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Reviews For: Behringer VX 2496

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Review Summary For : Behringer VX 2496
Reviews: 7MSRP: 99
Description:
Ultravoice digital microphone pre-amplifier and voice processor
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.behringer.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0075
W0TDH Rating: 2014-09-06
Good Audio Reports! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
My VX-2496 came as a gift from HB9ASQ - Bob. I had been using a D-104 direct to BM on the IC-735
in AM Mode and using an REA Mod meter. Bob's IC-735 sounds like VOA BTW. In my day, the D-104 Is/Was the Poor Man's Equalizer. However, I took on the challenge. After VX-2496 arrived, I borrowed a SM-58 & used settings Bob provided me, along with much Fine Tuning with him on the air. Well, the bug bit and I sold a rig to purchase an RE-20 mike. Never had a mike that cost more than the rig B4 :)) Audio reports were good with the SM-58...borrowed from my neighbor KJ4ZWC - JC, but improved with the addition of the RE-20. 10 watts of RF to the Amp & 100 watts to antenna on 10 & 15 Mtr AM. However the 32V3 was getting lonesome....Purchased a Low to High impedance xfmr and made up a patch cable. Now getting very nice audio reports on the V3 RE-20/VX-2496 combination. Anyone wanting the settings I use please email direct. I am on QRZ.Com

73,

Tom - WØTDH
ZS3CD Rating: 2010-03-07
Tops Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use the VX2496 to DEQ2496 then FT2000 with B2 pro mike. Works very good. Wish we guys can start a forum would like to here of your setups and settings on the VX2496 still batteling a bit with the perfect setting.
zs3cd@lantic.net
VA7CPC Rating: 2008-09-29
No problems, works very welll Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I wanted to find out whether "pro audio" gear was worthwhile, and this multi-purpose box was the least expensive way to get some experience.

I'm using the VX2496 with a Yaesu FT-450, Behringer C-2 condenser mic, and Buxcomm Rascal interface between the VX2496 and the "data in" jack on the FT-450.

I've put ferrites on _every wire_ in and out, and have no problems with RF feedback, even with my antenna in the attic 10' above my head.

This is wonderfully simple "old technology" -- one knob = one function. With 17 knobs and 14 switches, you get lots of control over the sound coming out! Start at the left end of the panel, and slowly work your way to the right . . .

The VX2496 compressor is _much_ better than the FT-450 compressor; it gives much higher average power. The "tube emulation" and "enhancer" let me keep the sound bright, even when it's heavily compressed. I roll-off the bass at 270 Hz, to keep a bit of bottom-end in my signal.

The only flaws are that EQ is fixed-frequency (not parametric), and the "Presence" boost only goes to +8 dB. So I can't sound quite as screechy as someone with a Heil HC-4 and treble boost on his tranceiver -- but I sound much nicer.

For anyone who wants "better than stock" audio, this box and a decent mic may be all you need.

Charles
W6LBV Rating: 2008-04-10
Voice power! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The VX 2496 is a “high performance voice processor” (manufacturer’s description) that can significantly improve the quality of Amateur voice mode transmissions......if you know what you are doing with it or are willing to learn through experimentation.

While intended primarily for microphone pickup and voice enhancement in the live stage performance/recording industry, it is adaptable (with some care!) to the Amateur service. Here it competes with the W2IHY processors, which I also own and use. Each has advantages and disadvantages: the VX 2496 is more versatile and lower in cost, but it requires more care in interfacing to the radio and is more difficult to set up.

My intent in using it is to augment HF ssb transmissions and not to enter into the “Hi-Fi audio” enhanced SSB realm. I want the maximum “talk power” per watt of transmitter output within the 3 kHz transmitted audio bandpass.

With full processing at work the transmitter easily reaches 100% output power on voice peaks, and the long-term, time-averaged output power climbs toward 75 - 80%, rather than perhaps 30% without processing. The psycho-acoustic effects that the received signal produce for listeners are “loudness,” “naturalness,” and “presence,” without the raspiness or heavy compression of simpler processors. Broadcast radio stations have done this kind of thing for years, using considerably more expensive processors!

