Behringer 2600

Great machine, the sound is pretty unique. I never played with a real 2600 but it's a close match. However it's close in the sense a plugin would emulate it. It's not as nasty, gritty or ugly as the sounds that I am familliar with from the real deal.

Okay I know that was probably what you wanted to know.. but there is more about this machine that makes it worthwhile. Especially because it's quite "clean" and "friendly" sounding it is really easy to make sounds that fit right into your mix. There's barely any processing needed for the sounds to work in a mix, or as a layer for something digital or even another synth. I'm using it a lot paired with my modular which is a nice match.

The oscillators sound good, but not expensive like a Dixie module or some other specified modular voice. (I know they are very different, but bear with me. It's about the quality of the sound) They do sound better than digital oscillators.

The filter is pretty neat, I like how they sound, good character, nice sweep and easy to tune to something fun.

The noise sounds great, I use it a lot, it has different options all sound good.

The spring reverb is very warm and full. It's a good sound but it will fill up your mix quite quickly so you can't really use it on everything. It also doesn't sound like a spring so much as just a reverb with a specific sound.

So far so good, most of this synthesizer just sounds good. Except... the envelopes. I know they have supposedly fixed this in the "Gray Meanie" version of the Behringer 2600, but on this unit it it's simply awful. It's almost unusable, I don't know... I am almost always using another envelope for the amplitude. It kinda works with the filter, but the reality is it just can't go very short or snappy which is really annoying. I would be using it way more often if this was fixed. I wonder if there will be some firmware upgrade at some point that addresses this.

Perfetto. Facciamola sembrare scritta da uno che lo usa davvero, non da uno che ha guardato tre video e si è emozionato.

Headline
Legendary architecture, modern reliability, pure inspiration

Review text
The Behringer 2600 delivers exactly what many of us hope for when approaching a semi-modular classic: vintage attitude, immediate workflow, and a sound that feels big, physical and alive.

The interface is one of its greatest strengths. Everything is visible, logically laid out, and encourages experimentation. Even without patch cables you can go very far thanks to the normalized routing, while the patchbay opens the door to deeper modular thinking in seconds. It is an instrument that invites you to explore rather than program.

Build quality is excellent in my opinion. The chassis feels solid, sliders have a good resistance, and the illuminated faders and LEDs are not only beautiful but genuinely helpful in low-light studio environments. There is a strong retro vibe, yet the reliability and tuning stability are fully modern.

I actually consider the lack of a keyboard a big advantage. In a crowded studio it keeps the footprint manageable, making it easy to place on a desk, in a rack or on a trolley. You get the power of a legendary synth without sacrificing space.

Sonically, this machine is incredibly versatile. It excels at massive basses, expressive leads, evolving pads, percussive effects and experimental textures. The oscillators have weight, the filter can scream or stay smooth, and the modulation possibilities are deep without ever becoming confusing.

It also integrates perfectly with external gear and DAW workflows, accepting CV, gate and MIDI with no drama. Add a bit of saturation or compression and it becomes enormous while still retaining clarity.

For the price, it is hard to think of anything offering this combination of heritage, hands-on control and raw sound quality. A true centerpiece instrument that keeps inspiring session after session.

What can I say about this instrument?
I have been wanting one for a long time and so finally have one.
After all the reviews and video's I read / watched on this, they are all accurate.
If you like analog's and are into modular, this is a great addition to your setup.
Price point is fantastic to what you get.
Hardware is very well built...I have had absolutely no issues with this instrument. I have in mounted in a 19" rack and possibly later I will get a retro case to mount it in.
Sound is good from all 3 oscillators.
Make sure you watch the video's on how to get this setup if you are just beginning.
Well worth every penny and If I had room, I'd buy another :)
Have fun and thank you Behringer for bringing this iconic synth to the masses at an affordable price.

The B 2600 sounds great and is very flexible. It's fun to use and for someone who wants to get into synths or eurorack. I bought two 2600s and a 914 and 1047 filter to go with them.

I am sequencing with MIDI from my MPC X and using the 8 CV outs to modulate the 2600s.

The build quality of the 2600 exceeds my expectation. The case is solid and the sliders have the right amount of resistance. Best of all is the snug grip that the patch points have when you plug in the patch cables.

The only con is that the 2600 doesn't ship with patch cables in the box, so makes sure you buy some.

I live in Canada and I just needed to buy a different power cable to plug into the power supply that has a North American plug. The plug is easy to find and cost me $6. I bought from Thomann, because there are no 2600s available in the US or Canada.

I think that I could write a book about how much I love this synth.

I bought it as a supplement for Behringer Odyssey. A lot of people already said that it doesn't sound like an "Odyssey Extended version". I agree with this, and thanks to those people, I didn't expect to get that. Does it take anything away from 2600? Absolutely not! 2600 is a beast!
it has a bit different sound than Odyssey, but it's still an analogue monster. They play well together too.
Oscillators are massive. Even one oscillator is good enough as the Lead synth. Two detuned saw/squares will shake the ground - instant techno leads. For real, I feel like using three synths at the same time is too much. For techno/trance anyway.
The filters are nice. With a bit of resonance sound becoming acidic, which I like a lot. A lot of resonance is good for FX but not for leads/basses in my opinion, but I'm not a fan of ladder filters. I grew up on Roland filters, and there is my preference. With all honestly, I prefer filters in Odyssey, but it's not stopping me from using 2600. Just not with lots of resonance.
Sending signals to Preamp is fun. No matter if it's 2600 itself or an external source. Distortion is massive with this one. Lots of fun.
Ok, I think that's enough for a short review.

I'm still on my discovery journey, so I can't say much more about other modules/utilities besides that they're doing their job flawlessly.
Oh, and I'm not a fan of the reverb. Not because it's digital. It's because spring reverb is not my thing. An additional reverb pedal (or Eurorack module) is recommended.

Anything about downsides? Oh yes. 2600 is the entry to the modular world no matter if you want it or not. You will start expanding 2600 with additional modules. I already got another LP/BP/HP filter (Ripples) and ADSR/LFO module. And then multiple module to trigger 2600 and Eurorack's ADSR from the sequencer. What will be next? I don't know, but surely, it's not the end. Beware! ;)