Behringer 676 Revealed – A Budget Take on the Classic UA 6176 Channel Strip
Behringer has built its reputation on recreating classic studio gear at prices that undercut the competition, and the Behringer 676 is no exception. Announced on March 13, 2025, this 1U rackmount tube preamp and FET compressor draws direct inspiration from the Universal Audio 6176, a high-end channel strip that has been a studio staple for decades. With a $469 MSRP ($619 in the US) compared to the 6176’s $3,699 price tag, Behringer is offering what appears to be an affordable way to access tube-driven warmth and 1176-style compression in a single unit. However, as of now, Behringer has not provided an official release date, leaving prospective buyers waiting for further updates. This release fits squarely into Behringer’s long-running approach of making vintage-inspired hardware accessible to a wider audience. While their clones have often been debated within the pro audio community, their affordability has made them a common sight in home and project studios. The 676 raises an important question—is it a serious alternative to Universal Audio’s flagship channel strip, or is it another cost-cutting compromise that only captures part of the original’s magic? To answer that, let’s break down what the 676 brings to the table.
Behringer 676 Revealed – A Budget Take on the Classic UA 6176 Channel Strip
A Familiar But Affordable Designà
Features & Specs: What’s Under the Hood?
Price & Availability
Who Is the Behringer 676 For?
Alternatives to Consider
Final Thoughts: A Worthwhile Budget Option or Just Another Clone?
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
A Familiar But Affordable Design
From the moment you see it, the 676’s design makes its intentions clear. The layout, color scheme, and large VU meters bear a striking resemblance to the Universal Audio 6176, though with some small differences in the control set. Like its inspiration, the 676 combines a tube-based preamp and FET compressor, allowing users to apply analog gain staging, harmonic coloration, and dynamic shaping in a single unit.
The preamp stage is built around 12AX7/ECC83S tubes, a common choice for adding warmth and harmonic richness to mic and line-level signals. Behringer has also included a switchable EQ with high- and low-frequency shelving, giving users a bit of tone-shaping flexibility before the compressor kicks in. The compressor itself is modeled after the UREI 1176, offering fast, aggressive compression with the ability to push into musical saturation when driven hard. The Midas-designed transformers are another noteworthy inclusion, as Behringer has been using these in several of its higher-end products to improve signal integrity.
While the price is dramatically lower than the original, the build quality and component choices will ultimately determine how close the 676 comes to the 6176’s revered sound. Behringer’s track record with tube-based gear has been mixed, with some units capturing the spirit of the originals while others cut costs in ways that affect long-term reliability. If the 676’s compression response, harmonic saturation, and headroom hold up, it could become a go-to budget channel strip for home studios. However, without hearing it in real-world conditions, it's difficult to say how it will compare to the original beyond surface-level similarities.
Features & Specs: What’s Under the Hood?
The Behringer 676 isn’t just a simple preamp—it’s a full-featured recording front-end designed to shape a signal before it hits your DAW or tape machine. Despite its budget price, it offers a surprisingly deep feature set:
Tube Preamp with 12AX7/ECC83S – Adds harmonic coloration and warmth to mic, instrument, and line signals.
FET Compressor Modeled After the 1176 – Offers fast, punchy compression with selectable ratio settings.
Switchable High- and Low-Frequency Shelving EQ – Basic tone-shaping options to refine the signal.
Custom Midas Transformers – Aimed at improving clarity, transient response, and overall signal quality.
Selectable Input Impedance – Optimized for different microphones and sources.
Sidechain Input – Allows external control of the compressor’s behavior.
On paper, these features closely match the Universal Audio 6176, but it’s important to remember that not all components are created equal. The tube stage, transformer design, and compression circuit in the 6176 are built to high-end specifications, while Behringer’s cost-cutting approach may mean lower-grade tubes, transformers, or power supply components. That doesn’t necessarily mean the 676 won’t sound good—it just means it’s unlikely to deliver the same level of nuance, depth, and transparency as the original.
That said, for the price, the feature set is impressive, and for many users, the ability to track through a real analog preamp and compressor without relying on plugins will be a major selling point.
Price & Availability
The Behringer 676 has been announced with an MSRP of $469, though early listings suggest a $619 price point in the US. This makes it one of the most affordable all-in-one analog channel strips available, particularly for those looking for an alternative to Universal Audio’s significantly more expensive 6176.
However, Behringer has not yet provided a confirmed release date for the 676. Based on past product launches, it may take several months before it reaches retailers. Those interested in purchasing the unit should keep an eye on Behringer’s official website as well as major retailers like Thomann, Sweetwater, and Amazon, which typically carry Behringer’s latest releases as soon as they become available.
Who Is the Behringer 676 For?
The Behringer 676 is aimed at budget-conscious producers, home studios, and engineers who want an accessible entry into the world of analog preamps and FET compression. At its price point, it offers an appealing alternative to high-end hardware that would otherwise be out of reach for many musicians. For home producers working mostly in-the-box, the 676 provides a hands-on way to shape recordings with tube warmth and dynamic control before they hit the DAW. Vocalists and instrumentalists may also find it useful as an all-in-one channel strip, allowing them to track with character and compression in real time. Even professional studios that already have high-end gear might see this as an affordable option for parallel processing, secondary tracking setups, or experimentation.
That said, this unit is unlikely to fully replace the Universal Audio 6176 or other high-end alternatives for engineers who demand absolute fidelity and premium components. Behringer’s history with clones has been mixed—while some of their recreations come surprisingly close to the originals, others introduce compromises in terms of build quality, longevity, or nuanced sonic details. The 676 will likely appeal most to those who are willing to trade a degree of authenticity for affordability. For anyone looking to capture the exact sound and feel of a vintage Universal Audio unit, investing in the original—or a reputable alternative—may still be the better option. However, for producers looking to add color and dynamics to their recordings without a massive financial commitment, the Behringer 676 presents an intriguing possibility.
Alternatives to Consider
If the 676 has caught your interest, but you’re not sure if it’s the right fit, here are a few alternatives at different price points:
Universal Audio 6176 – The original. Expensive, but unmatched in quality and authenticity.
Warm Audio WA76 + WA12 MkII – A modular setup that pairs a Neve-inspired preamp with an 1176-style compressor at a still-affordable price.
Black Lion Audio B173 MKII + Seventeen Compressor – A Neve-style preamp with rich harmonic saturation, paired with an 1176-inspired compressor designed for punchy, fast dynamic control.
Each of these options brings something different to the table, but for those on a tight budget, the Behringer 676 may be the most affordable way to get into analog recording without relying on software emulations.
Final Thoughts: A Worthwhile Budget Option or Just Another Clone?
Behringer’s 676 is an ambitious attempt to recreate the essence of the Universal Audio 6176 at a fraction of the price. On paper, it delivers real analog tube warmth, FET compression, and flexible tone shaping in a single unit, making it an attractive option for home studios and producers looking to experiment with outboard gear. However, the real test will be how it sounds in a professional setting and whether it holds up in terms of build quality and long-term reliability.
For those who have been eyeing a 6176 but can’t justify the cost, the 676 offers a compelling budget alternative. While it may not capture every nuance of the original, it provides a functional, affordable pathway into the world of high-end analog processing. If nothing else, it’s another example of Behringer’s ability to disrupt the market and make once-exclusive studio tools available to a wider audience. Whether it’s a true game-changer or simply another cost-effective clone remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a release worth keeping an eye on.
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.