On-air tests of the processed signal indicate an average perceived signal strength increase of about 2 S-units compared to the unprocessed signal. The result is reminiscent of a weak signal report I received years ago while on AM mode and using good speech processing: “I don’t see any trace of your signal on my S-meter, but your voice is fully copyable!”

Some tips for using the VX 2496 effectively:

The deck is designed for professional microphones, either dynamic or condenser (it includes a switchable microphone phantom voltage power supply). This means using a balanced mike input line and XLR connectors. I use a Behringer B-1 condenser microphone which gives fine speech quality but it is omnidirectional, sensitive to extraneous sounds, and can be over driven.

The deck's audio output is unbalanced (matches coaxial audio cable) and at “line level” (which is far more voltage than most Amateur transmitters require). The on-board master output fader can drop the output signal down to typical transceiver audio input levels, but the pot will then operate near the end of its range. Consider adding an outboard 600 ohm, 50 dB attenuator pad (three resistor pi network) at the output to provide some comfort range in setting the audio level.

Unlike the W2IHY products, the VX 2496 does not contain internal RF filtering. Plan on adding clamp-on ferrite RF chokes (or equivalent) to all cables terminating on the back of the deck. Good station grounding practices also help.

Most current HF ssb transceivers have rear panel jacks (sometimes labeled “data input”) that give direct audio access to the transmitter’s modulator. I use these and bypass the rig's internal speech amplifiers/processors. The VX 2496 then has full control of the audio. If you use these, check to ensure that you do not overdrive the modulator; use the radio's ALC indicator as a guide (the rig's mike level metering will then not work). Both on-air reports and a spectrum analyzer have indicated that my signal does not produce distortion and splatter. Also check the cooling for the transmitter, as for ssb emissions the PA stages will be working harder.

If possible, record the audio on your transmitted signal as an aid to setting up the various processor functions. It will take some experimentation to get the deck optimized for your particular voice and your desired on-air “sound.” You will have a very great amount of control, however (with seventeen pots on the front panel!).

One disadvantage of the deck is that it does not store audio “profiles.” You have to adjust the pots every time you want to change a profile. Thus you cannot store “rag chew” and “DX chase” audio profiles separately and call them back at will.

The standard advisory applies: If you want a straight-out-of-the-box “instant gratification” product, don’t buy this deck. It has six separate voice processing functions, they do interact with each other somewhat, and it will take work and understanding to make it reach its full potential. But when it does.......this sweet little deck should make a considerable difference in your signal!
SV2BWM Rating: 2008-02-20
Superb ESSB! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
That thing is an absolute must for your transceiver!

It has expander, tube emulation, compressor, voice-optimized equalizer and de-esser. That's all you need to have a perfect tool shaping your ESSB and makes your modulation heard even in low signal reports!

I use it with a simple YuBrother condenser mic combined with W2IHY Ibox, ART Passive Direct Box and a couple of ferrites to prevent the audio equipment from RFI.

Best buy for Behringer!
IW1QN Rating: 2006-06-10
Very Very Good Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I buy the Behringer VX2496 for my Icom Ic-746 (notPRO) and my HeilSound GM4.It works very very well.
I use 2 Good Balanced Cable with XLR connector and in every Cable also use 2 Ferrites to prevent Any type of Noise.I Enter Directly in the Mic Imput of my Rtx.Works Very Very Great.
The OPTOCOMPRESSOR is very Good and Permit a TOTAL control of Compression.
With the VOICE OPTIMIZED EQ You can Equalize and Adjust your Voice Tone.
With OPTO DE-ESSER you can adjust the Presence Effect.
Very Easy to SetUp and Not Expensive.
Best Buy.
KE4EX Rating: 2006-02-01
$ 4 $ # 4 # Great Buy Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Works great with any microphone. Never an issue.
I would buy another. Stright up design makes setting up a breeze.