Behringer Ultragain Pro Review

Behringer is a company known for their affordable gear, and it is common to find at least some of their products in a project studio. If you do any recording, a preamp is an absolutely essential piece of equipment. Generally external units are superior to the built in preamps found in sound interfaces or mixers. A single channel preamp can cost as little as 50$ and as much as 2000$ or more. The Ultragain Mic2200, which features 2 channels, is on the lower end of the price spectrum, costing about 150$ CAD. Is it a good value? Read on to find out.

preamps are one type of audio gear that can be a bit of a mystery to the novice user. The difference in quality between different units can be hard to notice to the untrained ear but it is quite apparent once you know what to look for. When you are dealing with cheaper units, the biggest difference is usually the quality of the power supply. Small units with limited power tend to not be able to amplify the signal well; I have noticed this first hand with the built in preamps in some cheaper USB and Firewire sound modules. A preamp that lacks power forces the user to turn the gain higher to get enough volume, which can result in hiss as well as distortion in the signal. When you are dealing with budget units, you can’t expect stellar performance or sound quality, but you should at least be able to amplify the signal without introducing too much noise or stressing the unit. The Ultragain Mic2200, which is no lightweight at 3 kilograms (about 6 and a half pounds), contains an ample power supply for a budget unit.

Don’t let the fancy looking tube fool you; this preamp does not have the warm response you would expect from a high end tube preamp. If anything the tube is just for show as the sound is quite thin and digital sounding overall. With vocals there was a slightly harsh quality in the mid range. I have noticed this with all the microphones I have used with the unit (dynamic as well as condenser mics). Pairing this unit with a cheaper microphone such as an SM58 will result in a somewhat harsh vocal sound, although you can attenuate this during post processing. The phantom power is 48 volts and works as advertised.
Each channel of the Ulltragain has its own EQ unit. While the EQs might be fine for minor attenuating, they are no replacement for a good outboard unit, and they may end up amplifying the harsh response of the unit if pushed to higher settings. The variable low cut filter is very useful, however. The Ultragain also features phase reverse, which is a useful feature to have for some stereo miking techniques. The ultragain also features level conversion (-10 dBV to +4 dBu) and it can be used as a DI box for guitars. You can chain the two mono channels into one stereo pair as well, using one set of controls to adjust both channels. Overall the unit has a good set of features.

The construction is sturdy and utilitarian, with the common black on silver colour motif. There are many LEDs and the tube is pleasantly illuminated. The rack mounts can be inconvenient if you are not using the unit in a rack setting; once the mounts are removed there is nothing to protect the inside from dust. The power cable provided with the unit is rather short, so you may have to use an extension cable depending on your setup. I should note that I know several people who have had this unit fail on them (either one channel or both). Behringer gear has a reputation for being unreliable, and you should consider that if you purchase this unit. From my experience, I’d have to say that reputation is justified. If you need a preamp for a critical application, I suggest you save up for a higher-end unit.

If you are looking for a quality preamp for vocals, you might want to consider investing a bit more and looking at a higher quality mono preamp. But if you need a preamp for instrument miking or something that is versatile yet inexpensive, then the Ultragain might be a useful option. This preamp might also be ideal for some live situations, such as at bars, where the equipment might take a beating and an expensive preamp would be a liability. Just remember that with preamps, you usually get what you pay for.

What’s good: Cheap, good set of features, stereo, less noisy than smaller units in its price range.
What’s not good: Overall harsh sound, EQ is weak, possibly unreliable
Who needs it: Casual users or those who need a preamp for non-critical applications.