I bought my QU16 10 years ago and i love it, 100% reliable.
I hire SQ’s for more complex work. Love them too.
Its time for me to buy my next mixer and the QU6 is in my budget.
I’d go for a SQ6 but i need to buy stage boxes as well and so the QU6 + stages boxes i can afford.
So then i start watch videos yesterday about the Behringer Wing compact.
That is A LOT of mixer for the money.
The Wing compact + 32/16 stage box is much cheaper than a SQ6.
The Wing comes with all the effects i’ll ever want for free.
It has huge functionality.
I don’t know about the Berhinger eco system. Some of the bigger gigs i do require a monitor mixer and engineer, which we use SQ’s.
I have to hire a 2nd SQ and thats easy as most hire companies have them, and its easy to find a monitor engineer who knows how to use a SQ.
So moving to the Behringer ecosystem is a complete unknown for me.
PLEASE TALK ME OUT OF BUYING THE WING COMPACT!! lol.
I only want real world user experience, not someones opinion based on the standard Behringer bashing.
I have some Behringer gear and its still working after years, but i have had some cheap Behringer mixers in the past which have partially failed.
Apparently their digital mixers are as reliable as most other brands?
I’d appreciate your experiences.
My heart wants a new QU6 (or a new SQ when/if its released if i could afford that) but i have to work with my means.
It’s a good and fair question. The wing compact and the SD stage boxes are remarkable value for money and have a surprising amount of configurability - routing, effects etc. are all impressive.
I haven’t used a Wing or even an M32 etc. But I did used to have an XR18 and when I replaced it with a CQ20B there was a significant increase in sound quality at gigs. I think 80% of that is better preamps and the other 20% due to 96KHz processing and the effect’s algorithm designs.
Whether that same step change in quality translates to SQ and Wing I don’t know. But the CQ is comparable to my SQ and AR2412/AB168 setup whereas the XR18 was a long way short with that behringer brittle sound.
Half the price though!
Thanks Robin. I have seen a video with 2 guys discussing Wing VS previous Behringer mixers including the XR range and they both agreed the Wing’s pre’s are way better.
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I agree that the Wing seems like an excellent “bang for the buck”. (I also haven’t used one personally however).
One place it really excels is in the FX/plugin department. I will be interested to see what Deep Processing is available on the QU series and at what cost.
I’m getting a Qu-5 which is similar to the Qu-6 you’re asking about. My Qu-5 will just have 17 physical faders (16 plus 1 for Master) versus 24+1 faders. I’ve not had the Behringer Wing anything, so I can’t compare them, sorry.
I did try a Behringer X32 Rack recently, which apparently was suffering from an issue which prompted a return. I had to factory reset the X32 Rack because of a possible user error in routing, then attempted to get audio with 1 mic to FOH. Worked fine on Monday, no audio to FOH Wednesday for Church service. Nope, return commencing. Next up the Allen and Heath Qu-5.
Main reason I’m commenting is this, I’m going to pair my Qu-5 with the Allen and Heath AB168 stage box, which is based on 48k instead of the higher 96k. I did this for a price cut to be honest. I’m OK with the 48k in my usage at a Church. Even 48k is a step up for my needs.
I honestly don’t know if A&H is actually still manufacturing the older QU “classic” consoles. I suspect they aren’t or will stop producing them very soon. Once A&H stops producing them and stores sell out of them, there will not be any more 48k consoles being offered by A&H. When this happens, there will be little reason for A&H to keep producing the older 48k DSnake stage boxes either.
Long story short, the AB boxes are eventually going to be discontinued - probably sooner rather than later. This will make future expansion much harder for people that have the older style boxes. Just keep that in mind when making new purchase decisions.
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My console being delivered today is from the new Qu series, specifically the Qu-5. The older part is the stage box, the AB168.
And I’m ok with that compromise. My pastor made the decision to mix (pun not intended) old stage box with new version mixer. At least I’m now mixing on a physical surface again.
Sweetwater still carrying the stage box for now BTW.
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I recently used an “old” QU16, and a Wing back to back (about half an hour gap). While the Wing has more inputs, and “looks sexy” it felt less smooth than the QU, also the Wing’s larger display felt crowded, putting a lot onto the screen, and the lot of the text is less distinct. The two work flows are different, with the QU being similar to the SQ5 I use on a weekly basis.
One thing to consider is you already have an Allen & Heath stage box and that will continue to serve you with either a new QU5/6 or SQ5 -you will have to buy a new stage box if you change brand - and that saving might allow you to get a new SQ5 (I’ve not run the figures).
One other (minor) consideration is that the Wing is a 48k desk against the 96k of both the QUx and SQx….
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