This is my 45th pedal overall since 1989 but first Behringer 'compact'. I'm going to ignore the fact that these cost less than £25 and concentrate on sound, performance and features.
PROS:
It sounds excellent, really. Boss-level quality. The effect can be silky-subtle to moderately strong - no useless extreme modulation settings here, which is a welcome change, especially on a budget pedal.
Although, as if to make up for it, the 3-way switch sports an utterly useless 'bypass' setting. Probably because some other 3-knob pedals in the range actually need that switch and it must keep manufacturing costs down to use a common chassis.
Control knobs all feel reassuringly solid and smooth in travel with, I'd say, a little more resistance in feel than Boss ones - less chance of them being brushed out of position by a stray foot. The 'rise' control (an attack or pre-delay before the effect starts) takes some getting used to to hear it, but its certainly worth fiddling with for decent results.
No noise, output issues or noticeable signal loss whatsoever, although I'm using a reasonable quality '1-Spot' power supply so your results may vary. But certainly this is free of the sometimes problematic results I've had with the cheaper TC Electronic pedals which are meant to be upgraded versions of these.
I... um, I really like the 'Olive Drab' colour... goes well with all my other green pedals.
CONS:
The side-mounted power input is awkward and necessitates an L-connector on your power supply cable/daisy chain.
The battery access is a joke - you're supposed to poke open the hinge mechanism with a biro. I can't see that happening easily at a gig or lasting very long without damage. To be fair, it's probably less hassle than the four screws on the back of my Big Muff, plus I never use batteries anyway. But not very practical for regular use.
And finally, as has so often been pointed out about these models - the plastic housing appears to be made of some kind of spongy extra-flexible plastic. Does not immediately install confidence - would I gig with it? Well, I know a bunch of people that have done so for years and I've never heard any off them complain about breakages or any other issue for that matter.
SUMMING UP
When I was 18 I'd use batteries and chuck my pedals into a bag at the end of a practice or gig - this pedal would not have survived a month, let alone still be one my board 30 years later like some of my Boss pedals are. But then again, I'd have had no use for such a gorgeously subtle effect like this when I was 18 and playing Grindcore - these days I have a decent power supply, a pedalboard and more varied tastes.
I'm going to buy the Super Fuzz now, and possibly that pink HM-2 clone.
