BST

(Originally written by DJsepto/translated from Audiofanzine FR) - How long have you been using it? 2 years, and I own two. I believe it has been discontinued by BST. - Which feature do you like best? I love the heavy aluminum plate and the high-precision tonearm which are rare features for a BST. I also like the more than generous torque, the accurate pitch and the different available settings. The manufacturing quality is very good, the unit is really heavy unlike the BST 136, 236, 100, 200, 300 and 400! The target light is cool and it provides the turntable an old-school look, not like the latest models which look more like toys. - Which feature do you like least? It needs a grounded outlet otherwise you might experience an electrostatic discharge! In which case you will have to exchange a component but nothing too serious... Anyway, every house is grounded nowadays, except mine! - Did you try any other models before buying it? Yes, a Vestax PDX 2000. I prefer to mix with the BST and scratch with the Vestax. - How would you rate its value for money? Excellent. It's a not-too-expensive professional turntable! Based on your experience, would you buy this product again? Absolutely. it's a great turntable for beginners and not-so-beginners...

The BST LM-200, manufactured in Japan in the 1970s, is a high-quality studio phaser. It features a bypass circuit that can be activated manually or via a footswitch located at the back of the unit. Unlike its cousins from MXR, Maxon, or EHX, it doesn't push the effect to the point of overdrive, though it is possible to overload the input. Some say the effect is too subtle and that the bypass leaves much to be desired. I disagree. My unit is in perfect condition, and I’ve never encountered these issues. With proper maintenance and gentle handling, this phaser reveals all of its potential. The BST LM-200 is also known under different brands, such as the Univox PHZ-1 Phazer, Monacor PZ-100 Phase Shifter, or Melos PS-1000 Phase Shifter.

(Originally written by LuK le Brugeois/translated from Audiofanzine FR) This echo effect is an analog delay system. I don't have any information about how it works. It's not a tape delay. It can't be edited via PC, etc. No Midi... No tap tempo... It has two jack inputs for instruments with different output levels... It also has a footswitch connector to turn the effect on/off. UTILIZATION The setting couldn't be easier. Four controls. Volume, dry/wet balance, number of repetitions, delay time... It's very easy to find the right setting for every application. I don't have the user's manual but it would be useless anyway. SOUND QUALITY Effective and versatile effect... But its sound is not as nice as a tape delay effect. I have another BST echo effect, which works with tape and the sound is much better... Anyway the MCE-550 is interesting because it sounds transparent and it doesn't alter the original signal. I tested this effect with several instruments (Farfisa, Nordstage 88, Fender Mustang and Stratocaster, SH-101, etc.) and the sound was pretty good with every instrument. The sound ranges from a slight reverb to a loud chaos... So the device is versatile and it can be used in many different applications. I don't give it the best mark because it doesn't sound as good as a tape delay... OVERALL OPINION I've been using it for one year. It's basically a practical and reliable tool... It doesn't sound as nice as other delay effects... but it's easy to use, not expensive and reliable. The BST Echochamber tape echo I own sounds better but it's much less reliable and replacement tapes are difficult to find. I bought this effect secondhand at a very nice price... So the value for money is very reasonable. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it again.

(Originally written by LuK le Brugeois/translated from Audiofanzine FR) The BST Echo Chamber is a tape delay... It's a fully analog device. I don't know when it was made... It provides two inputs (high/low) and two corresponding outputs... UTILIZATION The overall design is very simple. Four controls: Volume, effect mix, feedback and delay time... No tap tempo nor other modern functions... I don't have a user's manual (I found it in a garbage can!)... But it's very easy to understand how it works SOUND QUALITY Beautiful effect. It sounds very warm and it gives a nice vintage character to every signal... I tested it with an SH-101, a Nordstage, several guitars, Farfisa organs (Matador, VIP 205R, FK 50), etc. The sound is great with every instrument... OVERALL OPINION I've been using it for one and a half years. I like its articulated and very expressive sound... It allows me to generate Pink Floyd-like feedbacks (The Piper at the Gates of Dawn for example), which is very interesting... I own another BST echo processor but this one is clearly better... It sometimes generates a light hum noise... but its sound compensates for that and much more... I didn't buy it and I have no idea of how much it costs. I would like to find another one!

