Behringer 2-XM Review

If you"ve been keeping tabs on the music industry over the past few years, you"ve likely heard of the Behringer 2-XM, a reimagined, reengineered version of the Oberheim Two-Voice poly synthesizer. This two-part wonder includes a 32-point patch bay for Eurorack, an impressively low price tag and a full fledged MIDI implementation. It even supports USB. The suggested retail is $299. However, the company has yet to break through the wall for consumers. A global shortage of semiconductor chips may have been the culprit.

There are plenty of synthesizers out there, but the 2-XM is an all-in-one musical marvel. It has a 32-point patch bay, a MIDI implementation, and the aforementioned MIDM-Me savviness. One of its standout features is a Moog Mother-32-style patch matrix. In addition to the more common jacks and knobs, the unit offers a smorgasbord of goodies, from a noise generator to an LFO to add oomph to your sound.

In the past, Behringer has touted a variety of innovations, from a Moog Mother-32 style patch matrix to a smorgasbord of gizmos, including the XM, the company"s first foray into satellite radio. Notably, the company has been teased multiple times over the past few years about an OB-Xa clone. That device, along with the 2-XM, was put on the backburner for more than a year, and it remains to be seen if this will change anytime soon.

Regardless of the time delay, the Behringer 2-XM is a great buy. You can pick one up for around $299, and while the company has yet to offer a price break, the manufacturer has already stated that it will be making an encore performance before the year"s end. With that in mind, there"s never been a better time to rethink your music strategy. After all, what"s the point of having the newest gear if you can"t play it? Fortunately, XM"s lineup of aural wizardry will be ready to deliver all your favorite tunes on demand when the next wave of satellites launches. For more information, check out their website. And, if you"re in the market for a new radio, be sure to check out the ones made by the likes of Alpine Electronics, Delphi Delco, and Sharp Corporation. We hope to hear from you soon.