Best Unpowered Recording Mixers in 2022

Last update: December 19, 2022

Are powered mixers better?

Powered mixers are becoming increasingly popular, but are they really any better? Let's take a look at the pros and cons. Pros: 1. Powered mixers have their own amplifier built in, so you don't need to worry about connecting an external amplifier. This can make set-up much simpler and more convenient. 2. Powered mixers tend to have more features and options than non-powered mixers. This means you can get exactly the sound you want, without having to fiddle around with external equipment. 3. Powered mix

Are RF mixers passive?

RF mixers are two-port devices that can be used to either up-convert or down-convert the frequency of an input signal. While mixers can be either active or passive devices, passive mixers are far more common due to their simplicity and lower cost. Passive mixers typically consist of just a few basic components, such as diodes and inductors, which can be easily integrated into a circuit. Active mixers, on the other hand, require additional active components, such as amplifiers, which make them more complex and expensive.

Can I use a powered mixer with passive speakers?

Yes, you can use a powered mixer with passive speakers. However, you may need an amplifier to boost the signal from the mixer to the speakers.

Can you use an unpowered mixer with powered speakers?

If you have unpowered speakers, you will need an amplifier or receiver to power them. However, if you have powered speakers, you can plug them directly into an unpowered mixer.


G-MARK Professional Audio Mixer Sound Board Console System Interface 16 Channel Digital USB Bluetooth MP3 Computer Input 48V Phantom Power Stereo DJ 24-Bit SPX effects Review:


The Yamaha MG16XU mixer is a more basic version of this mixer. As a result, it seems to support the same software setup and drivers as its mainstream equivalent. However, there are occasions when DAW setup goes awry for unknown reasons. Try searching for "g-mark mg16mp3 audio interface" on Google to find a product that is more well-known and supported by the user community in this situation.Despite the lack of support, the mixer is generally of high quality, with beautifully quiet knobs and sliders. The only defect I have is that a few push buttons "pop" when pressed. This is a small issue for a novice home recording studio artist or engineer, but it would be difficult for a live sound engineer, which is why I gave the sound quality four stars.



Rolls MX51S Mini Mix 2 Four-Channel Stereo Line Mixer Review:


During the process of updating my gaming/AV setup, I encountered a number of audio problems that ultimately came down to the fact that I had two analog audio signals that needed to feed into a single analog input on my speaker system and be able to play simultaneously after numerous purchases, tests, returns, and cables plugged in and unplugged. Now, the quick and dirty solution to this is to reverse the connections on a $5 headphone splitter. However, because a headphone splitter is not powered, this may weaken the signal from both sources, and if there is a spike or surge, it may potentially lead to hardware failures. A powered mixer is the best way to get 2 independent signals to feed into a single input without losing strength (a switcher would be a simpler option if you don't need both sources to play audio simultaneously; since I'm not an electrical circuits expert, I'll let you research that kind of thing yourself).This Rolls MX51S powered small mixer with independent volume controls, an RCA output, and at least two RCA inputs turned out to be exactly what I needed. Although this mixer has four inputs, one of them is an XLR mono input for a microphone.The mixer is built very well, with a metal case that has been powder coated, solidly attached input and output jacks, and lovely potentiometer knobs that have a detent at 12:00 (gain = 1). If you turn the knobs past 12:00, the mixer actually has a little amplifier capability, but some users have reported clipping at maximum power. As a unit this compact with mixing capabilities isn't really meant to be used as a serious amp, this is hardly a disadvantage. I just turn down the input volumes and set the system volume so that a gain of 1 is all that I will ever need.The mixer performs flawlessly. Even though I hadn't originally planned to use a mixer with my setup, I am really delighted that it finally became necessary because I now have much greater adaptability. I can play both sources at the same time with totally separate volume control, something I didn't have with my system before to my modifications. The mixer is quite small and fits well on one of the shelves of my AV cabinet off to the side. Although many other mixers are much bigger and presumably function just as well, I don't have the room or need for those kinds of things.While utilizing this mixer, I did come across a unique problem. I've fed it analog signals from DACs from both sources. Before finding a system that consistently functioned right, I went through five different DACs. While the optical source was switched off, one of them, an Insignia from Best Buy, began to cause loud popping and clicking to come from my speakers—but only when it was connected to this mixer. It worked perfectly if I connected it directly to my sound system without using or attaching the mixer. However, this issue does not occur at all with the DACs I ultimately chose (one a FiiO D3 and one an eSYNiC), thus I assume that a "perfect storm" of bad grounding and signal interference occurred between the Insignia and the Rolls mixer. In any case, the problem is resolved, and I don't believe the mixer is at all to blame.Overall, the mixer has left me feeling quite satisfied and delighted. It costs a small fortune while providing exactly what I need.



