TEST: Behringer Powerplay HA6000

 Let's not kid ourselves, attention immediately increases as soon as a high-end product, including luxurious tube-based outgear, appears on the scene for testing or personal use. Absolutely understandable, but as much as I personally appreciate these products, I still have a heart beat for the “Work Horses”, which can neither keep up with the preamp glam of the big names in terms of function nor their layout, but are apart from that Strahlemann department boasts functional design, reliability and practical detailed solutions. The Behringer HA6000 headphone amplifier is such a workhorse, as it has a few interesting details that make it much easier to create your own personal headphone mix than you may have been used to.

The structure of the Behringer HA6000

The Behringer HA6000 is a six-channel headphone amplifier, which is housed in a 1U housing and is manufactured in China. As is now common practice with Behringer, the housing is made from a very robust combination of steel and aluminum and should last a long time. The product is designed exclusively for rack operation; rubber feet for stand-alone operation are not included with the product.

Each of the six channels has three unusual features, one of which becomes particularly apparent when we look at the back of the product later. In addition to the standards such as output level and an illuminated Mono L / Mono R circuit, the Behringer HA6000 initially has a 2-band tone control in the form of treble and bass. In this way, the personal sound can be adjusted a little to suit your personal taste. Each channel also has an 8-digit LED display and a separate headphone output. Unfortunately, the rotary controls, which are pleasantly soft and stiff, are not secured to the housing, so the risk of a hairline crack on the circuit board can never be completely ruled out.

Personally, I would be interested in the calculation of countered potentiometer axes, because in my opinion a product would be in a different quality league if it had fixed potentiometer axes, but I fear that even an increase in the retail price by a few euros would reduce sales opportunities in the budget range, as the target audience in this segment is almost exclusively based on the advertised price. Except for the output level control, all rotary controls have a center grid, which makes setting the respective value much easier. Even if the controller only offers the “white line on a black background” version, the setting of the controller can be easily read even in poor lighting conditions. Even though the Behringer HA6000 will primarily be used in the studio, where the lighting conditions are not nearly as problematic as in live operation, it is still good to know that readability is almost always guaranteed.

In the main section there is a master level control, also with an 8-digit LED display and a TRS Direct In if you want to bypass the rear connections in rack operation. If you connect a plug to the Direct In, the MAIN In signals are muted. On the outside on the right there is a strong plastic power switch, the operation of which can be easily controlled by touch. But wait, isn't there another controller missing? Correct, it is the balance controller in question, which regulates continuously between the AUX and MAIN inputs. To understand how it works, however, we have to turn to the back of the Behringer HA6000.

The back of the Behringer HA6000

A big advantage of the Behringer HA6000 is immediately apparent on the outside left of the housing. Cold device socket and a multi-voltage power supply of 100 - 240 volts enable stress-free and board bug-free use with neat cable routing. First, let's look at the placement of the Behringer HA6000 in the signal path. While many headphone amplifiers are used on the AUX / bus of the respective console, the Behringer HA6000 can be looped into the master output. To ensure this, the product has both locked XLR and TRS balanced right/left in/out. For example, you can add a recorder, a P.A. behind the amplifier if necessary. or other input sources without having to use a bus.

The applied sum signal is also the signal that is available as a basis for each headphone channel. In order to ensure that every user has their own personal mix, there are two options. Either you create an individual headphone mix for the user via a corresponding bus on the mixer/interface, which you adjust manually, or you give the user the instrument that he would like to have significantly louder than the rest of the signals in the overall context Cases his own instrument / vocals in standard level to the respective AUX In socket on the back and gives the user the opportunity to individually regulate their volume using the balance control on the front of the housing.

Of course, you can use the same signal management as with a standard mix via several buses, but you can also use the signal from a D.I. on the respective instrument via a split or an additional output. Box, a speaker simulation or other additional outputs directly into the Behringer HA6000 and thus keep the corresponding hardware outputs on the interface or console free. In addition, there is a second headphone out connected in parallel to the front headphone out below the respective Aux In of the channel, so that a total of up to 12 headphones can be connected, with two headphones each sharing a mix. Such a massive use of headphones is a great help when recording choirs, for example. If the Aux In socket on the back of the housing is not used, the balance control controls the stereo balance of the MAIN stereo signal.

The Behringer HA6000 in practice

The Behringer HA6000 comes with a power cable and a quick start guide as accessories, although the included booklet in 5 languages is more of a bonus than a real manual. All functions are described to the bare essentials in one or a maximum of two sentences, plus a very simple wiring example. In addition, the Quick Start Guide also shares the description with the Behringer HA8000, which doesn't exactly increase the clarity. If you look at what other companies include in written form in terms of practical and customer-friendly examples, Behringer has this in mind. still a lot of room for improvement.

