Behringer UB-Xa: The Good, Bad and Ugly

Behringer UB-Xa Review
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I talk about what I like and don't like. Build quality of the UBXA is mentioned along with the sound and some comparisons to other synths on the market.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

Get more of me, James Drone Visit: www.JamesDrone.com for all my synthesizer music, synth patches and social media connections. Get Exclusive Content on my Patreon Page: www.patreon.com/pureambientdrone

[@dankeplace]

Thx for the invite, will tune in.

[@Robguitarjarvis]

I have a Behringer Odysee, system 55, tb 303, 2600 and the Solina string machine and they’re all 10/10. I do own high end stuff as well such as a Moog One, matriarch, Waldorf Quantum, OBx 8 etc,,,, and yes the build quality is better but for sound quality and what you get for your money with Behringer is absolutely amazing really. Every so often there will be something that slips quality control and it looks like you’ve been a tad unlucky to get a keybed that’s been fitted wrongly.

[@newignis]

I find the keybed very playable and usable. A for the feel of knobs, the pots have little resistance but apart from that, I’ve had no issues in daily use. The weight of knobs have nothing to do with how it feels when turned. But I should have loved the encoder to dented.

[@roberthollander4522]

I'm really glad I "went" for the OB-X8 (and that's not trying to sound pretentious at all....)

[@cliffspencer]

I think the feel of the knobs comes from the potentiometer rather than from the plastic. Notice that the Nord knobs are probably just as light as the Behringer and the feel is fine in my opinion on the Nord.

[@Sam_Utah]

I am with you on the Curtis chip, I don't vibe with it although it can still make good sounds ....2 things with the UB - no effects and bad keys/hardware. But the Module played with Hydra synth keys may be the answer. the display might turne me off, 80yo eyes.....Multi timbrel is a winner, split layer arps all good. Have to play it through my effects pedals...OK. Still a value buy, modules well under 1K.

[@Initial_Gain]

The keys seem to be touching the upper cover when released. I would take a look at the key-bed's mountings and possibly look for spacers mounted underneath. If so all you have to do is remove them especially the ones at the middle area. If none are used you could file the plastic mountings slightly at the middle area as from your video it looks that the noise comes when you release the keys at the middle area. I am talking about less than or 1mm here. Another idea is you could fit a thin felt strip at the top cover above the keys so that the keys will be touching it when released and thus eliminating the noise. I went through all such problems as I used to service keyboards for many years. Keep in mind that to get a similar better quality keyboard you have to spend four times as much.

[@neuronist]

I had this keyboard crap happen on my sub37 - not initially but later. Moog told me to open and look inside. Unbuilt it, look all good, put back together and it’s gone. Maybe works here too 😅

[@kvmoore1]

Thanks for this review. I kinda suspected this concerning the quality of the knobs and keybed, given the oveeall cost of the synthesizer. "IF" I ever decide to get a Behringer UB-XA, I would just wait for the module version. All I really want is the sound generator. I don't need the keyboard. BTW, I also used to have a Prophet REV2 as well. While the overall sound of the REV2 is okay, it's no match, in terms of sonic quality, for my Prophet 10 Rev 4. I let the REV2 go after owning it for 2 years.

[@xntricity6446]

Like you I had the Rev2 but sold it and now have the prophet 5 rev 4. The desktop ubxa is now advertised as ready for shipping but very on the fence about it.

[@michaelpierce3264]

my keys are not that clunky but the envelopes seem to pop from the sustain portion.the wood is real but not solid wood more like composite

[@kevinslaney486]

Maybe your keybed is faulty? Mine is pretty good. I find mine very playable, quiet, and nice aftertouch response.

[@BRAPO]

The first one I got the keys would stick, the second one had the clunky keys like the video shows. Maybe 3rd times a charm. I do love the desktop though

[@EnervatedSociety]