Alto Professional ZMX52 | Professional 5-Channel Compact Mixer Review:


I spent countless hours on Amazon looking at mixers and reading reviews. I chose the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer in the end. It came so rapidly that I was astonished. To be sure I hadn't unintentionally paid more for the postage than the product, I had to check my order twice. I purchased the new ALTO ZMX862 Mixer to replace my beloved old Peavey 6 Mixer... The Fader Pot on the Main Output (the large Slide Level Control), which I believe I had been using VERY HARD (every day!) for the previous eight years, eventually developed dead patches, would fluctuate in volume on its own, or made crackling, snapping, and popping noises. Normally, a fader that is, well, "fading" can be temporarily revived by squirting a small amount of Shop Grade Alcohol into the Slide, working it, and then letting it dry for a while. However, this one was finally shot. I therefore liked that the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer only includes standard Turn Pots and no Faders. Check the reviews on any mixer now on the market to see how prevalent the issue of failed faders is—a it's Big Problem with Mixers. The 'fact' that the various Pots on the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer have varying 'feels'—some are stiff and some turn more easily—has been criticized in certain evaluations of the mixer. My new ALTO ZMX862 mixer took two days to "dial in," but there is one thing I can say with absolute certainty: I didn't notice anything odd about the way the pots operated. In addition, don't you believe this mixer is the best mixer on the planet if THAT is its worst flaw?I had to turn down the mids and the highs a bit more since I noticed that everything was lot brighter via this ALTO ZMX862 Mixer than it was through my previous Peavy6, but that could just be a sign that this Mixer has a much larger effective bandwidth. I haven't heard any blurring or fuzziness in the audio, despite the fact that the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer wasn't spec'd for Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), while the Peavey had excellent THD specs. The sound of the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer is excellent after "dialing it in."Now, let's talk about how useful the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer is: I was using the Old Peavey to combine the audio from my IPOD with that of my guitar, then I ran both the IPOD and the guitar audio through my guitar amplifier (a Fender Mustang III), so I wasn't using separate speakers for the guitar and the music. The specifics are as follows: I connected one of the Peavey's Mic Inputs to the "Conditioned" Guitar Signal that I had obtained from the Amp's FX Send (mono). The lovely Clean IPOD Music isn't "stepped on" by "Guitar Effects" because I routed the Mixed Signal from the Peavey Mixer back to the Amp's FX Return through the Peavey's own FX Send (and from there in the Amp it travels to the Final Power Amplification and then to the Speaker). I "Split" the Peavey's FX Send signal and hooked it back into the Mixer's own FX Return Input (FX Sends need FX Returns, or that's the end of the Line) in order to keep the Peavey functioning all the way through to the Main Out and the Headphone Out. But the brand-new ALTO ZMX862 Mixer operates in a unique manner. You can use the AUX Circuits on the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer to get the same results with the Guitar Amp's FX Send and Return and the Mixer's actual Send and Return. The ALTO ZMX862 Mixer includes a "AUX Send" and the connector designated "2 FX," but you still connect the FX Send from the amplifier to a mono mic input. It is a STEREO Send, and my Mustang III FX Return is a Mono, but all you need to do to make a Stereo Output into a Mono Output is to insert a 14 inch Mono Plug into the Mixer Stereo Jack. Although it "sort of worked," the Control Room Out effectively locked in the Headphone Volume from the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer to the Main Level and Control Room Volume, which I had to tune far lower in order to avoid overdriving the Mustang III amplifier. That way, I wasn't getting much headphone amplitude. This is what inspired me to use AUX circuits because they appear to have volume controls throughout, allowing you to balance all of the volumes while keeping the headphone volume on a distinct branch of the circuit. Once I understood what it was all for, it was all incredibly useful.However, the ALTO ZMX862 Mixer's performance in this application has improved significantly. Because the Peavey Signal entering the Amp could not be turned down far enough to allow the Amp to operate in its Sweet Spot with the old Peavey, I had to keep the Master Volume of the Amp relatively low. The option to adjust those Output Levels will also be helpful for my upcoming project, which involves sending a mixed audio stream to a video camera.This new ALTO ZMX862 Mixer is fantastic. However, if something strange occurs "down the road," I will make sure to return, remove a few Stars, and explain why.



