Behringer Xenyx 1204USBFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 28 mentions across 10 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment30%
PROS 30%
CONS 70%

Rank based on 28 mentions across 10 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You need an affordable mixer mainly for live sound, streaming, or voice-over work
  • You're comfortable installing the correct 64-bit ASIO driver to avoid latency
  • You don't need true multitrack USB recording

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need a dependable plug-and-play USB audio interface for multitrack recording
  • You require channel inserts for outboard processing
  • You get easily frustrated by confusing routing button combinations

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Budget
Behringer Xenyx 1204USB
Good for live sound and streamingBudget-friendly priceReliable across multiple operating systems for some usersConfusing routing and button combinationsUSB interface often fails to pass audioLatency and driver issues out of the box
Behringer Xenyx 1204USB
Good for live sound and streaming
Budget-friendly price
Reliable across multiple operating systems for some users
Confusing routing and button combinations
USB interface often fails to pass audio
Latency and driver issues out of the box

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Solid as a standalone live mixer at a budget price. Multiple commenters point out the Xenyx line offers great quality for a cheap price, especially for hobbyists who can't afford pricier interfaces. Users report using it successfully for live PA mixing, karaoke and DJ hosting, and live streaming to a PC over USB. One reviewer even called it 'pretty good as a stand-alone mixer.' For basic mixing duties without heavy computer integration, it seems to satisfy budget-conscious buyers reasonably well.

USB interface functionality is a common pain point. Several users struggled badly getting the USB connection to send or receive audio at all, with one giving up after trying all preference options and driver updates, planning to sell the unit. Others found it only delivers one track to the PC rather than true multitrack recording, calling it 'awful' as an interface despite being fine as a mixer. New Mac users also reported getting no signal at all, unlike on Windows machines.

Routing and button combinations confuse many owners. Numerous comments describe difficulty getting effects, monitors, or recording software to work simultaneously, often needing specific USB/main mix button combinations that aren't obvious. One user couldn't hear effects through headphone monitor output, another couldn't get distorted guitar software sound through main outputs, and one returned the unit entirely after failing to record and stream simultaneously via Skype or Cleanfeed.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?