Behringer PH-9 Chorus?

[zombiwoof]

Anyone try this cheap Phase 90 knockoff?  Is the case plastic like other Behringer stuff( can't tell from the descriptions)?  Is it any good?  Looks like it has a modern/script sound switch.

Thanks,
Al

[Mark Hammer]

I have absolutely no insider knowledge of Behringer pedals, other than the Acoustic Simulator I bought out of curiosity.  What I found in that pedal was that they essentially cloned the AC-2, but substituted op-amps, using TL064 chips instead.  The 64's draw less current than the originals, but at the price of hiss.  It is entirely possible that they went with a TL064 for the four phase shift stages, since it will be surface mount anyways and a quad chip will make life easier for them.  While the P90 is not mystically linked to the dual op-amps in the original, there are better choices for the audio path than the 64.  Again, this is just an educated guess.  I have never looked inside one of them or tried one out.  They have to cut corners somewhere to deliver up a pedal that cheap.

edit:  Oh, and uh, the header says PH-9 Chorus.  I assume you meant to write Phaser.  Me, I'm still trying to figure out what I was trying to type when I wrote the word "hoing" earlier today.   At least you used a real word.

[zombiwoof]

Yeah, I meant "phaser", don't know what I was thinking, other than this is another cheap pedal to check out.  There's a couple on Ebay going for about $21 to $27, just wondered if it was worth checking out.  I'm sure they cloned the Phase 90 for this, but it's hard to discern from the text whether it's a plastic or metal enclosure, I assume it's probably plastic like the other Behringer stuff.

Al

[Mark Hammer]

The ones that look like old-style EHX pedals are sheet metal.  The ones that look sort-of like Boss chassis are plastic.  The PH-9 is a different style of chassis.  The Behringer web-site has a computer graphic of it so there are no visual clues of chassis material given.  The downloadable manual also does not say if it is plastic or metal.  What it does say under safety instructions, though, is: Do not use near water, or install near heat sources.  For me, that says plastic, since such an advisory would be expected if they wanted to avoid claims of chassis warping from customers.

[zombiwoof]

Yeah, I kind of figured it is probably plastic, if it was metal they'd use that as a selling point, still, at around $22 at some Ebay stores, I might just grab one to check it out.

Al

[bumblebee]

and the ones that look like phase90's are cast aluminum IIRC. dont quote me on it tho.

[zombiwoof]

and the ones that look like phase90's are cast aluminum IIRC. dont quote me on it tho.

Oops, I just quoted you!  Thanks for the info, I think I'll try one and find out for sure.

Al

[Mark Hammer]

At $22, don't expect aluminum.  Remember that weight determines shipping and a whole lot of other related costs.  How one could incur those costs, sell a pedal for that little and still make money is beyond me.  Keep in mind that while Uli B. may not pay Chinese factory workers that much, he still has to pay them; they're not paying him.

[MarcoMike]

well Mark, they sell pedals with battery included... if the shipping cost for those 50 grams was not a problem, I guess the 50 grams more of the aluminum box are not a problem either...
the reason of such low prices is still a mistery... as the 6€ hair dryer I saw last week... it was cheaper than the cheapest toy hair dryer!!!

[bdevlin]

I just got one of these in the mail through eBay.  No complaints though I have no MXR pedal to comparte against.  It is a plastic case.

[StephenGiles]

Qué macana!