Mackie, B Box, 12-channel (PROFX12V2) Review:


I needed a little board that was inexpensive to transport to New York City so that the talent could connect it to their laptop through USB as a commercial FM broadcaster in a Top 60 US market. After reading the reviews, I was hesitant to buy this board because it seemed that everyone who liked it used the analog I/O while criticizing the background noise coming from the USB I/O.That is entirely reasonable for a board that costs under $200 and comes with a USB sound card. This USB sound card costs more than $500 for itself, and it also comes with an 8 channel Mackie mixer? They had to have made some kind of compromise. I initially purchased a different brand due to all the complaints, but that one appeared to have a technical problem (or maybe a design flaw). In any event, I came back and quickly re-visited Amazon to get the Mackie PROFX8V2.First thing I noticed was that all three of the machines I tried it on were plug-and-play. Windows 7 and 10 are examples. In contrast to the first board I tried, I did not require any drivers at all. That is definitely a plus.But that USB noise raised a lot of concerns. There is noise, which was never stated in a quantifiable level in any of the negative reviews. How much noise, though? About to find out, I thought.I hooked it up to a laptop and opened Adobe Audition. Audio came in and out for me swiftly. After setting levels, I put all of the pots to zero, which should have left me in complete silence. On this board, the headphone jack is quite loud, and when it was turned up all the way, I could clearly hear the noise they were complaining about. However, Adobe Audition's input meters indicated a level of roughly -63 dB. The noise floor is there. For a $500 sound card, I'd anticipate much better. On the other hand, I can live with -63 dB.For context, the FCC imposed a -60 dB noise floor standard for FM broadcasters many years ago. This board outperformed that standard by 3 dB. Not quite as good are my professional broadcast studios. So I didn't bother about it and sent the board on the trip to NYC.It was televised for three days. The group praised the board when they returned. "This board is AMAZING!" Nothing at all about noise. I'm overjoyed about this!



A4 4Channels Audio Mixer Sound Mixing Console with Bluetooth USB Record 48V Phantom Power Monitor Paths Plus Effects Use for home music production, webcast, K song Review:


If all you want is a USB mixer/interface with 48V phantom power, it's a decent deal for the price. The EFX has some limitations and can't adjust the mid tones, but generally it's not horrible. Personally, I prefer the EFX button to function as a mic mute. The lack of any sort of instruction is the main issue I see with this mixer. I've yet to learn how Bluetooth functions, despite the fact that it is an option. You may pause, play, skip, and go back to what you are watching or listening to when in "PC" mode. You can also change the media's volume using this. The monitoring with zero latency is quite effective. In a few weeks, a thorough review will be available on the Great Wolf Gaming channel.



