The value of the DCX is the software programming and the 32 bit DSP. That is worth the $300 all by itself when compared to less configurable, lower resolution, higher priced processors from Rane, dbx, Bryston, Marchand, etc. Everything else inside the box is of questionable quality. Behringer is the cheapest of pro audio brands in price and quality. If everything but the brain is replaced you could build yourself a true high end source. It's a lot of money time and work. But some measure of mods is necessary to all Behringer processors because they have notoriously bad reliability. Usually power supply storage caps fail within 2 years. Easy to fix before or after.
Pro sound in this context just means less refined, less detailed, grainy, harsh, whatever. The stock output stage of the DCX is truly ugly. There is no consideration to sound quality whatsoever, only cost and features and ease of use. Several $0.50 opamps are used for buffering yes, but more are used to accept balanced and unbalanced loads, emphasis on ease of use over sound quality. Available commercial DCX mods do away with the stock output stage at a minimum and then go further to refine PS, clock, etc.
Pro sound means focus on cost, because pro's are trying to make money. Do it with an opamp instead of a discrete circuit and you can lower the cost to compete with other cheapo brands. High end audio means focus is on sound quality for consumers who will pay for the difference. The last 1% improvement will attract some customers who will accept nothing less. Most products fall somewhere in the middle. But Behringer, like Wavac, is closer to an extreme. The low price appeals to young musicians with no money and big dreams, they still need gear.
