Best Drum Machines · head-to-head

Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic is cheaper at $89. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer or Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic?

On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic is the cheaper at $89.

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Full spec sheet

✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic
US price $229 $89
BrandBehringerTeenage Engineering
Released2022-032017-04
Sound engine Analog 808-style synthesis with a custom-cloned BA662/V662 VCA chip Sonic Charge Microtonic-derived digital drum/percussion synthesis engine (co-developed with Sonic Charge)
Voice count 16 16 sound slots (unlimited additional sounds via Microtonic VST data transfer)
Sequencer steps 64 16
Sample playback No No
Onboard effects Automatable dual-mode filter, Wave Designer sound-shaping 16 real-time performance/parameter effects (beat manipulation and sound distortion)
Output count 11 1 (3.5mm audio I/O) + built-in speaker
Midi support Yes No
Battery powered No Yes
Pad count 0 16

Sources — Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer: thomannmusic.com (verified 2026-08-01). Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic: teenage.engineering (verified 2026-08-01).

What's the difference between the Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer and Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (8 of 9). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Sound engine: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer Analog 808-style synthesis with a custom-cloned BA662/V662 VCA chip vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic Sonic Charge Microtonic-derived digital drum/percussion synthesis engine (co-developed with Sonic Charge)
  • Voice count: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer 16 vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic 16 sound slots (unlimited additional sounds via Microtonic VST data transfer)
  • Sequencer steps: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer 64 vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic 16
  • Onboard effects: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer Automatable dual-mode filter, Wave Designer sound-shaping vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic 16 real-time performance/parameter effects (beat manipulation and sound distortion)
  • Output count: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer 11 vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic 1 (3.5mm audio I/O) + built-in speaker
  • Midi support: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer true vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic false
  • Battery powered: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer false vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic true
  • Pad count: Behringer RD-8 MKII Rhythm Designer 0 vs Teenage Engineering PO-32 tonic 16

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