I'm guessing the Nord Wave has similar knobs to my Nord Leads, a rubber coated plastic. Feels decent. I've pulled them off before, no biggie. They cost a little more money which I'm guessing maters when you're buying thousands of them. That's funny, I actually do compare the UB build to my Nords. It's similar in build, the Nord being better, but the UB is $2300+ less than my Nord Lead 3 was, for example, back when it was new. So price to build on the B is kinda impressive from where I'm sitting. I agree the screen is a bad choice of color, it should have been in the center imo with white on black with a blueish hue. I saw someone replace it with exactly that and it looks really nice. That little fiddly knob supposedly is getting an update, along with other stuff like the Atrophy (the thing is pretty cool if you delve into it, it can radically change the core sound of the synth) settings getting saved with a preset. The cheeks are actually wood, it's just that cheap light crap wood covered in a ton chemicals. I've seen those replaced too, with a nice dark wood, looks way better. Def inquire about the keys clack/noise. Apart from that they are very light, some people don't like that, but on the plus side I like the way the aftertouch works. It's closer to the touch in the name than a hard press like other keys, which is an improvement imo. I actually wish they made aftertouch easier to engage on all keybeds, especially on PAT keys. haha I'm with you on the Rev 2. We have one in the studio but I don't personally own it. It's a very capable synth, looks awesome, but I just don't like the way it sounds for some reason. Something about it bugs me. I feel the same way about the OB6, though I prefer it. I think your assessment is fair. If you're used to top quality synth builds the B will def feel immediately cheaper, because it just is. To be expected at that price with those features. I also think it sounds good, if you know what to listen for. I'm used to judging analog synths without effects and actually that's my number 1 criteria in deciding if I'll but one or not. A good analog synth tone needs very little effects to take it to the next level and the UB def meets that criteria in my book. The Deepmind, and while I'm at it, the Rev 2, for example, does not. 😉

[@mfnpjparty]

I had a brand new UB-xa (sold it because I have too much gear and it was a a splurge buy, but it's a good instrument) and mine did not have the keybed issues as demonstrated at 6:00, so you may want to talk to the dealer.

[@mfnpjparty]

the keybed is WAYY too light to be labeled as "semi-weighted" IMO

[@bcj842]

I'm not really in the market for synths anymore, as I've got my essentials, but I'm still interested in what's coming out! Thanks for the balanced review. If I spend that much on a synth, I'm going to go all out and spend extra on something more premium. Can't deny that bang for your buck though. I love behringer.

[@SpaceCapsuleOne]

On the use of reverb, it is really dependant on the artist and the song. Reverb is indeed a powerful thing. Sometimes it sounds cool when overdone...but only sparingly if you catch my drift.

[@IanWaugh]

Hey James - great honesty 👍 Not heard these probs mentioned in other reviews 😢 The only other Behringer keyboard I've tried is on the Poly D which wasn't very impressive. Are there any Behringer keyboards you've tried with a good keybed? I'm wary now about the DS-80 which will likely have the same keys as the UB

[@dankeplace]

That PAT keybed will be on all high end synths that have PAT. It isn't good news as this keybed was finished in 2019 I think.

[@IanWaugh]

@@dankeplace 😢 How can they make a top-sounding synth with a rubbish keybed? Same as they can not research user interface - the display - I guess Very wary of DS-80 now as can't try first. I'll wait till James gets one 😊

[@PureAmbientDrone]

The monopoly wasn't bad. The build is great. Prices are out of control for everything, and behringer has kept them low. I think cutting some corners is how they are doing it. But I really don't know. Watch for my next demo WITH fx on the presets.

[@dankeplace]

@@IanWaugh The compromise of Behringer doing what they do, yes they cut corners, but this is unacceptable. When the DM12 was 1st released, on now known GearSpace, people were asking about the keybed issues, this was ignored, they even had some guy meat shielding for Uli and co as he was given an advanced release in lieu of his lies. Now ASM have proven you can be cheap and have a quality keybed, I believe this keybed is from their parent company Medeli who owns the trade mark for ASM. I think if you compare the 2 keybeds, you will find that the ASM is far better a PAT keybed. I think James has both keybeds to do so, so should do a side by side. Behringer think that when they release a clone, they're doing it to the very degree without making improvements, this is what hurts them the most. This is why I only have 1 B synth, the DM12D, and I dodged a bullet with that wonky keybed they said never existed.

[@newignis]

@PureAmbientDrone you should pin your own message at the beginning of the list, that you are reviewing a synth with a defective keybed, so we know what we are looking at.

