Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: MOTM

Please pardon the non-modular bandwidth, but I need the expertise of the list in helping me to choose some accessory equipment.

I'm looking to buy a small, analog, 12-to-16 channel stereo mic/line mixer. 75% of the time it will be used as a keyboard mixer for live performance/dinking around; the other 25% of the time it will be used for small home-studio recording projects. The major stumbling block is my current budget of around $300.00.

In a perfect world, I would run out and buy a Mackie 1402VLZ and be off to the races. However, at $550.00 new, it's a bit pricey right now. The Mackie 1202VLZ is better on price (around $380.00), but it lacks some niceties like slide faders.

A quick search of some online sites (Zzounds, Musician's Friend, etc.) has left me with the following choices:
Behringer MX1604A Eurorack - $200.00
Behringer MX2004A Eurorack - $300.00
Nady SRM-12X - $180.00
Nady SRM-14X - $200.00
Nady CMX-16A - $270.00

Now, I have seen some reviews of Behringer's products in the past. Some owners say that they are a pretty good value for the bucks. But many folks really bad-rap them, calling them everything from "cheap Mackie ripoffs" to "great superheated mounds of sh∗t". I have been unable to find much info on Nady mixers. The general concensus seems to be "Buy a Mackie!"

So, here are my questions:
1. Has anyone had any experience with Behringer mixers? What do you think of them?
2. Does anybody know anything about these Nady mixers?
3. Which would be a better choice...one of these Behringer or Nady mixers new...or a used Mackie on eBay?
4. Are there any other brands that you think I should consider?

Thanks!!!

-Chris-