M32 vs X32 thoughts

Ben Lawrence

Ben Lawrence

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Mar 2, 2011
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Been considering one of the M32 models. Do some small festivals dry rentals and corporate. Thinking one of the compact models. Running a X32 with S16 and X32 rack as well. Wondering how the M32 stuff has been working out for people with small JV companies. Are you finding them more desirable or should I just stick with the X series?
 
Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts

X series and m series are pretty much identical in everything except price. At a JV level we're finding more people have had frequent meetings with x32 now.


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Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts

At JV I would for sure go for the X32, but if you find looks important...

For the price difference I would rather spend the money on a better stage block, such as a DL16 or higher spec DL type. But for small festivals a S16 does perform really good.
 
Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts

Cool thanks for the input all. I will just stay on the X32 route. I don't really get rider stuff too much. I do have some dry rentals and techs who would love to get on the M32 or have that for an option. Im not sure I would be able to charge for the M vs the X on rentals anyhow so I will just keep on my merry way.
 
Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts

I'm going to have to that guy and disagree with the consensus, get your hands on both before you decide. The feel of the M32 alone was enough justification for me to spend the extra cash.
 
Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts

Thanks Peter, looks an interesting product if it gets past vapourware. Helge, opinions vary on consoles. We come across many high end engineers that like x32. I don't like lower end Yamaha. Both get the show done though :)


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Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts

Ben Lawrence said:
Im not sure I would be able to charge for the M vs the X on rentals anyhow so I will just keep on my merry way.
Click to expand...

And there you have your answer. Why spend more on a piece of gear that gets you the same return?

Now, there may be advantages in overall reliability of the M series, and it does definitely feel more robust, but the X series has a pretty solid track record of its own. If you use remote stageboxes, the better pre-amps inside the console do you no good anyway.
 
Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts

Ben Lawrence said:
Been considering one of the M32 models. Do some small festivals dry rentals and corporate. Thinking one of the compact models. Running a X32 with S16 and X32 rack as well. Wondering how the M32 stuff has been working out for people with small JV companies. Are you finding them more desirable or should I just stick with the X series?
Click to expand...

Ben,

I own X32 compact and X32 rack, they have been great and I have a ton of gigs mixed on them. I've mixed on the M32 a handful of times and always imported my scenes from my X32's and literally changed nothing, I honestly did not notice anything different sound wise. Curb appeal and build wise, no doubt the m32 is built nicer and feels more like a pro desk. I think people feel a little more confident in the desk being a "midas" which i totally get, but to me they sound and function exactly the same....:D~:-D~:grin:
 
Nick Andrews said:
Re: M32 vs X32 thoughts



Ben,

I own X32 compact and X32 rack, they have been great and I have a ton of gigs mixed on them. I've mixed on the M32 a handful of times and always imported my scenes from my X32's and literally changed nothing, I honestly did not notice anything different sound wise. Curb appeal and build wise, no doubt the m32 is built nicer and feels more like a pro desk. I think people feel a little more confident in the desk being a "midas" which i totally get, but to me they sound and function exactly the same....:D~:-D~:grin:
Click to expand...

I've had the opposite experience. When I import a show file from my x32 to m32 I am finding I end up flattening out a lot of EQ's and my gain knobs go down. The m32 has been noticeably better sounding and seems to have more head room before clipping sounds start to make me cringe.

I own several x32 and never got complaints on them for high level shows down to bar and festival stuff. I will say that clients are impressed by the look and feel of the m32 and in a lot of ways that is very valuable. On dry rentals it's not worth as much because most guys will take either so they don't want to pay the extra for the Midas and make less on the gig.

I have been very happy with adding the m32 to the stable and will likely add more.
 
Eric Lenasbunt said:
I've had the opposite experience. When I import a show file from my x32 to m32 I am finding I end up flattening out a lot of EQ's and my gain knobs go down. The m32 has been noticeably better sounding and seems to have more head room before clipping sounds start to make me cringe.

I own several x32 and never got complaints on them for high level shows down to bar and festival stuff. I will say that clients are impressed by the look and feel of the m32 and in a lot of ways that is very valuable. On dry rentals it's not worth as much because most guys will take either so they don't want to pay the extra for the Midas and make less on the gig.

I have been very happy with adding the m32 to the stable and will likely add more.
Click to expand...

So...
if I get the Midas variant of the S16s, I get the same difference in sound as X32 > M32 ?
( I use X32Cores )

Klaus
 
I can't see why someone would buy an M32C over the Core. The M32C does look very space age and sleek I give it that, but a lot of extra $ for looks. All else being equal, this may be the one case where buying a Behringer over Midas is a way smarter (and cheaper) way to go. It actually has more front panel controls than the M32C and the firmware is exactly the same (and neither has preamps or faders). So YES just buy the DL stage box of choice which have the Midas Pro level preamp and stay with the Core. Savings on a Core alone pays for the DL16 increase of price over the S16.
 
I dont think there is any difference but would like to hear about what exactly that is if it is. They use the same firmware, The rear sections are the same. The Core uses Cirrus Logic CS5368 A/D and CS4385 D/A. M32 doesnt say what it uses. The way the specs are written its nearly impossible to compare as well. Anyone know the answer? Would also like to hear what the importance of it would be. Frequency response is wider (15-22) for the Core? Both use 40 bit floating point signal processing.
 
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