Written by Eric Chee
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Since we have announced the distribution of Topp Pro T2208 digital mixer under our portfolio in February 2022, we have received many questions how well does it fare against Behringer X32 Producer and what are the differences between them. These questions are to be expected as we also sell X32 Producer.
If you interested to learn about Topp Pro DM24.8 vs X32/M32, link will be provided at the end of this article.
T2208 and X32 Producer are entirely different products due to great differences in specification, hardware design and product positioning. However we try our best to measure the T2208 with X32 Producer. Note that this is not a fair comparison and it is an apple to orange comparison.
We will put into table for comprehensive side by side comparison purpose. If you love to read, there is additional write up below the table.
| Features | X32 Producer | T2208 |
| Mic Inputs | 16 on-board, max 32 via stage box | max 16 on-board combo |
| Line Input | 6 | 16 on-board combo + 4 Jack |
| Output Bus | 8 Bus on-board, max 16 via stage box | 8 Auxes (Jack) |
| Main Output | N/A (initially assigned to Bus 7 & 8) | Main L & R (XLR or Jack) |
| Audio Signal Network | AES50 | DANTE (optional card) |
| Control Room Out | 2 | 2 |
| Remote Control | Ethernet | Ethernet & USB |
| Remote Software | PC, MAC, Android, IOS | PC, MAC, Android, IOS |
| External Card Slot for Networking | support DANTE, MADI, SD Card | support DANTE |
| USB Interface | 2 in 2 Out up to 8 in 8 out | 2 in 2 out |
| Extra | Ultranet, AES/EBU, MIDI | N/A |
| Screen | 5" Non Touch Screen | 7" Touch Screen |
| Total Faders | 17 | 1 |
| DCA Group | 8 | 6 |
| MUTE Group | 6 | N/A (DCA Group can be utilized as MUTE) |
| Assignable Button & Knobs Shortcut | Yes, only buttons | N/A |
| Lamp Inputs | N/A | N/A |
| LCD Scribble Strip | N/A | N/A |
| Talkback | Yes | Yes |
| Gain Control | Digital Gain | Physical Analog Gain on console, Digital Gain for DIO.24 Stage Box via DANTE Controller |
| Gate | Yes in every inputs | Yes in every inputs |
| Compressor | Yes in every inputs and outputs | Yes in every inputs and outputs |
| PEQ |
4-bands in inputs 6-bands in busses |
4-bands in every inputs and output |
| LPF | Yes | Yes |
| HPF | Assignable type in PEQ | Yes |
| GEQ | up to 8 max in the rack slot | 9 GEQ in all Aux and Main |
| FX | up to 8 max in the rack slot | 2 FX engine |
| FX type | Large library of FX type | Only 12 type FX available |
| FX MUTE | Assignable via assignable section | Dedicated FX Mute |
| Delay | Only in inputs | Available in inputs & output |
| Phase | Yes | Yes |
| Stereo Link | Input, Bus & Matrix | Input & Aux |
| Pan | Yes | Yes |
| Matrix | 6 | N/A |
| Test Tone | Custom Sine Wave, Pink Noise | N/A |
| Automix | Yes, 8 CH with weighting feature & X-Y option | Yes, 20 CH with simple on/off function |
| Send on Fader |
Input rout to Output or Output rout to Input |
Input rout to Output |
| GEQ on Fader | Yes | N/A |
| RTA | Yes, overlay on PEQ or GEQ | Yes, separated from PEQ or GEQ |
| Metering Scale | Perceived Hotter Signal | Perceived Colder Signal |
Both consoles are compact digital mixer and both are rack-mountable into a 19" rack. At first glance, the most obvious difference between Topp Pro T2208 and X32 Producer is the number of motorized faders. There is only 1 fader with T2208 while there are 17 faders with X32 Producer. No doubt the more faders, the easier and faster the mixing will be. Users may be happier with all the faders control available instantly. However, we do receive an unique view from a sound engineer cum event rental company owner that single fader is cheaper in long term maintenance budget. He also shared that they don't not need too much adjustment during the event. It is during rehearsal and setup that they will need to do the most adjustments. Fair perspective, we shall say.
Single fader of Topp Pro T2208
Both console has on board 16 mic input. The Behringer has 8 out puts while the Topp Pro has 10 outputs. When the X32 Producer used with stage box, the full potential will be unleashed where maximum of 32 inputs and 16 outputs can be used. T2208 cannot be expended even if the console connected to the console via DANTE.
Rear view of X32 Producer
Rear View of Topp Pro T2208
The screen is another major difference between both console. Behringer has a 5" screen which is smaller and it is non touchable screen. Topp Pro meanwhile has a larger 7" touch screen. Ultimately, it will depend on the type of user experience you looking for. X32 Producer has been in the market for some many years, there are not much complaint on its screen but a bigger size and touch screen of Topp Pro is a great feature to have.
T2208 has a strange design decision like its bigger brother DM24.8 which uses physical analog pre-amp Gain. This mean, the Gain only can be adjusted in front of the console. The tablet app and PC software will not able to let us adjust the pre-amp Gain. If we use DIO.24 stage box via DANTE connection, the console itself, the table app and PC software too are unable to control the pre-amp Gain of the stage box. The stage box's pre-amp Gain can only be adjusted using Dante Controller Software. With the setup design, we believe the T2208 is more suitable for permanent installation into venue.
