Behringer RD-8 MKII vs. MKI (+ Roland TR-08) | The Ultimate Comparison
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- čas přidán 23. 06. 2024
- This is our ultimate comparison between the new Behringer RD-8 MKII and its predecessor MKI (as well as Roland's TR-08). Does it sound that much different? Is it really worth the upgrade? Let's find out.
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Featured drum patterns - transcriptions available on Patreon:
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing
Alexander Robotnick - Problèmes D'Amour
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock
Skinny Puppy - Dig It
Gear used:
Behringer RD-8 MKII
Behringer RD-8 MKI
Roland TR-08
Behringer HD300 Heavy Distortion
Table of contents:
0:00 Introduction
0:26 Build Quality
1:15 Sounds (vs. MKI)
5:11 Example Patterns (vs. MKI)
7:33 Example Patterns (vs. TR-08)
9:30 Noise (vs. MKI)
10:16 So?
11:22 End Jam
Produced by Jean-Claude Dirckx and Sophie Hoppstädter - Hudba
JUSTICE OUTRO!!! Loved it!!!
Nice video! I was waiting for it!
Great taste in patterns! Love that beat from "Dig It", much love for Skinny Puppy!
Thanks! A lot of recommendations for patterns actually come from our Patrons, which is how I got introduced to Skinny Puppy. I look forward to transcribing some of their 909 patterns soon :)
@@CaptainPikant they have quite a breadth of good 909 patterns, especially on their first EP "Remission"
Remission and Bites are both great
Thank all of you for giving skinny puppy the props they deserve!🙏 riverheads for life!🎹🎧💀💫😵👌👍BrAp oN!!¡!✋✌
AAAAH BRO! THAT WAS JUST MAGIC! Love your productions. Am so happy to have my mk 1. Thanks for the re-assurance.
Captain Pikant always puts serious effort in to his videos.
What a splendid chap.
Thank you for this! I was so torn when the MKII came out, as a MKI owner, happy to say that I am still pleased with my MKI even after the side by side. It hits all the right notes for me.
Thank you for your detailed and thorough content. Very well presented and informative!
Impeccable work as always
This video is sooo well done!
Very good comparison and animation. Felt flattered to see my name in the end credits. Great end tune too!
rimzilla! :D just discovered your channel, great work! fresh new approach and great narration and clear and not overdosed info
At last the comparison that we were all waiting for, thank you! By the way, I was the one that coined the term “Rimzilla” on GearSlutz ;-) I ended up returning it and getting a revised mark 1 which from the sounds of this video I’ll be keeping. If you feel like fixing your Rimzilla yourself, Maffez has some mods on his page.
Hey Allotropes, great to see you here :) I'm aware of Maffez' mods (we mentioned his page in the RD-6 review), but I'm not sure I'm ready to open my RD-8 up yet. But as soon as the warranty is gone, it's fair game ;)
Crazy how those minor changes improve the feel of the groove. Most noticeable on the Skinny Puppy and Afrika Bambaataa rhythms, most prominently down to the cowbell length, but the whole image feels tighter.
The TR-08 is massively shown up in this comparison also. Behringer has outclassed Roland here by faithfully capturing the magic of the 808. Hats off.
hmmm the RD sounds fatter yes, but the tuning of the HH on the TR is closer to the original.. and both still kinda sound choked compared to the 808, but that could be the mixer or output stage.. maybe if all separate outs would go to a mixer.
@@tanzkatzencope.
@@auralplex Why cope? that's the way to run an 808 as well and I'm probably unfairly comparing it against that sound, if you'd spread these out over the the table they'd be great as well?
@@tanzkatzen just messing around lol. Like if someone says something very reasonable and then I say "cope," it's kinda funny.
i disagree. the Roland sounds better
Fantastic video thank you, I have to say the MK1 / MKII comparison was so well done with the video editing. Really appreciate the effort this must have taken to create. Well done sir.