Behringer Xenyx X1222USB Premium 16-Input 2/2-Bus Mixer with USB/Audio Interface Review:


I don't often write reviews, but I feel forced to do so in this occasion because the manufacturer provided me with exceptional service, which is becoming increasingly uncommon. Behringer deserves to be commended in this instance.About a year ago, I purchased a Behringer Xenyx X1222USB. For my application, utilizing it as the main board for live performances with a small band, it has been working fantastically (vocals, a couple of mics on amps for string instruments, keyboards in direct, a wind controller and an iPad via an Alesis IOdock for backing tracks).I've been using an external FX box the entire time, not using the built-in FX. When I eventually got around to checking them out, auditioning every preset, and fiddling with the different options, all of a sudden (after about 15-20 minutes of this), I heard this incredibly loud, fast repeated clicking sound that completely obscured everything else. Shutting down the device was the only way to halt it. As long as all of the FX parameters were set to the lowest possible values after restarting, the mixer operated without any issues. Within 15 to 20 minutes of turning on the FX again, the same thing will occur once more. I repeatedly tested it and verified that all of the controls were set to their nominal values (i.e., I was sure I was not overloading the FX unit). Fortunately, it happened when I was in my home studio. Since I had gigs scheduled for the next two days, I persuaded myself that this could only occur when the FX processor was active. Sure enough, I had no issues at the jobs during the following two days, and everything went smoothly (with the FX off).The next day, I conducted some research online before calling Behringer and discovered that many others had similar issues with FX units on Behringer mixers dating back a few years (although I didn't find anything particularly for this model). Given the number of complaints, some people blamed the issue on cheap capacitors made in China. I can't confirm this, but I was disappointed that Behringer hadn't fixed the problem in newer models, although I have noticed that some models now use a different version of the FX processor; I'm not sure if this fixes the problem or not.Anyhow, I gave Behringer a call, and much to my surprise, I was able to speak with someone right away. The technician swiftly determined that it did indeed sound like a malfunctioning FX unit after asking a few crucial questions and demonstrating her extensive knowledge. While I was still on the phone, she sent the RMA an email and informed me that the normal turnaround time is 10 working days. On Tuesday, I submitted it. As per UPS tracking, they received it on Thursday. It arrived at my door on Thursday of the following week! I was completely astounded. Everything appears to be running smoothly.The only drawback is that shipping to send the box to them costs money. If they find that the problem is covered by the warranty, they'll fix it and send it back to you at no cost. So make sure to keep your box and packing supplies on hand in case you need to send something in.The guarantee is one year, but if you register it within 90 days, it is extended to three years. The Behringer representative assured me that it was protected for three years even though I hadn't registered it. Just in case, you might wish to register your device.



Mackie ProFXv2, 8 A-B Box, 8-channel (PROFX8V2) Review:


I needed a little board that was inexpensive to transport to New York City so that the talent could connect it to their laptop through USB as a commercial FM broadcaster in a Top 60 US market. After reading the reviews, I was hesitant to buy this board because it seemed that everyone who liked it used the analog I/O while criticizing the background noise coming from the USB I/O.That is entirely reasonable for a board that costs under $200 and comes with a USB sound card. This USB sound card costs more than $500 for itself, and it also comes with an 8 channel Mackie mixer? They had to have made some kind of compromise. I initially purchased a different brand due to all the complaints, but that one appeared to have a technical problem (or maybe a design flaw). In any event, I came back and quickly re-visited Amazon to get the Mackie PROFX8V2.First thing I noticed was that all three of the machines I tried it on were plug-and-play. Windows 7 and 10 are examples. In contrast to the first board I tried, I did not require any drivers at all. That is definitely a plus.But that USB noise raised a lot of concerns. There is noise, which was never stated in a quantifiable level in any of the negative reviews. How much noise, though? About to find out, I thought.I hooked it up to a laptop and opened Adobe Audition. Audio came in and out for me swiftly. After setting levels, I put all of the pots to zero, which should have left me in complete silence. On this board, the headphone jack is quite loud, and when it was turned up all the way, I could clearly hear the noise they were complaining about. However, Adobe Audition's input meters indicated a level of roughly -63 dB. The noise floor is there. For a $500 sound card, I'd anticipate much better. On the other hand, I can live with -63 dB.For context, the FCC imposed a -60 dB noise floor standard for FM broadcasters many years ago. This board outperformed that standard by 3 dB. Not quite as good are my professional broadcast studios. So I didn't bother about it and sent the board on the trip to NYC.It was televised for three days. The group praised the board when they returned. "This board is AMAZING!" Nothing at all about noise. I'm overjoyed about this!