[@janpieternieman5295]

Did you already try out another version. Was this one damaged. Or are you still convinced that this is the general quality of the synth.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

the cost difference is like 20 cents vs 50 cents per knob

[@theeventhorizon-valebridge9512]

Thanks for sharing, very worthwhile info. If "The 61 semi-weighted keys with poly after-touch and velocity sensitivity provide a tactile, expressive playing experience" is the correct specifications, as written online by my usual keyboard/music shop, then your synth's keyboard really does sound faulty. That is definitely not how it should sound and feel. Yours must have been assembled as a late Friday afternooner!

[@smartti1970]

... the Ob-x8 knobs feel cheap, so do the OB8 and Obxa ...

[@PureAmbientDrone]

After awhile of use, these knobs don't seem too bad.

[@JeffBostick222]

If manufacturers like Fender will try to save $0.02 on a resistor - x however many there are in an amp - synth manufacturers are going to find cheaper options for knobs and such. Besides that, I guess I don't recall the feel of the knobs on the original OB-8. And I agree, the keys sound horrible!!

[@ManCalledMif]

6:00 those keys. 😮 thank you for the honest review.

[@crnogor]

You are right in all details ! Beside , what i hate - ergonomy of program source is crap , looks like , this synth is not for a stage use , only at studio . seams like that there is no way to change program ( sound ) in couple of seconds , which ewer they are , factory (too much of them ) or user On the end , hm, super power ARM Processor ? That gives me to be sure that lots of analog items was changed with '' soft'' , like , i'm sure , envelopes , may be more things !

[@newignis]

Seeing what they added in firmware 2, and issues I had on the previous firmware that are now resolved, I believe the sound path to be analog, but all modulators are digital: Envelopes, LFO’s, anything that is not part of the sound path. Most modern analog synths work that way now, which in my opinion is a very good thing: if there is something faulty in analog wiring, you can’t correct it with a firmware update. And having digital modulators on an analog synth should have no impact on the sound itself. Unfortunately I’ve encountered examples of audible ( unattractive) digital modulation on modern analog synths, so it can go wrong from time to time, but these weren’t Behringer synths.

[@Gerald_Daniel]

No wonder you didn't like the Rev 2 VCF. When I played Prophet 08 (with own headphones) in a shop for the first time, my initial thought was, with eyes closed, it almost feels like playing Matrix-6r. Later I've admittedly gotten a little proud after having read that Prophet 08/Rev 2 indeed are based on modified Matrix-6 chips.Anyway the UB-Xa still should sound better than (still ok soundung) budget Matrix series, but after having had 5 damages from shipping a serious shipment phobia affects me, especially with big and heavy keyboards. Since I know that built quality could definitely be better I'm almost tending not to buy it. It were different if UBXa were offered within my country, so I could unpack iand check it at the store, but there only are 2 shops in the German-speaking ares that receive UBXa deliveries. However, I'm located at Austria and the shops in Germany, anything else but around the corner.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

For me, I think it's the DCOs mixed with the Curtis filters. Just something about the combo to me sounds too clinical.

[@Gerald_Daniel]

@@PureAmbientDrone Absolutely! The Andromeda what's been the actual reason visiting the shop sounded 1000x livelier.

[@davlippo7]

Not to argue but this isn't a $4,000 board. It's almost a free board for a 16 voice analog which is an absolute miracle. I wrote this in the first minute so I'm sure you will get to it. I have the desktop version which is even more "free" but I have the M8x and PolyBrute12 & Osmose so I don't need the keyboard. I knew for $1,200 the keys would be poor and the keybed is a big deal over time. Try buying (2) desktops with one on each channel which would be awesome. I owned the Oberheim OB-X8m and it sucked for the price and I sold it. None of the buttons worked and it's only 8 voice. I have mine on the Meris Mercury and (2) Gamechanger light pedals one on each channel. I also have the Muse, Deckard's D and (2) Pro800 units one on each channel and that's fantastic. One big advantage of those knobs is that they can't wobble on the post (or force the post to loosen over time) because they have the large base flange diameter that floats against the surface unlike the rubber ones. Quality of the desktop is probably an 8 the cheeks are fake to be expected. Time will tell about durability but the OB-X8m buttons never worked they were awful these seems to work.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

@davlippo7 Update: My unit was defective as ascertained by the seller. They did a full refund / return for me.

[@unclejerrysworld]

OBX8 knobs and keybed is heaven to me..... sometimes you get what you pay for.... Don't get me wrong the UBXa has some unique sonic qualties in itself..... It's all upon your personal tastes and pocketbook to me......