Many thanks. Great comparison
Great vid! Love that little totoro! I'll be grabbing the mk2
Wow thank you, your video is the best so far on CZcams. Love it 💗💙💜❤💛💚
I'm madly in love with my MK1, it's become the percussion centerpiece for my house tracks, industrial and EBM jams, the sound of my individual unit feels like an analog fingerprint. I like that they're constantly fiddling and updating these units, but truthfully it feels like with any of these analog machines, old or remake, each unit's gonna have its own appeal. I'm really glad you did this video, because there's been just a tiny bit of anxiety about whether my precious lil buddy was in need of replacement. Sentimentality aside, listening to these side by side makes me actually super glad I snagged a MK1 when I did, and I wonder how many people coming to this video will be hunting for a white-key 808 now. Thanks again
Wow, we're really happy the video was so useful to you! I came to the same conclusion ;)
I love how I got slightly more excited for more noise on the MK1.....well that plays right into my industrial jams
@@Trig242 😂 The hum is roughly a G2, if that helps :)
I prefer the snare and clap of the mkl myself. The deeper tone of the rim is also to my preference. I don’t think I’d feel bad owning either.
Mk1 sounds better
Thanks for the comparison! I have the mk 1 and was planning on getting rid of it and buying the mk ii. But the snappy Snare noise, longer cowbell, and ability to record a clap without reverb before the circuit warms up is awesome. I will be keeping the 1 and getting the II soon 😎
i missed the boat on the MK1 so i snagged the MKII as soon as it was back in stock on sweetwater. Very pleased with it so far and can't wait to get my hands on the RD-9 as well. If it weren't for your videos on these drum machines, i wouldn't have been aware of their existence! Very helpful and insightful when in the market for some hardware
Why do you want the RD-9 too? Will the RD-8 not do everything you want?🤔
@@jessihawkins9116 the RD-9 has sounds that serve really well on certain tracks, for example, the hi-hat is one of my favorites. Same for the RD-8. I think it's ideal to have both for that reason.
In a live performance setting where i'd strictly be using hardware (and maybe only a laptop for recording and adding certain effects), having both means more possibilities in sounds and patterns
Fantastic work as always Captain!
Warm Regards,
Digital Ruler
Thumbs up for the justice cover at the end. Underrated album Imo
Loved the On'n'On - Justice outro!!!
Wow! I did not expect differences this big.
there isn't if your music already sucks
Nice outro!
First of all I wanted to say excellent comparison. I really love that you switched back and forth very quickly because as you probably know, the human memory of actual sound is incredibly short. So I thank you for a proper A/B. Also you made me laugh a number of times and since I'm mostly a robot it's very hard to do but you did not fail. And lastly I have to say the clap on your MKII just didn't do it for me. It was too high in pitch and sounded tiny. But that of course is my robot opinion. Also love that you included Mr Robotnik. We're cousins.
Thanks Russ! I'm really glad you recommended Alexander Robotnik to us, we already made an end jam out it for the distortion pedal episode :) 🤖
Skinny puppy!? Wow, instant sub. Nice comparison.
The only thing I can complain about this channel its not have enough videos for me
That outro was SICK
excellent. thank you so much
Thank you for this video. I just bought an used RD-8 Mk1 for a good price, but, without any research I just tghout the mk2 would be substancial diferent, mainly in the sound circuits, and I would be loossing something, but not at all. Not to much to be worried about. Alghout, the noise floor it's a a very nice upgrade, but I guess I will have to live with it , because I am keeping it as it is
Holyshit!!!! Ultra mad props👌 for giving skinny puppy's "dig it" a demonstration in the gear demo.. Hugely grateful🙏 rivet heads for life!!!!🎹🎧💀💫😵👌😎👍BrAp oN!!¡!✋✌
CBD may help you
Instant like for including Skinny Puppy
This video convinced me to buy the RD-8 MKII. I used to own an OG 808 for about 10 years. I sold it because I cashed in on these ridiculous vintage bubble prices. Behringer fixed all the little things that were bugging me in the MKI. The kick now has that proper full punch and harmonic richness that my OG had. The snare is snappier now and the clap is the proper pitch and tone... among the other changes. I just wish Behringer included a switch to choose between the early 808 snare and the later one.
I'm spoiled because I had the real deal for so long, so those MKI differences bothered me. But honestly, in the grand scheme of things, both machines will get the job done. But you want to be nerdy about it, the MKII really does nail that OG 808 vibe. I'm impressed!
excellent review. it looks exactly like the boss rc-505 update, the mk2 being not really worth the money from the mk1. subbed the channel, thanks!
