Hi I have a brand new FBQ3102: This unit is replacing a 30 year old MXR 15 band EQ that lost one channel. I am connecting to my home stereo system. I thought an eq was an eq. I connected the new Behringer to the same tape monitor loop that the MXR was connected to on my Onkyo SV610PRO. The problem is the sound level seems to get cut by 75%. I have to turn the volume waaayyy up on the Onkyo to even hear anything. The subwoofer channel barely works. Also the input output signal led(s) are non existent on the meter(s). Did I mess up buying this unit? Or is this thing defective? What am I missing here? Thanks for any help!

Hi dunnbiker and many thanks.

That was the very first thing I thought of... I have done that in the past with my other EQ but you could barely hear anything even when the volume was turned all the way up. I reversed the cables and that didn't work.

Maybe 75% was a slight exaggeration. It is probably closer to 50% or 60%. I can actually use the EQ... all the controls seem to work it is just that the Onkyo has to be turned up past half way to get audible sound. I turn it up much more and the hum from the system becomes loud so I have to use the limit controls to fight that. Without the EQ in line the volume on the Onkyo can be less than 1/4 and it is pretty loud.

The subwoofer doesn't seem to have enough signal to work either, except when I turn the EQ on or off, then there is a nice little pop.

The other "weird" thing is that the signal leds don't light.

I contacted Behringer through their website (which leaves a lot to be desired) and opened a case ticket because there was on phone assistance. We shall see how that goes.

Any way, Thanks for your time.

Rob Hi dunnbiker and many thanks. That was the very first thing I thought of... I have done that in the past with my other EQ but you could barely hear anything even when the volume was turned all the way up. I reversed the cables and that didn't work. Maybe 75% was a slight exaggeration. It is probably closer to 50% or 60%. I can actually use the EQ... all the controls seem to work it is just that the Onkyo has to be turned up past half way to get audible sound. I turn it up much more and the hum from the system becomes loud so I have to use the limit controls to fight that. Without the EQ in line the volume on the Onkyo can be less than 1/4 and it is pretty loud. The subwoofer doesn't seem to have enough signal to work either, except when I turn the EQ on or off, then there is a nice little pop. The other "weird" thing is that the signal leds don't light. I contacted Behringer through their website (which leaves a lot to be desired) and opened a case ticket because there was on phone assistance. We shall see how that goes. Any way, Thanks for your time. Rob

The lack of meter indications is a clue. The EQ metering can be set for the Input or the Output (page 4).


The Audio In/Out switch can engage or bypass the EQ, so you could set it to Out to prove the circuitry is responsible for the attenuation. Then play around with all that stuff on page 5 to see what affects the volume downward or upward. Disable the High Cut or it will roll off anything upward of 2.5kHz. The lack of meter indications is a clue. The EQ metering can be set for the Input or the Output (page 4). The Audio In/Out switch can engage or bypass the EQ, so you could set it to Out to prove the circuitry is responsible for the attenuation. Then play around with all that stuff on page 5 to see what affects the volume downward or upward. Disable the High Cut or it will roll off anything upward of 2.5kHz.

OK... so after some more playing around:

The in/out switches do function and all the controls function to change sound. Over all sound is very limited as stated previously. When my control volume on the Onkyo is at level 6 it is pretty loud... at 20 it is really, really loud. When engaging the EQ I can barely hear anything at level 6 and to get a similar volume level I must turn up the Onkyo to about 20.

What does not function are the signal LEDs and the subwoofer. What is interesting is that the subwoofer engages more one I turn down one of the limit controls (either one) but it still does not engage anywhere near the level it should be. I am starting to believe this unit is defective somehow.

Also, I am wondering about cabling. I have XLR to RC conversion cables. Could these play a role in this somehow? I am reaching but thought I would put that out there.

Again, Thanks for your time! OK... so after some more playing around: The in/out switches do function and all the controls function to change sound. Over all sound is very limited as stated previously. When my control volume on the Onkyo is at level 6 it is pretty loud... at 20 it is really, really loud. When engaging the EQ I can barely hear anything at level 6 and to get a similar volume level I must turn up the Onkyo to about 20. What does not function are the signal LEDs and the subwoofer. What is interesting is that the subwoofer engages more one I turn down one of the limit controls (either one) but it still does not engage anywhere near the level it should be. I am starting to believe this unit is defective somehow. Also, I am wondering about cabling. I have XLR to RC conversion cables. Could these play a role in this somehow? I am reaching but thought I would put that out there. Again, Thanks for your time!

I can't speak to the conversion cables. The subwoofer's backward volume response when you lower either channel suggests the two channels are out of phase. Similarly, if you only had the positives of the two channels coming in the two main speakers might only convey the difference between Left and Right and it would be at a lower volume than expected. Food for thought. I can't speak to the conversion cables. The subwoofer's backward volume response when you lower either channel suggests the two channels are out of phase. Similarly, if you only had the positives of the two channels coming in the two main speakers might only convey the difference between Left and Right and it would be at a lower volume than expected. Food for thought.

Thanks for the food...

Being one to not let go easily and the fact that I had a hard time believing the new EQ was bad I purchased a new pair of cables. I had a nice (or so I thought) pair from Monoprice and another from Pyle. The Pyle set was really flimsy and one of the RCA jacks was distorted from the start so if had a loose fit. The Monopirce cables were really thick so I purchase another pair from them. When I connected the new pair I had NO SOUND.

So, something in the cabling was definitely causing and issue because the other (although flimsy) cable at at least allowed some signal through. I looked up the proper wiring for XLR to RCA. I took a continuity tester and it turns out the cables were wired "incorrectly". Rather than connecting pins 1 and 3 together for "ground" and/or the shield... they connected pins 2 and 3 together giving the positive "center" the two signals. I cut number 3 at each XLR end of the cables and I have what I should have had from the get go. Excellent sound and successful control!

My next question is... do you thing there will be any harm in leaving that wire (from pin number 3) disconnected or is it necessary to have the wires from pins 1 and 3 bonded? I ask because the inside of the RCA ends of the cables are encased in some type of plastic which I am sure will help with longevity.... and that is apparently where the "wrong" connections are made.

Thanks! Thanks for the food... Being one to not let go easily and the fact that I had a hard time believing the new EQ was bad I purchased a new pair of cables. I had a nice (or so I thought) pair from Monoprice and another from Pyle. The Pyle set was really flimsy and one of the RCA jacks was distorted from the start so if had a loose fit. The Monopirce cables were really thick so I purchase another pair from them. When I connected the new pair I had NO SOUND. So, something in the cabling was definitely causing and issue because the other (although flimsy) cable at at least allowed some signal through. I looked up the proper wiring for XLR to RCA. I took a continuity tester and it turns out the cables were wired "incorrectly". Rather than connecting pins 1 and 3 together for "ground" and/or the shield... they connected pins 2 and 3 together giving the positive "center" the two signals. I cut number 3 at each XLR end of the cables and I have what I should have had from the get go. Excellent sound and successful control! My next question is... do you thing there will be any harm in leaving that wire (from pin number 3) disconnected or is it necessary to have the wires from pins 1 and 3 bonded? I ask because the inside of the RCA ends of the cables are encased in some type of plastic which I am sure will help with longevity.... and that is apparently where the "wrong" connections are made. Thanks!