Behringer Xenyx Q802USB Premium 8-Input 2-Bus Mixer with USB/Audio Interface Review:


I've read a lot of reviews on this site about static in the lines and dangling power wires. I'm not sure if the manufacturer modified its ideas or if they might have received faulty goods.First off, I use this with a phantom-powered condenser style microphone. That is what this mixer offers, and there is no static in the line or in the recordings I make using the USB interface. I don't use the compressor function very often, but I do have it set to maybe 1/6 of the maximum setting, which is hardly any at all. It's good to not have to use Audacity for everything and have control over the high, mid, and low frequencies.I can't comment on the FX options because I haven't utilized them yet.Some people complained that when the Panning was set to the right channel, the audio would entirely disappear. I had to go into the Windows audio control panel and set the microphone properties to let Windows know that the recording device was a two-channel recorder even though this doesn't appear to be the case for me. Otherwise, as I panned to the right on the channel, it would stop working. However, this isn't a problem with the mixer; rather, it's with the way Windows treats recording devices by default as a single channel input.Regarding the power cord. Mine has a small nub, and when I connect it into the mixer, it feels comfortable. Enough so I can easily lift the mixer away from the power cord. Although it was a complaint I saw and doesn't appear to apply to the mixer I received, I do not advise doing that.This thing does become warm. That is to be expected as there is no active cooling. But it doesn't get so hot that it burns your face. I unintentionally left the unit on while leaving the house for eight hours. The air conditioner was barely warm when I arrived home. nothing wacky It just seems to reach a specific temperature and stay there.Therefore, I do suggest this mixer. The guild members who have used it so far agree that the audio on podcasts and videos sounds considerably better. The only thing I changed was to use this mixer, and as a result, it appears to be performing just as I had intended.My only recommendation is to place the unit's four corners with the small gel adhesive feet if you have them. The addition of the feet ensures that it doesn't create any noise and gives it a little extra height off the desk to aid with cooling, however it does have a very little wobble that I'm not sure is caused by the unit or my desk.



FIFINE Ultra Low-Noise 4-Channel Line Mixer for Sub-Mixing,4 Stereo Channel Mini Audio Mixer with AC adapter.Ideal for Small Club or Bar. As Microphones,Guitars,Bass,Keyboards or Stage Sub Mixer-N5 Review:


To combine PC and gaming console audio (passed through 3.5mm) that entered my headset, I intended to utilize a simple mixer. I had to purchase the adapters because this mixer utilizes 6.35mm plugs, but they were inexpensive so that wasn't a big concern. There are some squeaky sounds when adjusting the volume dials, as many people have noted, but there are no problems when they are still.My two primary problems and how I resolved them were as follows:Due to the mixer's potential high volume output, plugging my headphones directly into it resulted in a little amount of continual white noise (even when there were no sources plugged in). If the mixer had a master "volume out" knob as well, to reduce the output volume till the noise was inaudible, I believe this issue would be resolved. There was no way to reduce the output volume, so a lot of sound sources were being cranked up to incredibly high volumes, which is exactly what caused the cacophony. I simply connected my headset to a volume-adjustable 3.5mm extension wire and turned that down to eliminate the white noise while maintaining a loud enough level for the sound sources themselves (accomplishing the same thing as a master volume knob). This cable was reasonably priced (I already owned one from Amazon), so it's simple to get around.The other is that my first mixer, which was delivered, had a lot of genuine static, meaning it was broken. But getting in touch with FIFINE wasn't too difficult. I wrote them via the web(at)fifine(dot)cc email address supplied in the manual, despite the fact that you can contact them through Amazon by clicking the "Ask a question" button, as they suggested in another review. Despite the flaw, the service was wonderful, and the new one works great. They gave me a replacement straight away, and they didn't even ask me to send the old one back despite my promise to do so.There are a few problems, such scuffing when turning the dials and a 6.35mm instead of 3.5mm connector, but it's inexpensive and, once you get beyond the problems, it works well. It does support stereo, but you must use 3-section/TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) adapters rather than 2-section/TS adapters. This was a question in some reviews. On this site, I discovered a pack of 3 for $7 (I only needed 3), or a pack of 5 for $9 (which would provide complete capability). The total cost of a system like this, including those items, the volume-adjustable 3.5mm extension I required (which I already had), which I believe was around $5, and a few male-male 3.5mm cables (console to mixer, PC to mixer), is probably around $40, which is still very reasonable.If you're seeking for something comparable, I'd recommend.