There might be potentiometers inside that allow you to tweak things further. There is one inside the RD 6 for the snare. If you take good measurements, you can drill a hole inside the back cover of the RD 6 and then easily adjust it with a non-metallic screwdriver to make your snare harder or softer.
Ok buddy
Thanks for the great comparison.
I’ll keep my TR-6S ;)
It almost seems worth buying them both. They both have their own charm. I prefer different sounds from each. The best part, is you can buy them both, and still save over $5k. I love Behringer for what they do. I only own a Model D, but I'll more than likely buy more Behringer gear. I'm waiting for the UB-Xa. Unless I end up coming into more money than I currently have, and can afford an OB-X8. Hopefully I'll be able to afford one someday, but for now, I'm waiting for Behringer to release theirs.
Nice comparison thanks Captain P. Think i'll be fine with sticking with the MK1 for now (and instead go for the RD-9 hubba hubba)
Nice ;)
One big advantage the Roland TR-08 has over the Behringer is the footprint. I don't have a lot of space in my studio, so I love its size. (I don't own one yet, I have the Roland TR-06 which suits me just fine - for now)
That's true. I find myself reaching for the TR-08 very often simply because it's battery powered and has an internal speaker. Plus you don't have to tidy up the desk first ;)
Small footprint is definitely a plus.
I wish Behringer would have gone with a size similar to the Crave.
But the Roland's are digital and the difference definitely comes through even on small speakers.(I have no problem with digital anything in fact I love them equally).
I have a few analog drum machines (Dr 55, Dr 100, Simmons sds8) and the analog sound is distinct.
But my favorite of them all is the UNO Drum... it's a small analog/digital hybrid. With 12 sounds 6 analog 6 PCM. It actually has about 55 or so PCM drum sounds to choose from, and through their software you can swap them out for other KITS they offer (free) from their legacy collection that includes Roland and other fairly obscure drum machines.
The analog sounds, sound superb and have basic tuning options as well as built in comp and drive (both analog) with line in.
It's not perfect though. Outputs are extremely limited and many people claim a noisy output (seems related to how it's powered) but it's definitely there regardless.
bigger is better...gear and women
@@fortheloveofnoise9298 Actually, I'm gay, but this applies to men too.
I don't buy the tiny stuff
The separate outs on the Behringer make it the better choice over the Roland TR-08 for me. I've actually owned two vintage TR-808s over the last twenty years, and they sounded quite different to each other. That difference may have been down to any revisions Roland made during the production run, but it could also have been down to components ageing differently depending on how much use each machine had seen before I acquired them. (Before anyone accuses me of hoarding vintage TR-808s, I no longer own either of them!)
Today every 808 sounds diffrent beacuse its analog machine and resistors with tolerance 20% and TR 08 dosen't have "Multi out" beacuse its using ABC technology (computer simulate analog circuits behavior)
That is maybe why you hate it or love it.
@@JanKowalski-vh1rg Are you sure about the 20% tolerance? In the schematics in the 808 service manual you'll see resistor values from the E12 (or E24) series which suggests at least 10% tolerance ones were (also) used.
@@bigredracingteam9642 Maybe but still its 40 years old gear
Yeah the looooong trail on the MKII clap sucks, the snare is better on the first one, and I think I prefer the bassdrum on the MKI. The MKII kick has a great tail, and a warmer tone, but the initial attack transient has a weird, subtle stutter which drives me nuts. It's also subdued after the attack, which gives it a strange curve. The MKI BD Is clearer, the attack is a snappy ping, the body is very round and bouncy. I initially thought I preferred the MKII bass drum, but the more I compare them the more it annoys me. It actually sounds almost like a cross between an 808 and 909 bassdrum.
IMO the big improvement is the sounds of the toms and clave.
I m happy with my two Rimzilla's i just adjusted the noise trimmer inside for the snaresound .
MK I sounds like TR-808. I have Roland TR-808.
Thank you for this. My MK1 bit the dust and since I didn't register, Behringer won't cover it. So that sour experience had me leaning towards the TR-08 but after hearing the comparison; nnnoooooo.......