(Originally written by A gipi/translated from Audiofanzine FR) Its true that this Activ 40 is not exactly a battle mixer! But if you are a beginner or if you have a tight budget and you want an easy-to-use and sturdy mixer try this small BST! I've been using mine for over 14 years and it still works perfectly. It keeps on surprising me year after year because it's always ready when I need it. I've bought other mixers with a better performance, but I never sold this one and I'm always happy to use it again from time to time. In spite of its compact dimensions, this rack-mounting mixer has everything a big mixer has. You can connect four mics, three turntables, four CD players and one video player, or five line signal sources, one effects processor for the four mic channels and the video/CD channel. The manufacturer actually advertised 13 channels! It's quite exceptional for a "small" mixer. I would like to have more outputs (XLR and jack) in addition to the RCA outputs to have more versatility but the rear panel is too small. I give it 7/10 because it offers a lot of value in a compact housing. UTILIZATION My Activ 40 followed me everywhere during almost 15 years: DJ events, small folk and rock bands (up to four musicians), karaoke nights, video projections, etc. and it was always successful. You obviously can't connect a drum kit to it but with an additional group mixer it was perfect for small locations (pubs) and small "events" where organizers had a very small budget. The small EQ has only 5 bands for each side of the stereo out and the mic channels only have a 2-band EQ. It's better to add an EQ to improve the integrated one... For a band you'll have to use adapter connectors for the RCA line inputs since only the mic inputs have four XLR or 1/4" jacks! An advantage: the B output allows you to feed a monitoring system... Although you don't have any control possibility except a volume setting, it's very convenient in small locations to make a simple monitor mix for the musicians on stage! (I know it's not the best solution but it can be helpful!) The mixer is also ok for DJ applications: the sound is ok and the mixer doesn't alter the music that much even with high operating levels. It only adds a slight noise. The VU-meters are reliable and the controls are smooth and effective. Don't forget it's a budget product for beginners so don't try to show off... But it does have a talkover function in the DJ mic channel (some mixers don't have it!), an auto-start in the two first line channels, an average croosfader (even if the respective channel buttons are not ergonomic) and a "scratch" effect... which is more annoying than useful! The 12-volt BNC connector for a gooseneck comes in very handy. Once again it's a feature which some mixers don't have! I personally never read the user's manual (I'm not sure there was ever one) but the handling is simple and intuitive. It's great for people who want to learn by doing. One hour (max.) will be enough to know how to use the mixer! I give it 6/10 because it was always useful! SOUNDS I already said everything about the sound... But don't be too demanding with this small mixer, and don't expect more than what it has to offer. Even if it's not a top-level tool, it doesn't sound so bad and I've heard more expensive mixers sound worse!!! And the sound also depends on the P.A. system. I give it 5/10 because I miss many control options, but it has enough functions to get an average mark. OVERALL OPINION As a summary, if you see a secondhand Activ 40 in a good condition and you're a beginner, buy it. You won't pay a lot of money and it will allow you to learn pretty easily. Some people might say it's not trendy or that it's obsolete but that's a mistake! It's true it has not as many auxiliaries as modern mixers, but I've seen lots of people having problems with these new mixers so I think it's better to learn with this one... once you master it you can buy something more complex. Excellent value for money if you can be happy with simple things. Don't forget that the mixer is not the only tool you need. You have to keep some money for speakers, power amps, mics, etc. Note: It seems BST's online customer support doesn't answer anymore when you inquire about their gear... or perhaps you have to remind them several times... or find a dealer that loves this brand (which isn't easy). I give it 7/10 as final mark. Perhaps it's a bit too high, but trust me, it's really surprising and extremely convenient.