I didn't pay that much even though I got it from Amazon - I paid $59 for mine. :/
 
You can probably find it cheaper elsewhere or get one used.
 
I chose it because I wanted an affordable passive volume attenuator - those that use active circuitry mess with the signal more.
 
If you use the headphone out, definitely consider your gain staging...
 

ah no sorry, for the passive volume control in the link. The Avantone is pricey, but you only need one. :)

YMMV, but I will never put Behringer gear in the critical path of my audio again (I had the Truths in the past, and some miscellaneous rack gear).
 
However, I DO get the need to budget. 

Does any know the difference between a the Passive or Active Avantone mixing Cube?  Is there an advantage either way?  From researching the Passive cube cost more.  Thanks

fret_man
I think you're seeing 2 passive cubes cost more than 1 active cube. Check the fine print. The disadvantage of the passive cube is that you'll need an external amplifier for it. The disadvantage of the active cube is that you're paying for an amp whether you need one or not. I'll be getting an active cube since my other monitors are active and I have no amp available.

Thank you

Jeff Evans
The single speaker is much better than switching your monitors into mono for sure.  Something like the Avantone mentioned here is really great.  The small speaker down at low volume is very revealing.  Once you get your mix sounding nice on that it will sound great up loud in stereo on your main speakers.
 
I prefer to set the panning and get the stereo image setup before going into mono not the other way around. You will find that panned tracks are still audible in mono but you may just tweak them a little so they are still clear. Then they satisfy the mono speaker and up in stereo on your mains you will find they have not changed much.
 
You still need your main speakers up loud for checking bass end and reverb levels though. The small speaker does not give you that information so well.
 
I spend most of my time on the small mono speaker. Not the other way around.
 
There is usually a stereo headphone output somewhere that will be carrying your main mix in stereo not being used and it will be great for this job.  Sum the outputs properly though through two resistors is better than shorting L and R together.  (or some cheap passive mixer) That is not so smart because you are loading down one side with the low output impedance from the other side. You might get distortion doing it that way.
 
 

Hey Jeff, 
I just sent all my tracks to a new bus. I put the bus into mono and then panned it to one side. Is this not exactly the same as mixing in mono to one speaker? I can't find a reason it would not be. 
This means I can use my system without adding a power driven mono speaker to check mono mixes.
Am I missing something?
 
TIA
Jimmy

Hey Jimmy. Yes that will work for sure. I just like the concept of driving a quite small speaker that is bandwidth constricted. A small 3" to 4" speaker with no bass end or high end to speak of just naturally emphasises the mid range rather well so you start hearing other things that maybe the bottom end and the high end might distract you from. Also being a different speaker too means you are comparing your mix on another speaker all together which is never a bad thing.
 
Nothing to stop you from putting an EQ over your mono buss either and simulate the effect. Create a band pass filter from say 200 Hz to 5Khz or so.  Keep the volume down low too because that seems to bring out things like vocal levels against the music and also the snare will often suddenly stand out too.
 
Having a separate speaker and also on a separate control means it is very easy to just turn one control down and your stereo mains are gone and then another control is turned up and I am hearing the small mono speaker directly in front of me with the L+R mix already done. I have got it on my table right in the middle facing up towards me on a little stand I made.

Jimmy if I had that Behringer monitor speaker lying around I think I would give it a shot as well.  For a couple of reasons. Firstly it is a different speaker and therefore a different sound.
 
The other good thing is you can actually mix Left and Right channels in through the two inputs there.  It means you can feed it from a headphone out on your interface etc.  As you have two headphone outs I am sure you could spare one for the mono monitor.
 
All you need is a TRS to two TS leads and run them into inputs 1 and 2.  Or a TRS lead to two RCA's and use input control 3 for that CD input.
 
The fact there is some EQ is also handy.  Leave the mids at 12 O'Clock but try setting Lo and Hi to say 9 O'Clock to roll off some high and low end.  Try and get away from the full range sound.  And yes keep it low as well.  The speaker is a little big but the EQ should make it sound as if it were a bit smaller.  The fact it is powerful is also not bad especially at lowish volume too.  (it means it will never distort!)
 
I have got one of those old Boss monitors with the two 4" drivers in them and it also makes a good mono mixing speaker too although I dont use it for that but I have tested it and it works quite well in that role too.

Jeff Evans
Jimmy if I had that Behringer monitor speaker lying around I think I would give it a shot as well.  For a couple of reasons. Firstly it is a different speaker and therefore a different sound.
 
The other good thing is you can actually mix Left and Right channels in through the two inputs there.  It means you can feed it from a headphone out on your interface etc.  As you have two headphone outs I am sure you could spare one for the mono monitor.
 
All you need is a TRS to two TS leads and run them into inputs 1 and 2.  Or a TRS lead to two RCA's and use input control 3 for that CD input.
 
The fact there is some EQ is also handy.  Leave the mids at 12 O'Clock but try setting Lo and Hi to say 9 O'Clock to roll off some high and low end.  Try and get away from the full range sound.  And yes keep it low as well.  The speaker is a little big but the EQ should make it sound as if it were a bit smaller.  The fact it is powerful is also not bad especially at lowish volume too.  (it means it will never distort!)
 
I have got one of those old Boss monitors with the two 4" drivers in them and it also makes a good mono mixing speaker too although I dont use it for that but I have tested it and it works quite well in that role too.

Just ran across this older thread!!  I too have an extra single Behringer laying around--- unfortunately, my AI is a Audiofire 4 with only one head phone out, and I don't think I would want to be swapping cables constantly.   I do have a spare Mackie VLZpro(1202) available... what would be the proper connection/hook up with my AI(it has four outs) in order to use it to monitor in mono and also in stereo(might as well be able to monitor that way too)
Thanks,
Freq

Thanks Jeff... I will look into the Console routing options...
Freq

Check the mix through your cell phone. Ok, that's not really as cool.

Double-post

Thanks for the clarification.