Feature:
the switches to change normaling are a nice touch

Quality:
I supposed I should have expected it from a $50 patchbay, but I was pretty surprised how cheap the hardware was. As stated above, 2 of the patch modules were defective on arrival, the others didn't feel very sturdy (lacked the solid click of a well-made connector)

Value:
Basically, it appears that you get what you pay for...

Desirability:
nice looking design, if that is something you're after.

Sound:
Typicallly, a patchbay should add minimal sound to the signal. I only rated it because the unit I bought came with 2 defective patch modules, which caused a short when patched into, which obviously affected the sound

Support:
didn't use it.

Overall:
It's already headed back for a refund...

Feature:
This is an unbalanced patchbay. That's a feature, not a bug. In a guitar rack where all (or almost all) of your equipment is unbalanced, why should you pay for a balanced patch bay when you don't need one? You're money goes into higher quality components and innovative features, like the switches that make it easy to configure. Other patchbays say, "just rotate the cards" to reconfigure. Of course, they never specify the axis on which to rotate the card. Not a problem with this unit!

Quality:
Sturdy.

Desirability:
Patch bays don't have sex appeal. They don't even have "Sex appeal" in quotes.

Sound:
Sounds great.

Support:
Behringer presales support is awful. I've never needed support after purchasing.

I wasn't 100% convinced I needed a patch-bay until I got this thing installed in my studio rack. Now I route practically everything through it. It's hard to imagine how I ever lived without a patchbay, and more specifically THIS patchbay. What makes the Ultrapatch so special is its flexibility. Every pair of patches features a switch on the top of the rack which determines how the signal will be routed.

For example, say you have a synthesizer that is usually connected to two channels of your mixing board, but occassionaly want to patch it to a different board for auditioning. Connected through the patchbay, you can choose how the signal will (or will not be) routed when you patch the cables in. It can interrupt the synth from going to the main mixer entirely, or bridge the signal to both the main and sub-mixers. That's just a small example...there are many more ways of routing signals, and it's about as easy as it gets with this patchbay.

I mounted my Ultrapatch under a drawer in my rack, so if I ever need to change the switches or cabling in the back of the unit I can just remove the drawer to get to them. If you're better at cabling than I am and know exactly what you're doing, you probably won't have to worry about it at all once you've got everything set-up.

I have a home studio, and usually only run one or two tracks at a time (but I'm able to handle up to six when need be). I never knew how much I needed a patchbay until I actually got one, and I'm glad I chose the Ultrapatch. Granted, I haven't tried any others...but that's the beauty. I haven't NEEDED any others.

- Heather Haze

Quality:
Nonexistant!

Value:
Tear your money in half, throw it backwards over your shoulders, and slap yourself in the face. Same result, just quicker.

Desirability:
I want it like a barbed wire enema.

Sound:
This thing has more pops and crackles than a room full of Rice Krispys. I finally tore it apart. I've never seen such garbage. Simply by moving a patch cord I could see the individual switch contacts making and breaking. Poor design. Poor concept. Poor execution. If you buy Behringer you WILL cry.

Support:
Nonexistant!

Overall:
Useless. Takes up space.