Behringer Spring Reverb 646

A Legend of Springs, Updated for Today

The Spring Reverberation 646 follows the great tradition of 1960s spring reverbs, prized for their immediate depth and "three-dimensional" character. Behringer aims here for an authentic recreation of the Grampian Type 646 unit, a classic associated with both rock and experimental uses, notably by Pete Townshend and Lee "Scratch" Perry. The idea is simple: to recapture that inimitable vintage halo without digital emulation, in a format easier to integrate into a current setup.

Who Is the Spring Reverberation 646 For?

This spring reverb is aimed at musicians and producers seeking a characterful analog reverb: guitarists looking for surf, 60s/70s rock, blues, garage atmospheres, as well as keyboardists and texture creators who enjoy physical and unpredictable effects. In the studio, it instantly adds character to a take that's a bit too "dry"; live, it becomes a strong color to integrate into a pedalboard, a compact rack, or a modular system, with a dynamic behavior very responsive to playing.

Controls, Routing, and Integration (Eurorack, Mute, Levels)

The 646 keeps it straightforward: an analog spring reverb path, a wet/dry mix control to adjust the effect's intensity, and a total decay time of about 2 seconds to stay within classic spring reverb sound ranges. On the input side, you have real choices depending on your sources: balanced and unbalanced microphone inputs with level adjustment via the mic channel, plus high and low-level auxiliary inputs to adapt gain for guitar, keyboard, or line sources. The overdrive circuit adds analog saturation upstream to thicken the signal before it's "sent into the springs." Finally, a remote switch input allows muting the reverb path, handy for switching from a dry sound to an ambient sound without touching the controls.

The Sound

Expect a colored, vibrant, and very musical reverb, with a slightly "splashy" attack and a decay that adds air without becoming smooth like a digital reverb. The two springs provide a sense of movement, natural complexity, and a response that follows playing nuances: the more you drive the input (or overdrive), the thicker and denser the reverb seems. And like any mechanical spring reverb, it can also produce the famous spring effect if the unit is bumped-a typical behavior, both charming and something to tame depending on your use.

Technical specifications

Effects	Reverb	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Desktop	Color	Grey

Balanced Microphone x 2	25 ohms, 20 microvolts sensitivity	Reverb delay	29 - 37 ms nominal
Unbalanced Microphone x 2	25 ohms, 20 microvolts sensitivity	Reverb time	2 seconds at 300 Hz
High-Level Auxiliary x 2	1 megaohm, 500 millivolts sensitivity	Reverb response +/-3 dB	100 Hz - 6 kHz
Low-Level Auxiliary x 2	50 kiloohms, 10 millivolts sensitivity	Dimensions	373.7 x 135.6 x 86.4 mm
Frequency response +/-2 dB	35 Hz - 20 kHz	Weight	1.58 kg