[@PureAmbientDrone]

It turns out I paid for a broken keyboard. The seller agreed to take it back as it is defective.

[@dankeplace]

Probably worth asking Espen Kraft and John for their advice, that should work out well for you.

[@Sonikbytes]

Mine makes no such noises so you might have a faulty KB or they just forgot to put dampeners on some keys. Overall, I am happy with the performance/built vs price. Might not be the best first synth choice especially for younger generation that have never been through 'synth depression era' and who want inst-gratification aggressive sound of the present.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

Thank you for letting me know about your keyboard! That helps a lot!

[@hazegreen1896]

I think that is a physical thing. Id look at the hood and if you can adjust that and look at the screws and how the hood aligns, or sometimes some cables can be in a place under the keybed or something that could be causing it to just not be aligned perfectly. I figured the keybed sucked but seems like a good deal for the right person. But if they use such bad knobs etc Id be worried about the quality of the actual components. But for me B is no go just from past experiences and I have a few Obies already, lol, that are still kicking, but if not id prob check it out since its such a distinctive sound.

[@Sonikbytes]

@@PureAmbientDrone I think you will be happy with it for your ambient works. Put it through quality reverb pedal, EQ, pan voices, layer if necessary and it will sound great! I dont think anymore about plastiky things

[@Sonikbytes]

@@hazegreen1896 That was my first impression at first....I was like WTF? But now I've gotten used to plastiky knobs, light feel of KB, and screen and dont even think about it anymore. The sound is what matters and I know it's not 100% OB but sounds good and analog to me.

[@janpieternieman5295]

Do you have a review bout the nord wave 2?

[@PureAmbientDrone]

No. Just a sound demo. But it's nord and built very well and sounds astoundingly good!

[@danthreepwood2760]

If Behringer had dialled it down a notch and called this an ''Oberheim Matrix 6/1000'' clone they would be far closer to reality. Also, nowadays you can get real Oberheim sound a ''budget'': a used Matrix 6/1000 (+- 1000 bucks) or the recently released TEO5 (+-1700 bucks). The last one sounds about 90-95% the same as an OBX8, but with fewer voices (and keys obviously 🥳). Anyways, happy synth hunting!

[@newignis]

That’s not a correct statement, the capabilities of both synths are very different. They don’t resemble. For instance the M1000 has variable waveforms, key clicks, a mixer section, dco’s, vcf FM, 5 stage envelopes, 3 envelopes, a tracking generator etc. The sound of the Matrix 1000 is much less ‘Oberheimy’ than the sound of the UB-Xa or the OB-x8. I love both sounds though, but they are quite far apart.

[@xp50player]

Might make a better desktop unit.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

I think so. Without the keyboard, it's not bad build other than a few minor things I nit-picked at.

[@juxty3102]

Agree regarding presets. Over half to two thirds are poor. Shame considering how much time this synth has spent in development.

[@ericsynthwalker]

No power up ?

[@PureAmbientDrone]

Check out my other videos to see the UB-Xa in action: kzbin.info/aero/PLwl7Y_-y0RA12dx1-3bD0F15xjZ1dYca-&si=Hk6hR_luAML-L3Je

[@dankeplace]

You confirmed my suspicions all along, I got a Jomox AB instead which is an amazing machine. I have another synth that will do oh so much more than the UBXa, less voices but it just does more. That's a game changer synth too. Thx for the review, I wont say I dodged a bullet, just that this isn't for me.

[@jumpingman8160]

Hydrasynth?

[@dankeplace]

@@jumpingman8160 hell no.

[@jumpingman8160]

@@dankeplace then what?

[@dankeplace]

@@jumpingman8160 something special, far better than the UBXa and more modern, might not have the same voices, but in tone, it runs circles around something that costs around the same.

[@jumpingman8160]

@@dankeplace you sure are taking your sweet time to answer a simple question... 🙄

[@triplebeam23]

I really think buyers remorse won't set in for about a year or 2 when things start breaking and or something goes on it because unlike a real OB or moog or one of the top of the line synths your probably not gonna get it serviced .. it will cost you the same amount to just ship and fix whatever it is that's wrong as it would be to buy a new one

[@kvmoore1]

Ya know? That's a very good point. I totally agree. These days, you get what you pay for when it comes to quality.