Mackie ProFX Series, 6 Mixer - Unpowered, 6-channel (ProFX6v3) Review:


Over the years, I've owned a few Mackie mixers, ranging from the ProFX series V2 to the VLZ workhorses. Using one for home recording was the only issue I ran into. They had to stand in front of my Lexicon audio interface, which generated more noise. I didn't want to just EQ it in the software; I wanted to use the Mackie preamps and EQ going directly in. (Note: The v2 series has USB available on the 8 channel and higher, however using a headset for monitoring while recording is difficult on them.)This brand-new ProFX10 v3 series excels at it. The channels are completely silent, making for the ideal quiet sections for singing and acoustic guitar. The compressor is a terrific addition, and the 3-Band eq has a great sound. The new GIGFX effects are noticeably different, and there are more of them as well. You can record with nearly anything you put in thanks to the Onyx mic preamps' 60db of gain. I tested out my old SM58 by recording a few vocal recordings, and it sounded fantastic.For me, the ability to monitor while tracking is the primary factor in my decision to convert to this new v3 model. As in a "real" studio, they had a "mix" circuit and knob that let you record a new track while the one you just recorded was playing back. The blend slider allows you to precisely control how much of your live recording and recorded track playback you wish to hear in your headset. Additionally, there is a separate "control room" volume knob for monitoring studio speakers.Finally, level knobs rather than sliding faders have been used for this model (as well as the ProFX6). Sliding faders on small boards have never been my preference because they are difficult to adjust while seated at a desk. They also make dirt collection considerably simpler. This also makes the desk-mounted 10-channel mixer relatively small! (I can't wait to use this to mix a live show, too.)highly advisable


Do I need powered speakers for my mixer?

No, you don't need powered speakers for your mixer. You can use any speakers you want, as long as they're compatible with the mixer.

Do mixers degrade sound quality?

While some mixers may degrade sound quality, it is more likely that the sound quality will be determined by the quality of the equipment that is being used. For example, if you are using lower quality equipment, the sound quality will likely be poorer than if you are using higher quality equipment. Additionally, the way that the mixer is being used can also impact sound quality. For example, if the mixer is being used to mix two signals that are not compatible, the sound quality may be degraded.

Do mixers need power?

Do powered speakers sound better than passive?

There is a big debate in the audio community about whether powered or passive speakers sound better. Both have their pros and cons. Passive speakers require an amplifier, which can add coloration to the sound. Powered speakers have their own amplifiers built in, so they don't rely on an external amplifier. This can give them a cleaner sound. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer the sound of powered speakers, while others prefer passive.

Does wattage matter in stand mixers?

When it comes to stand mixers, does wattage matter? The answer is yes and no. If you are simply mixing light ingredients, such as whipped cream or cake batter, a lower wattage mixer will do the trick. However, if you are mixing heavier ingredients, such as bread dough, you will need a mixer with more power, which means more watts.

How important is wattage in hand mixers?

Wattage is a measure of how much power a hand mixer uses. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the mixer. Wattage is important because it determines how well the mixer will perform. A high wattage mixer will be able to mix ingredients more quickly and thoroughly than a low wattage mixer.