Behringer XENYX Q502USB USB Mixer

Behringer XENYX Q502USB USB Mixer

The Behringer XENYX Q502USB is a compact 5-input, 2-bus analogue mixer with a built-in stereo USB audio interface. One microphone channel with a XENYX preamp, two stereo line channels and a 2-track RCA section cover the small end of live and recording work: a singer with backing tracks, a podcast microphone plus music playback, a classroom or meeting-room PA, or a home studio built around a computer. Everything is laid out on the top panel, and the whole mixer weighs 0.6 kg.

Key features

• 5 inputs: 1 microphone/line channel and 2 stereo line channels
• XENYX microphone preamp with switchable +15V phantom power
• One-knob compressor on the microphone channel
• 2-band British EQ (80 Hz and 12 kHz, +/-15 dB) on the microphone channel
• Built-in stereo USB audio interface (48 kHz) for recording and playback
• 2-track RCA inputs and outputs, assignable to main mix or phones
• Balanced main outputs and a separate phones output with its own level

The XENYX microphone channel

Channel 1 combines an XLR microphone input and a balanced 1/4 inch line input under one gain control with a clip LED. The XENYX preamp is specified with an equivalent input noise of -134 dB at zero-ohm source resistance and a signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB (A-weighted), with distortion of 0.006% or lower. Phantom power is +15V and switchable, which runs the condenser microphones this class of mixer is normally paired with while leaving dynamic microphones unaffected; if a microphone specifically requires a full 48V supply, check its specification before pairing. A pan control places the channel in the stereo mix.

One-knob compression and British EQ

The channel’s compressor is operated with a single knob: turn it up and peaks are pulled down while quieter detail comes forward, which keeps a speaking voice or a bass guitar even in the mix without setting thresholds and ratios. The 2-band British EQ, modelled on the equalisers of classic British consoles, adjusts low frequencies at 80 Hz and highs at 12 kHz with up to 15 dB of boost or cut at each band. That is enough to add warmth to a voice, tame boom from a small room or brighten an acoustic guitar.

Stereo channels and 2-track routing

Two stereo line channels accept keyboards, media players and playback devices on balanced 1/4 inch inputs, each with balance and level controls. The 2-track section works on RCA connectors: inputs bring an external player or recorder into the mixer and can be assigned to the main mix or to the phones output only, which is the standard way to play music between sets without sending it to a recording, while the RCA outputs send the main mix to an external recorder. Main outputs are balanced 1/4 inch TRS with a maximum level of +22 dBu, feeding powered speakers or an amplifier cleanly.

USB recording

The USB connection is a stereo interface: the main mix records to a computer and computer audio plays back through the mixer for monitoring, at a 48 kHz sample rate over a USB Type B connector. That makes the Q502USB a simple front end for podcast recording, livestream audio, online teaching and capturing small performances, with the phones output and its dedicated level control providing the monitor feed.

For small performances, presentations and home recording that need one good microphone channel, basic dynamics and EQ control, stereo playback and a computer connection in one small box, the XENYX Q502USB covers the brief without a rack or a learning curve.