and quality for the price.