Cheapo mixer

[Six-string-man]

Not sure if this is in the correct forum. If not, I apologise, and please feel free to move it. Thanks.

I have a Nord Electro and a Korg Chrome, which I want to send through the same set of speakers.

I'm looking for a smallish cheap mixer for home use, although I'd like to future proof it a bit (i.e. extra inputs) in case I want to plug extra stuff into it at a later date. I'd like to pay around £150 if at all possible.

A friend has a Alto Zephyr ZMX128FX, (£110) which looks OK, I think Alesis used to have something to do with it.

The two that have taken my eye are the Yamaha 82CX at £140, and the Mackie 802 VLZ3, a bit expensive (for me) at £200.

If anyone has any experience/advice about these, compared with the Alto Zephyr, I would really appreciate your input.

I realise that I'm trolling the bottom end of the market, but I just don't have £500 for a decent mixer. Come to that, I don't even have £250 to spend on this!

Thanks.

[franz]

I don't know if a rack version is ok for you, but I'm using since two years this mixer Behringer EURORACK PRO RX1602 for my Stage EX and Motif-rack ES. It's a 16 mono input, hence 8 stereo channels and not so expensive.

Hope it helps!

[e8ndave]

>> The two that have taken my eye are the Yamaha 82CX at £140, and the Mackie 802 VLZ3, a bit expensive (for me) at £200.

I've got both of these. The sound quality out of the Mackie is a bit better and it is a bit smaller. The functionality (particularly the way the headphone setup works) of the Yamaha and the mic stand mount (tilts nicely to make it easy to use while playing) are why it is still in my setup and I'm looking to sell the Mackie.

-Dave

[RedLeo]

I would definitely look at the Yamaha or Mackie and forget about the Alto. If you can work with a rack mixer and no EQ, I would second franz's suggestion for the Behringer. I have one and it's excellent value for money.

[anotherscott]

I have a Nord Electro and a Korg Chrome, which I want to send through the same set of speakers.

I'm looking for a smallish cheap mixer for home use, although I'd like to future proof it a bit (i.e. extra inputs) in case I want to plug extra stuff into it at a later date. I'd like to pay around £150 if at all possible.

The two that have taken my eye are the Yamaha 82CX at £140, and the Mackie 802 VLZ3, a bit expensive (for me) at £200.

If budget is an issue, why not look at the Mackie 402 VLZ3? Not as future proof, but you should be able to use the Tape Input for a third source if you ever need it.

If you want a REALLY cheap solution, you should be able to connect the Krome's line (or possibly headphone) output to the Electro's Monitor In, and then run the Electro's headphone out into your amp/speakers, and the sound of the Krome and Electro will be merged that way. You may have to experiment a bit with the various input and output levels.

[Arjan P]

For lack of availability of small true line mixers, I'd go for the Alto Pro ZMX862 if I were you - € 65,-.It's the smallest one with two stereo channels (plus 2 mono). With the other mixers you mention, while good quality, you're paying a great deal for the mic preamps, which you won't be using.

[Gustavo]

Personally, I once bought an Alesis mixer, it had so much noise I returned it. I have had my Mackie VLZ3 802 for about 7 or 8 years and couldn't be happier with it. My school has some VLZ mixers as well and they've had them probably for over 20 years, or at leas 10.

My point is that with Mackie, you get an expensive product at first, but since it will probably last a lifetime, it ends up being cheaper!!

Other than that I've also had a cheap Behringer mixer, it was also much better than it deserved to be at its price.

[monsterjazzlicks]

I don't know if a rack version is ok for you, but I'm using since two years this mixer Behringer EURORACK PRO RX1602 for my Stage EX and Motif-rack ES. It's a 16 mono input, hence 8 stereo channels and not so expensive.

This is OK and i used in on stage for a couple of years to cater for a few modules i had midi-ied up to a controller keyboard. It basically does what it says on the box and nothing more. Never had any problems with it, but have sold it since.

[Six-string-man]

Result! A friend of mine, who plays in a band is upgrading to an all-singing-all-dancing mixer with all the bells & whistles. He has offered me the Peavey PV-14 mixer (incl. flight case) which he currently uses. It's in great condition, I've heard it in use, and we settled on £90, and are both very happy!