One problem with the MK-I ist phase inversion of single istrument outs and main out. Additionally in my specimen the dry signal considerably bleeds through the additional filter which is a pity - since I like the tuning of the MK-I better. Great video! Thanks a lot :)
I want to learn how to make beats so bad but I'm only 14 and broke maybe next year when I get a job I can start practicing,until then I'll take notes from your videos
A lot of us started making electronic music when we were 14 and broke. Start by getting whatever cheap or free instruments you can find, it’s more fun that just spending a ton of money on gear and will result in a more unique sound.
Really nice end jam! What gear was used? Thank you
Except for the RD-8 MKII, everything was done inside of the box. A lot of it are TAL U-No-LX-V2 synths and Valhalla reverbs :)
sehr gut
I was going to buy the mk2 last month but was skeptical due to the fact that I really wanted and needed to know the difference between the previous model; which I had previously watched your video and ultimately put me into this purchasing conundrum as you really showcased why it's such a great machine.
I'm sure when I start and finish watching this video you will have inadvertently led me to make the correct/appropriate choice in making said purchase. thanks for all that you do. ❤
Love ur reviews - very honest and in depth.
Would you consider the Drumbrute for review?
Thanks! The DrumBrute Impact is one of my favourite drum machines, but I don't know if we have the time to review it :)
@@CaptainPikant Thanks for the opinion!
What do you use to really make the rd8 pop? When i mix in my tascam it's never so loud and bright.
Nice, for one the rd-8 sounds more airy than the tr-08 which sounds a bit muffled by comparision. And the mk2 sounds a bit more muffled than the mk1. Think i prefer the mk1 sounds
thanks brother im get one of these i think i gonna be the roland as it sounds crisper
such lovely hands
I think in MKII the overall "mix" is better, it sound's tighter and instruments are clearer
TR-08 is harsher, more bright
The other way around for me ,MK 1 has more lift in the patterns , MK2 sounds like a MK1 with a depression😅
@@cnfuzz I'll have to take a second listen :)
@@cnfuzz Hahah well now when I listened MKI sounded better :D More old school sound
Thank you for the excellent video.
How can I buy your cheat sheets for the synth please?
Your videos are so clear and concise.
Thanks Peter! You can find all our Cheat Sheets on our Patreon, the link is in the video description :)
You know Skinny Puppy's Dig It ! Niiiiice !
Yeah one of our patrons introduced me to them :)
As an owner of neither, to me Mk2 sounds tighter, the swing is more engaging, kick leaves a stronger impression/ more punchy
Much like the Mk1 more as it is raw like the old one i had once. The BD on some original TR's weren't that low and needed loads of post processing.
Amazing tutorial as always. I recently bought the RD-8, I noticed the output level is very low even with the pots all the way up (about -20db), is this normal?
Thanks! The output level shouldn't be that low, with all pots on maximum you should easily be able to clip the inputs of your audio interface.
I have the Mk 1 and remain pretty pleased with it. The core sound is good enough. We are talking about nuances here in comparison with the mk2. After putting the mk1 through a compressor and or something like Elektron’s analog heat, for example, it ceases to make sense comparing fractional details. Unless of course you’re a complete anorak.
For me it will be Kick MK2 , Snare Tr-08 , Toms/Congas MK2 , Clave MK2 , Rimshot MK1 , Clap MK1 , Cowbell MK1 , Cymbal I DONT USE THEM 😂 , Hats MK2 ( Tr-08 Hats are from a VST, right? 😅) , so in the end I will stick with my TR-8S to have ALL this! Great vid BTW 😉Thx
I heard the color change was due to a copyright scare from Roland. Not sure if there's any confirmation, but it would explain the sudden random color change.
I would fit the volca beat in these comparison as well, with the separate output mod, it has been, for quite some time, the best 808 alternative on the market. Price wise, it's unbeatable. The Rd-08 mkI second hand price has gone down significantly, whilst the Tr-08 is still on the far edge, more expensive than the MkII. The Tr08 hats sounds higher in every song comparison, better, crispy and clear sound to me, but it seems the Rd-08 hats tone could go up a little more??
gud job ☺️
great vid and analysis. I have a TR-8s and am constantly wondering if getting the RD-8 will give me more "analog" feel. anyone out there has any experience in that?
