[LAU] Question about Behringer UCA202 USB audio device

[Arnold Krille]

On Wednesday 14 January 2009 10:12:52 you wrote:
> Misconception #1) Other than SSL, Neve and RME almost ALL other audio
> cards have the same 2 dollar chip and 3 dollar CODEC and 1 dollar IC.
> RME and high end mfg have boutique stuff that is roughly about 80.00
> Presonus, M-Audio etc... all have the exact same parts....

Which might be true for the digital part. But my general experience with that 
specific manufacturer is that the over-all design both in electronics and in 
other hardware is not as good as the originals they are copying. Begins with 
cheaper plastics for the knobs, goes on with not-top-of-the-line pre-amplifiers 
and doesn't end with cross-talk from the pfl-listening into the pre-fader-aux 
(which is really strange as these should be far enough on the layout?). I 
forgot to mention that their new mixing consoles have brain-dead logic (why 
would I want to mute a channel "after" the pre-fader-aux???) and that all 
their mixing consoles are worn out after two years of once-a-week usage. Oh, 
and the EQ's are really strange.

So while they might have the same audio-chipset, they still loose a lot 
quality in everything else. And while the might for example use the same 
firewire chipset in some of their products, they still use it in a kind-of non-
standard way. Ask ppalmers why their product isn't working out-of-the-box with 
freebob.

Your list of ways to diminish noise sounds as if this manufacturer really 
should read it...

Apart from very few (and older) devices that seem to be worth the money (the 
headphone-amp seems to be a standard and the digital mixing-console isn't bad 
for that price) the rule of thumb "don't buy behringer" is a pretty good rule 
unless you are on a _very_ tight budget.

This sounds like a lot of ranting (and it is) but I have used their devices 
long enough to know how cheap they are. And I decided not to buy them for my 
private stuff for a good reason.

Have fun,

Arnold

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