[@triplebeam23]

@kvmoore1 right.. some of us only got a certain amount of room in our bedrooms and studios .. once it's filled up, it's filled up.. I almost bought the behringer moog clone .. but I said screw it saved up a bit and purchased the matriarch.. one of the best decisions I made .. I'm in absolute love with it and plan on getting a nice poly synth and I'll be done for awhile .. I'm stuck between the prophet, moog one, or the polybrute, moog muse.. but that depends on the build quality and sound of the muse .. because I've really been checking for updates on that and hope it's up to par with the other lines of moog

[@kvmoore1]

Yeah. You know what? I did buy the Behringer Moog clone (Poly-D) back in 2020. Last year, I traded it in for a nice used Moog Matriarch Dark Edition in excellent condition. The Matriarch is an overall better quality synth. I knew that right out the gate when I first bought the Poly-D (I was actually comparing the two side by side in the store), but I was only thinking about what I could afford at the time. When I got the Poly-D home and experienced knobs coming off too easily and low overall output level and poor gain staging at the oscillator mixer level and weak sound (for basslines) unless I engage the effects (chorus or distortion circuit) while using it in a track, I decided to let it go.

[@CC_Timbral]

Maybe play some notes ?

[@PureAmbientDrone]

There's a demo I just did the day before this video

[@PureAmbientDrone]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3zGf6mOaZemh5Isi=jiVItwqhL0Ik62NV

[@dankeplace]

Maybe stick to John's channel?

[@YanivhmTube]

Its direct competitor in the price range is the Prologue 16. Although it probably costs another $400. But the build quality is better.

[@PaulGBass]

Hasn't Korg dropped the Prologue? I believe it has, firstly in Europe, then latterly everywhere else. Besides you'd be comparing a new ub-xa to a second hand prologue if you're saying they are around the same price...

[@janpieternieman5295]

Cant believe they messed up the keybed.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

More ubxa videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLwl7Y_-y0RA12dx1-3bD0F15xjZ1dYca-&si=Hk6hR_luAML-L3Je

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

Cheap knobs sad, cheap keybed extra sad, unreadable screen, eating a tub of ice cream alone in the dark sad.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

WAIT ✋️! Did you say ICECREAM 🍦!?

[@dankeplace]

John eats a lot of icecream, probably in the dark too.

[@EricAdamsonMI]

Wait for the module. Why buy a new keyboard with every synth?

[@Fallingoverbackwards]

@@EricAdamsonMI a good point

[@exhumus]

​@@EricAdamsonMIIf you don't have a poly AT keybed, or a 6 octave keybed, or a keyboard at all. People who own Nords are obviously not Behringer's primary demographic.

[@Gu1tar1st]

Better quality buttons would cost a couple of bucks. Especially for a company that has its own factory in China. There’s no excuse for cheap components on a piece of equipment that costs over a grand to buy.

[@dankeplace]

This is a flagship synth, with subpar controls. My JDXA had QC issues too, hated it and sold it.

[@grindhouseglitch]

LOL, there are no issues with the buttons or the keys - it's a great synth and a steal for the price.

[@dankeplace]

@@grindhouseglitch James clearly posted there is with his unit, let me guess, you have none with your unit because you don't own one?

[@grindhouseglitch]

@@dankeplace LOL WUT? I've had mine for months.

[@dankeplace]

@@grindhouseglitch excellent story, so James posted there is an issue with his keys, but you say he doesn't, prime example of spewed bias.

[@emslife7473]

Why did you buy it if you don't like it? This isn't supposed to be the original Oberheim. It's a completely different instrument, similar in sound to the Oberheim. Why do I care if the keyboard flaps? Plastic knobs and so what? In this price range it is a very good instrument that offers me 16 voices! Spend a few thousand bucks more, buy an original Oberheim and stop complaining that this instrument is bad 🤬 

[@PureAmbientDrone]

I certainly have the right to express my experience with an item I purchased. This particular unit arrived with various flaws on top of the poor qualities in the materials used. It would be unfair for me to lie about it or omit negative info just to please those who feel a product needs to be excused for its defects simply because of its price. This unit was returned due to manufacturing errors and the other issues.

[@douglasbohnstengel9902]

You need to take yours back. Just checked mine & it didn’t have the key clacking issue.

[@PureAmbientDrone]

@douglasbohnstengel9902 The seller did take it back and issued a complete refund.