"Howard Ferstler" wrote in message
In a recent issue of The Sensible Sound I reviewed the Rane
THX-44 equalizer. In an earlier issue I had also reviewed
the THX-22 version.
I would love to have some feedback regarding these two
components.
Rane equipment is generally well-engineered and well-built. I have quite a
bit of it. I think I started out with a ME60, and it performed will in a
home environment.
The schematic of a THX-44 can be downloaded from
http://www.rane.com/pdf/thx44sch.pdf
My own take on the THX-44 is that I want to compare it to Rane equipment I
own like the PE15 parametric and the ME30 GE30, and ME60 1/3 octave
equalizers that I own. Compared to them, the phrase "Dumbed down for
consumers" comes to mind.
BTW, the Rane equipment I own generally seems to want to last forever. In
the rare event it breaks down, its generally easy to repair. The schematics
are online, and the chassis are spacious and easy to access. Of the dozen or
so Rane pieces I've owned going back to the 1980's, I have only had to
replace a voltage regulator chip in one of them, and that was just recently.
It was a standard off-the shelf part, and replacement took less than an
hour.
At this time Rane equipment is kinda pricey, except perhaps as compared to
high end audio. The obvious question in my mind is how does the PE15S, PE15,
PE17, ME30 and ME60 shape up functionally, performance-wise, and
economically as compared to say, the far less costly similar Behringer
pieces. Behringer has historically been the brand that people love to hate,
but a number of products in their current product line are well-respected.
I also own a Behr PEQ 2200, and have checked it out pretty thoroughly and it
generally outperforms the PE15 I compared it to. I don't know how the Behr
equipment will last (only time will tell), but it retails for a fraction of
Rane prices, is readily available, and can often be found on eBay. I think I
paid about $75 for the PEQ in like-new condition in the box with manual. In
contrast, PE15s have cost me like $150 used in the past.