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Behringer Eurorack Pro RX1602 19 inch Rackmount Mixer
Review and Description
Behringer Eurorack Pro RX1602 Rackmount Mixer

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Behringer Eurorack Pro RX1602

I was originally thinking of getting a used RX1602, but was later glad to have not gone down that path.

When intending to buy a used Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer, it may be worth considering a new one instead. They appear to hold their price well at around AUD $150 to $200 (if you can find one at all). There is not a lot of money saved chasing a used RX1602 mixer. A new one, on the other hand (at between AUD $210 to $280), comes with a three year warranty (
with conditions) and possibly even free shipping.

Just to be clear - I don't recommend this device!






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Review and Description
(Rating 5.8 / 10 -
would / could have been better but didn't outlast its warranty period)

The 19" rack mount Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer is compact, simple and effective solution when you need to mix up to 8 stereo Line Level signals. This is a 1RU (single rack unit), no-frills, but a good audio quality mixer that delivers exactly what it claims. The RX1602 is Ideal for submixing, particularly when you just need a single stereo output.

 

  This article is about the original RX1602, not the V2 version.
 
  

Up until 26/04/2020
... The Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer had been a part of my rig for around 2½ years, with a daily run-time between 2 to 4 hours (approx. 2500+ hours total). While quietly practicing one evening, the RX1602 failed spectacularly, with much loud noise. Fortunately (perhaps) 6 months prior to the 3 year (conditional) warranty expiring.

Most of this review was already completed at the time of failure, but has since been updated where appropriate. Going forward, the RX1602 was in due course be replaced by the Sampson SM10 - Line Mixer, which has some additional features, is a better mixer, but also almost twice the price - just thought that might be worth a mention.

The field of analogue rackmount line mixers is not a huge one and it quickly gets much smaller when you add the criteria: 16 channel or 8 channel stereo and 1RU. If you open the link below there is a search prepared for those who are after mixer product comparisons.

  About Review and Description articles, click to expand
 
  

Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer


An important pre purchase consideration was a device that used minimal rack realestate.

From a functional perspective, the layout of the RX1602 Mixer is about as tightly packed as you can get while keeping to a 1RU format.

For example:
There are controls on the rear panel (Level Switch +4dB / -10dB) that I would have preferred to have on the front and there are internal circuit board links (Pre / Post Fade Monitor) that I would also have preferred to be switches available on the front panel.


While Behringer call this is a 16 Channel mixer, it is really only 8 channels that can be implemented as either Mono or Stereo. If used for 16 distinct mono channels the balance would become a part of the level control and there would be no actual panning available.

Behringer claim it to be an Ultra-Low Noise Line Mixer. While prefixes like ultra tend to make me Ultra-Suspicious ... well ... it is quiet. The Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer has no noticeable noise issues and can deliver full output without signs of distortion - I would not hesitate to call it 'Studio Grade'.

FRONT PANEL

Each of the 8 Stereo (or Mono) Channels consists of:

See my illustration below showing Channel [15/16] as an example. Click on the illustration for a larger image of the whole mixer.

Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer

To the right of the 8 channel sections there is the Output and Monitoring section (shown above):

See illustration above showing Output Controls and Metering.




REAR PANEL

The rear panel of the Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer consists of:

See close up below or click on the illustration for a larger image of the entire mixer rear.

Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer

PROS:


CONS:


Warranty

All new and registered Behringer products come with a 3 year limited warranty. The catch of course is that the product should be registered within 90 days of purchase and the warranty is not transferable upon resale ... and you have to jump through their hoops, which is to say they try to put you off from doing this [For Warranty Info - Please go here].


Summary:

There is nothing flash or frivolous about the the Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer. It is a relatively simple 1RU workhorse, designed to save space and money. It does both splendidly, but of course with some, perhaps to be expected limitations.

While the unit's power supply design is about as simple as it gets, it does make use of a shielded torroidal transformer (generally a sign of higher quality design) which is definitely a contributor to the better than average noise performance.

The RX1602 does a fine job for what it is - and is reasonable quality, but could be improved. The one I purchased almost outlived the three year warranty period. A less than spectacular outcome for a device that doesn't even have high output levels and was not under any kind of physical stress.

Would I recommend this mixer - No. I replaced it with a Samson SM10. Twice the price but a much better quality piece of gear.

