Rack mount line mixers

Pro Audio Asylum

Pro studio recording equipment and music production/industry.

I am interested in getting a small stereo line mixer--preferably a rack-mount unit. It will be used to mix four or five stereo synthesizers down to one output that will be fed into a reasonably good quality home stereo--an Arcam 100 watt amplifier with Sonus Faber Concertino Speakers.
I have no need of eq, and could probably get by without volume pots. A balanced mixer would be preferable, but the main requirement is that the signal path be as pure and uncolored as possible. The mixers that I have used--a Mackie 1402 VLZ pro and a Samson 1602, have been OK, but when I consider their low price and the number of cheap potentiometers that get thrown into the signal path, I am hoping I can do better with a simpler design.
What I'm really looking for, I guess, is a glorified Y-adaptor with level controls for the main output and headphones. I saw two units that look like they would fill the bill--a Whirlwind Mix-8S stereo line mixer and a Rane SM-82 stereo line mixer. The Whirlwind dispenses with inserts and balance controls, so I tend to favor it.
Can anyone tell me about these particular mixers, or the reputations of Whirlwind or Rane generally for build and sound quality? Or...would it make sense to buy the Whirlwind and substitute some better parts (op amps?) to get what I'm looking for?

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

VH Audio

Topic - Rack mount line mixers - Paul_A 16:04:47 07/11/04 (2)

Re: Rack mount line mixers - 21lop78 11:10:44 07/25/04 (0)

Re: Rack mount line mixers - Bill Fitzmaurice 05:44:33 07/12/04 (0)

You can not post to an archived thread.