The Behringer XM8500 Dynamic Microphone is currently going for £24.47 on amazon, which seems unbelievably cheap. How terrible is it really? Would like to hear your opinions if you’ve got the mic. (I’ve got absolutely zero experience with mics.)
Who told you it’s bad?
It has excellent reviews on Amazon, the main points being well-made/solid and great value for money.
My son was given one by his school and I’ve used it once or twice. It’s fine 
Behringer turn out good quality gear at an attractive price. The Q&A was questionable a few decades ago and now think believe they are still cheap 
Nothing could be further from the truth. My 2 cents.
No one. I initially though that the price seems a little incredible, but that’s probably just because I’ve been looking at condenser mics. I now realise that other “branded” dynamic mics do actually have cheaper models that are around that price, e.g. AKG P3S is £35.
I guess the question now is, compared to e.g. the RØDE NT1 which goes for ~£200, what sort of corners was cut? Is it the sort of thing that is noticeable only if you’re an audio engineer putting the final touches on the next platinum rated album?
@TheMadman_tobyjenner: Sorry, I didn’t quite get you there. Are you saying that while Behringer did produce good quality gear in the past, that is no longer true and the quality is now bad?
Can’t speak for Behringer but I love the quality I get from Thomann’s house “The T.bone” when it comes to microphones. Since I discovered their offers, I’m not afriad of trying a cheap mic.
I have this set for a couple of years now
€35 for 3 mics.
I first thought it was an error.
Well they have been on the road with me for a while and I have yet to discover how they differ in sturdyness and quality from more expensive alternatives.
I also have this condenser mic, which is doing well too
since Key Music ceased to exist in Belgium, Thomann is my friend 
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No the exact opposite. Good price great quality.
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Just to reaffirm my first statement
What do you want to use the mic for? Dynamic and Condenser are very different beasts and do different jobs. In that respect, you can’t really compare this to the RØDE NT1.
Also I have some very well made Behringer stuff, although not used their mics.
Here’s a comparison of condenser and dynamic microphones:
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Oh wow that is affordable indeed. Say, you don’t need all three do you? (just joking)
Got you! I don’t know why, but people seem to really like crapping on Behringer. I’ve only ever used their audio interface, and while it might not have the best specs on paper, it does the job.
Thanks for the link! It was informative, though frankly it raised more questions than it answers. So, condenser mics are more sensitive than dynamic mics, but that difference is sort of moot anyway since you’re going to boost the signal at the preamp (i.e. while the dynamic mic might output a lower voltage for the same sound pressure level, that is accounted for by the higher gain you’re going to have to use at the preamp). As such… aside from the tone (most of which can be dealt with using EQ judiciously), is there really any reason aside from price to chose one over the other?
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Same question - what are you using it for? vocals? Acoustic guitar, micing up an amp? Live or studio (Bedroom 
).
A condenser will pick up all the ambient noise in the room, so for example f you want to record vocals at the same time as playing acoustic guitar then you won’t really be able to separate the signals. That may or may not bother you - there’s lots to consider, but it depends on how you want to use it. I use both for different jobs.
Great !!
I have had several Xenyx mixers and UMC AIs never disappointed. Current AI set up UMC1820 and Xenyx X1204USB.
As I said they still get a bad rap these days, for poor quality pieces that were being sold 20 odd years ago. I have had their gear for at least 15 years and never disappointed.
Cheap don’t always mean
Because people like to think that, by spending more money they get a lot more (often, you don’t) and like to justify their purchases by ripping on other gear: convincing yourself that Behringer is rubbish is probably a lot more satisfying that admitting to yourself that you paid more than you had to, often just for a brand name.
It depends on the model, of course, but the UMC series have comparable, or better, specs. than the leading brand equivalents, and have tested better in many tests.
And in a video where they tested a bunch of AIs ranging from around $100 to over $1000, in listening tests, they couldn’t tell them apart. The audio quality differences between them is negligible to the point they are practically non-existent.
I keep pointing this out: with a modern AIs like the Behringer UMC range (or more expensive equivalents), we have capability that the best recording studios in the world in the 60s and 70s would have killed for: they provide better resolution, better linearity, better frequency response, and lower noise floor.
Cheers,
Keith
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