The Failure of the Eurorack Pro RX1602 Mixer:

Accepting that I probably didn't lodge the warranty with Behringer as prescribed within 90 days of purchase (I vaguely remember there being something about the process on their web site that pissed me off at the time), I have accepted that I'm on my own here.

I did shoot off an inquiry email to where I purchased the RX1602, but never got a reply. ;-)

So anyway, the RX1602 case is on the bench now and open.

At a quick glance I'm seeing some (minor looking) heat issues with the power supply section. The fuse of course is open circuit, but it's the fuse type that was a surprise. It is a slow-blow 350 mA.

This explains why there was about 30 seconds of most horrendous noise (very reminiscent of highly amplified mains hum) from the amplifier which is fed by the mixer, before the grand silence when the fuse finally blew. This could be relatively fortunate if the damage is confined to the power supply components.

It should be noted though, that the choice of fuse type (slow blow) gives a clue to the designer's expectations of this device. In this case, they are expecting that the RX1602 will on occasion over-reach its electrical limits. But rather than design/provide a better power supply, and to prevent the thing from constantly blowing fuses, a slow blow fuse is used to 'tolerate' these transient specification over-runs.

Common sense should suggest however, that there may well be a limit to how many times or for how long that will work, before component stress leads to ultimate failure. Well, it seems that around about 2,500 run-time hours will do it, by my estimation.

Another fine example of Behringer's design ethic of pushing everything to max, and then, just a little bit more. Got to make room for those new models.

Simply put, it's no doubt at least a part of the reason why Behringer's 'German designed' but Chinese manufactured shit occasionally blows up.

In the end, I couldn't be bothered spending the time to fix it and gave it away for parts. My general tolerance for failure is dimishing with age.  




Behringer Eurorack Pro RX1602 Specifications

System
Bandwidth
20Hz to 20kHz ±0.2dB
Frequency Range 20Hz to 200kHz +0/-3dB
S/N Ratio
< -97dB
Distortion THD 0.0025% @ +4dB input 1kHz Unity Gain
Crosstalk
< -70dB
   
Audio Inputs (x8)
Type
6mm (1/4") TRS
L/R or Mono
Impedance Approx. 20KΩ balanced
Approx. 10KΩ unbalanced
Gain Range
- to +15dB
Operating Level Switchable +4dBu or -10dBV
Max Input Level
+22dBu
CMRR (Common Mode Rejection Ratio)
Typical. 44dB @ 1kHz for balanced input
   
Audio Outputs
Main Output  
Type
6mm (1/4") TRS L/R unbalanced
Impedance Approx. 120Ω
Gain Range
- to +15dB
Operating Level Switchable +4dBu or -10dBV
Max Output Level
+22dBu

Monitor Output
Type
6mm (1/4") TRS Mono unbalanced
Impedance Approx. 120Ω
Max Output Level
+22dBu

Phones Output
Type
6mm (1/4") TRS Stereo
Impedance Approx. 100Ω
   
Front Panel Summary
Input Controls (x8)
Monitor / FX Send Level
Balance Control
Mute Switch / Clip Indicator
Channel Level Control
Output and Monitoring
and more
Monitor / FX Send Master
Monitor To Phones switch
Main Left / Right Level Set
L/R LED Level Meters
Headphones Level Control
Headphones Jack
Power Switch
PHONES Jack 6mm (1/4") Stereo Phone Socket 100Ω
Display (x2) 7 LED Bar Graph plus Clip
POWER Switch Push On/Off
   
Rear Panel Summary
Inputs (x8)
6mm (1/4") Balanced
Stereo (or Mono)
plus Level Switch for
+4dBu or -10dBV
Audio Outputs
6mm (1/4")
Unbalanced
Main Out - Stereo
Monitor Out - Mono
120Ω impedance
Mains Connection Standard IEC Connector
   
Power  
Power Consumption 14 Watts Max
Supply Voltage AC - 100V / 120V / 230V
   
Physical Specs
Weight: 2.3 kg (5 lb)
Dimensions: Width: 482.6mm (19")
Depth: 217mm (8-1/2")
Height: 44.5mm (1-3/4")
EIA - 1 U rack mount type
   
Originally Included Items:
  Power Cable, Printed Manual & Warranty

Review Ratings:




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