When it comes to headphone compatibility, the Behringer HA6000 seems prepared for all eventualities. According to the manufacturer, the minimum headphone impedance is 8 ohms, which should include pretty much all headphones currently on the market. But the amplifier was also able to handle high-impedance studio headphones well during the test due to its high power reserves. Both medium-resistance headphones such as the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO with 80 ohms and the Beyerdynamic T1 with 600 ohms were used.

The two-band tone control with its shelving frequencies at 80 Hz and 12 kHz is more about “feeling good” than a real sound processing function. The sound of the filters is appropriate for the retail price, but the possibility of processing your personal signal should still be considered very positive.

The possibility of cascading several HA6000 amplifiers and the resulting scalability of the sum signal is also very nice. Due to the fact that the input signal from the main input is looped through to the main output, any number of units can be connected in series without any kind of sound loss, which means that a large orchestration in the studio can also be supplied with an appropriate monitor mix.

All in all, the Behringer HA6000 leaves a very good impression with an excellent price/performance ratio. The components used are good, the workmanship is impeccable, the concept is coherent. Definitely can also be used for the pro area, although I would like the potentiometer axles to be screwed on for a perfect external presentation.

Conclusion

With the Behringer HA6000, the former German, now Malaysian manufacturer has a very good headphone amplifier in its portfolio. The product combines a good concept with good workmanship and a practical orientation, which can be implemented profitably both in the studio and in live operations.

Anyone who still records entire bands or orchestras and is thinking about a comparatively easy way to scale their system should definitely give the Behringer HA6000 a try.

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Additional Informations:


**The History of Behringer**

**The Early Years**

Uli Behringer was born in 1957 in Willich, Germany. He showed an early interest in electronics and music, and by the age of 14 he was building his own synthesizers. While still in high school, Behringer started a band called "The Monroes" and played keyboards. After graduating from high school, Behringer studied electrical engineering at the University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf.

In 1982, Behringer founded his first company, Behringer Electronic, which manufactured Eurorack modules. The company's first product was the UB-1, a VCO module. The UB-1 was a success, and it helped to establish Behringer as a leading manufacturer of Eurorack modules.

In 1989, Behringer founded Behringer GmbH, which would go on to become one of the world's leading manufacturers of audio equipment. The company's early success was due in part to its innovative products and its excellent value for money. Behringer products were often significantly cheaper than those of its competitors, but they offered comparable features and performance.

**Expansion and Growth**

In the 1990s, Behringer expanded rapidly and began manufacturing a wide range of audio products, including mixers, microphones, speakers, and signal processors. The company also established itself as a supplier of DJ equipment and synthesizers.

One of Behringer's most significant achievements during this period was the development of the Xenyx series of mixers. The Xenyx mixers were a huge success, and they helped to make Behringer a household name in the audio industry.

In 1997, Behringer opened its first factory in China. This move helped to reduce the company's production costs and allowed it to offer even more competitive prices.

**The 2000s and Beyond**

In the 2000s, Behringer continued to grow and expand its product range. The company also began to focus more on the digital audio market. In 2001, Behringer released the first of its digital mixers, the X32. The X32 was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Behringer as a leader in the digital audio market.

In recent years, Behringer has continued to innovate and bring new products to the market. In 2016, the company released the DeepMind 12, a polyphonic analog synthesizer that has been praised for its powerful sound and extensive features.

**Behringer Today**

Today, Behringer is one of the largest manufacturers of audio equipment in the world. The company employs over 4,000 people and sells its products in over 130 countries. Behringer is known for its innovative products, its excellent value for money, and its strong commitment to customer service.

**Controversies**

Behringer has not been without controversy over the years. The company has been accused of copying products from other manufacturers, and it has been involved in several legal disputes. However, Behringer has always maintained that its products are original and that it does not copy other companies' products.

In 2006, Behringer was sued by Apple for trademark infringement. The lawsuit alleged that Behringer had infringed on Apple's iPod trademark by using the name "iNuke" for one of its products. Behringer settled the lawsuit in 2007 by agreeing to change the name of the product to "Nuke".

In 2012, Behringer was sued by Moog Music for trademark infringement. The lawsuit alleged that Behringer had infringed on Moog's trademark for the Minimoog synthesizer by using the name "Model D" for one of its products. Behringer settled the lawsuit in 2013 by agreeing to change the name of the product to "DeepMind 12".

**The Future of Behringer**

Despite the controversies, Behringer is a strong and successful company. The company is well-positioned to continue growing in the coming years. Behringer is a major player in the audio industry, and it is likely to continue to bring innovative products to the market.

**Conclusion**

The history of Behringer is a story of innovation, growth, and controversy. The company has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1982, and it is now one of the world's leading manufacturers of audio equipment. Behringer is sure to continue to be a major force in the audio industry for many years to come.