Physical Analog Gain of Topp Pro T2208
Both Topp Pro and Behringer able to connect to DANTE network by adding an external cards. Behringer provide more external card options such as MADI, USB, SD Card & Wave Card. T2208 by itself does not have pre-installed network card while Behringer has AES50 network available on-board. DANTE is a respectable network therefore it will be good enough for T2208 to be used in variety of applications. However, do note that T2208 is a slave console which means the the preamp Gain or the phantom power controlof the stage box is not available to the console.
X32 Producer has the flexibility by giving users the ability to assign custom buttons for immediate usage. T2208 does not have this luxury of customization. However, it should not be a major downfall due to the fact that T2208 is easier to navigate and most features are within two to three press / touch away. In contrast, X32 Producer has few many "menu" buttons where the "menu" buttons will open up many tabs to be scroll through. The fact it is not a touch screen also means that we need to navigate through arrow buttons and knobs. Therefore it totally make sense for X32 Producer to have an assignable section.
"Menu" buttons encircling the screen and numerous tabs within the "Menu" buttons
Assignable buttons section of X32 Producer
The similar horse power of X32 Producer to the bigger brother X32 is commendable. It is unfortunate that T2208 does not have the same horsepower as it's DM24.8. X32 Producer retains the features of 8 DCAs and 6 MUTE Group. T2208 was cut half. It only have 6 DCAs available. There is no MUTE Group but the DCAs can be creatively used as MUTE Group. But the 6 DCAs maybe severely lacking for many people. It is not a deal breaker as for common usage as 6 DCAs will be sufficient since the T2208 target market is the towards beginners.
6 DCAs in Topp Pro T2208
The FX and DSP processing for X32 Producer is still strong and relevant in current market (even it have been released for more than 8 years). Similar to X32, it has 8 empty slot to be freely assigned based on your preference. You can max out the FX by using all 8 slots, you can use all 8 slots for GEQ or you can split according to your need. It even have the flexibility to be used as insert. In T2208, everything is fixed. It has 2 FX engines and 9 GEQ (8 in Auxes and 1 in Main). All of these cannot be used as insert.
8 slots of FX & DSP engine in M32 (X32 Producer will have similar engines)
2 FX engines of Topp Pro T2208
9 GEQ at the outputs of Topp Pro T2208
X32 Producer give us the ability to "see" the audio via Real Time Analyzer (RTA). We can see problematic frequencies and we can act accordingly. The fact that the RTA is overlay on top of PEQ and GEQ make everything much more simpler. Unfortunately, the T2208 does not come with RTA which is kind of bummer. If we to take it positively, we only can convince ourself the lack of RTA enable us to train our ears. In the end, we still prefer to have a RTA.
Colorful & Overlay of RTA at the PEQ section in X32 Producer
Automix is an important feature for automated mixing in situation of many microphones are being use (eg conference) or in operator-less operation. Topp Pro provide a simple operation to user without learning curve. You need just to turn it on and select which input channels you want to add into Automix. Although simple, it work greatly by ensuring all audio signals are being balanced around similar volume level. The Behringer's Automix has higher degree of setup that can be customized where we can adjust the weighting of the input channels as well as ability to separate into X or Y groups. However this may be confusing to the beginners as it has of higher learning curve. One advantage of Topp Pro is that all channels (20 channels) can be added to the Automix while there is the limit of 8 can be added to the Automix in Behringer.
Automix from Midas M32 (X32 Producer will have identical Automix)
Automix in Topp Pro T2208
Both console have different metering scale. We are so used to X32 Producer metering that during the initial usage of T2208, we were perplexed by the relative low or "cold" audio signal (although it is very loud in our PA). Note the photos below, the yellow/orange LED starts at +4 dB of the metering for Topp Pro while the yellow/orange LED starts with at -21 dB of the metering for Behringer. The meter for Topp Pro starts from -30 dB to +10 dB while Behringer starts around -45 dB and to -2 dB.
Left: T2208, Right: X32 Producer
*Note that the -21 dB is Behringer is actually in dbFS scale. Topp Pro did not disclose the scaling information. It is also interesting to note that Behringer stated that the max out is +21 dBu while Topp Pro stated max out signal at + 20dBu +/- 0.5 dBu.
We have touch upon the main differences between both consoles. We believe it the information will give good impression of the differences and further exploration is needed with the actual hand's on in out showroom. You also welcome to contact us if you have inquiry.
On my personal note, I found that Topp Pro mixer is easier to use and much more friendly to beginner. X32 Producer is indeed a very powerful digital mixer, but it is a more complicated mixer to navigate and operate. It is a matter of familiarity because once you master the X32 Producer, it will be as easy as ABC. Despite several features lacking on the T2208, I found that it is a capable digital mixer to get the job done for majority of applications.
Learn more of Topp Pro T2208 HERE
Learn more of Behringer X32 Producer HERE
If you interested to learn about Topp Pro DM24.8 vs X32/M32, click HERE
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