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Topic: Hey Sound guys... (Behringer SX3040 vs. Aphex Exciter)

This topic is old and might contain outdated or incorrect information.

As the title suggests, I am looking for info on the Behringer SX3040 vs Aphex Exciter.

I have a very good soundsystem.

2 Yorkville LS801BP's for bass and 2 EV ZXA5's for tops.
They sound GREAT on their own but I also have a Driverack PX that makes them sound Sooooooooo much better.

I am thinking of adding an exciter to the mix as well to bring out the absolute most with these speakers.

I do not want to use a sonic maximizer.

I know a lot of people do not like Behringer AT ALL but some of their stuff is really good. (Some is Really BAD!)
Behringer seems to take another name brand product and for the most part copy that product and re sell it for a lower price.

Aphex Exciter is the original. They make a GREAT product.
Behringer Exciter is the REmade product and online it seems to work well.

Aphex Exciter $299
Behringer Exciter $99

Is there anyone around here that has EXPERIENCE with these products?

I have owned the Aphex Aural Exciter with Big Bottom and it was a GREAT piece of equipment.

Can anyone let me know about the Behringer?
I'm not worried at all about getting the Aphex but if the Beheringer is a good piece of gear for $99, I'm all on it. If NOT...

Someone please let me know.
 
Posted Tue 21 Jan 14 @ 4:37 pm
Behringer has never had an original idea, in their life. That being said, it is a value brand. You get what you pay for. It's like buying a Louis Vuitton bag on Canal street. It looks good, but will not hold up.
 
Hi City

Having used both I have stuck with the Aphex. The Behringer was so cheep I had to get one just to play with and have to say it does what it sais on the tin. The case felt nice and solid but the controls had a real cheep feel to them. It was nice to see that Behringer had stuck with an internal PSU and not a Wall Wart power plug. Sonically the unit worked far better than I expected it to for the price and was able to add that little sparkle at the top or dig out that extra zing in upper mid clarity. The Low End enhancer also behaved very well and could realy help fatten up the bass.

So it worked well, was not expensive and mostly seemed well put together. The controls were a major bugbear for me as that flimsy feel did not inspire confidence at all. A little more care in fixing the control Pots (At least to the front panel) would have made all the difference. They also used rather tacky looking knobs. One of the In/Out switches packed up after a fairly short time and just sticks with the enhancer on all the time :-(

I think this is a good product for the price but that it is more suited to budget Home Studio use. I don't think it would remain relyable for long out in the field of the mobile sound rig.

Hope that helps

Cheers

Daz
 
I'm with Daz. I own both units. I use the Behringer in my garage set up. I just didn't want to pop for another Aphex for sitting in my backyard. The Aphex gets used when I get paid to play. For one reason. It full on rocks!
 
Thanks fellas.

I purchased the Aphex.

The Behringer looked nice but your advice and information led me to buy the Aphex.

I have top notch gear. I might as well keep it top notch.

Thanks guys.
 
I have a question.

I Will run the Aphex before the driverack. At least I think that's the way I should do it.
The issue I see with that is being able to shape the bass with the Aphex.

If I'm not mistaken, the exciter has 2 ch's (good thing) but I'm running tops and subs.
The driverack has separate outs for the subs (2 outs for tops and 2 for subs. That in mind, how do I connect the Exciter to shape the sound of the tops AND the subs?
 
Don't worry about using it for the sub. Waste of resources. I run from my VCI into my mixer, into my EQ into the Aphex, out to my speakers.
 
I see what you mean Terry.

I'm going to have the Aphex before the Driverack.

My set up will be Mixer into Aphex Exciter then out to the Driverack then out to the speakers.

That way ALL the sound is shaped within the parameters I have set up in the Driverack.
 
Ordinarily the Aphex would be in the chain after any compressors and EQ but pre any limiters. not so easy with the Driverack. So your proposed hookup makes sense City.

Just be careful that the compression settings on the Driverack don't fight the Aphex. Especially the low end. As I am sure you already know, the Aphex uses a form of Optical Compressor in the Big Bottoms side chain drive circuit This can trip up the compressor in the Driverack. The effect is like the compressor holding too long before release but what's weird is that the hold time will vary depending on how much bass persistence is being introduced by the Aphex so its quite a random effect.

You might find that the compression settings on the Sub end of the Drive rack need to be tuned back a little is what I am suggesting ;-)

Daz
 
I should point out, sub line comes right out of the EQ. Bypassing the Aphex all together.
 
My Driverack setup is Sub with Satellite Speakers so I don't use the sub-out from the driverack. I guess in my case I can install it after the drive rack should I decide to buy this Aphex Exciter. I could always experiment I suppose and judge the best location -- before or after the driverack.
 
Bosabose. i am assuming that you are just using a full range out from the Driverack to feed your Sub/Sat setup and are using powered speakers? So just wondering what the Driverack is doing for you?
having the Aphex between the Driverack and the systems crossovers/amps is fine as long as you are not relying on the limiters in the Driverack to keep your system safe. remember that anything you hook into the chain after the Driverack has the potential to increase the signal level and void the good work that is done by the Driverack. A correctly setup Aphex should provide enhancement without showing an increase in level on your Amps. If you see the level going up then it is running too hard.

Daz
 
JoeyKJ. That is actually one of the best ways to hook the Aphex in. By using an insert you avoid having to re-adjust the Aphex when you turn up your Master Output. If you also use a Graphic EQ, I would suggest that you also insert this into the Send/Return loop. You would take the Sends out to the GEQ then the Out from the GEQ to the input on the Aphex and then feed the Aphex output back into the Return. As with the Aphex on its own this keeps a consistent level with the best Signal to Noise Ratio :-D it also means that the level metering on your Mixer gives a much more accurate idea of what you are sending to the Amps, as any increase in level, caused by the GEQ or The Aphex will show up on your Master Out Meters :-D :-D

Daz
 
Hi Dazmax,

Thanks for the info....
 


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