I have two vintage TR808s, a Behringer RD-8 mki, and a Roland TR-8S. Vintage TR808s aside, the RD-8 definitely has a more analog sound and feel compared to the TR-8S. The RD-8 is very close to a vintage Roland TR808 soundwise. It's darn near spot on give or take differences in calibration between machines. Also, my two vintage TR808s don't sound exactly alike either. There are definitely some substantial noticeable differences between the two 808s, especially with the snare and hihats. With that said, all of these machines sound very good, but in their own way.
My main observation is the Roland sounds terrible when compared to the Behringers. Such a shame. Nice comparison thanks for the hard work!
Great comparison.
I own a mk1 and ordered a mk2, just to compare like you did. ( I thought I will keep the mk2)
To my ears, I liked the mk1 more and, fun fact, on the single outs I had more noise on the mk2.
Got the MKII. Will most likely replace my euro trigger sequencers for just this. I really prefer the Behringer to the Roland. Hats sound really off on the Roland
Great video, have you done any videos on making drums more humanised, with techniques like, unquantized, shuffle, LFOs, velocity, etc....
Funny you should ask, we're in the process of making this exact video 😄
@@CaptainPikant Can’t wait 👌
Hi there, I can't find anywhere online regarding the boot button next to USB input on the MK2. The button is gone now? Mine certainly is and now I'm not sure how to update firmware on my MK2.
I don't think you need that boot button anymore. If I remember correctly it was only used on firmware versions before 2.0, everything after that can be updated with the Synthtribe app.
I’d just get both, and the Tr-08.
I’m no gear snob, and to me it’s like you can have multiple guitars that have just slightly different sounds, and each one has its purpose, and everyone seems to understand.
So even if they’re all separate remakes of the same drum machine, since each has its own slightly different sound and look from eachother, they’re all worth having,
Cause each sound might find its way in a totally different song...
The question is, will you need 3 variations of the same sound,
And the answer is, yeah maybe... probably..
I see a Captain Pikant notification, I click watch. Simple
Thank you for your service ❤
Tbh the dry clap has always been a reason i didn't want to sell my mkI. prob buy this one as well as the rd-9.
It would be interesting to test 2 MK2 units side by side. Being analog they may also sound slightly different . I think that any 2 analog unit will also sound slightly different
I have the MkII and a yocto V2, that's all you would ever need as far as 808 goes.
Some of these changes may not be MkI to MkII, but simply individual differences from unit to unit. The pitches definitely. The kick decay and rimshot volume, probably not.
Absolutely! Sadly we don't have any more RD-8s lying around to test this, but it's safe to assume that there are small differences from unit to unit :)
They always say no 2 TR-808s sounded alike either!
@@Trig242 Yeah, I got two different 909 owners send in recordings of their 909's to compare with mine and an RD-9, and yes, the differences between the 909's are bigger than the difference between my 909 and the RD-9. :-)
I made a video about that.
yap...there might also be a difference between the "rimzilla" mk1 and the later version of the mk1 (which i own).
What's a model of drum machine out there that has realistic drum sounds, especially snare?
IMO they ruined the clap in the mkII
Yeah, I have to say I prefer the lower MKI clap with less decay...
No. I think the clap on the mkII is much improved. I just wish it was pitched the same as the Mkl.
The color scheme of those first four step keys on the MK II would absolutely drive me bonkers, over and above any sound difference
lol I agree, I just got an MK2 because the sounds were improved but really wish they didn't change those keys to black... almost made me want to pick the MK1 just for the brighter keys as silly as that sounds...
You played problems. Such an underrated song these days.
Can the black buttons be replaced with white ones?
I've owned just about every 808 clone at this point. I sold every one but the rd8 MK1. I never thought about mine being rimzilla. I guess it is. I would imagine if I could afford ( or wanted to spend that kind of money) a actual 808, it would likely have some kind of quirk as well. I just make music and try not to get caught up. I absolutely lobe my rd8 more so than the Miami I had before it. Thanks for the video. I prefer the sound of the MK1 to the MK2. It seems every instrument on the MK1 goes together better. The Mk2 sounds like some of them are out of place. Like the snare and cowbell.
i feel the same way
The Mk2 sounds more balanced when playing full patterns. Behringer did a great job there, it sounds amazing!
Superb video , the totally messed up the Clap and cowbell on the 2 , but the rest in MK2 seems better or equal .... strange choice for the clap , my main concern
You're totally right about a pitch control on the clap ;)
By the way the comparaison with the roland is way off since you didn't tuned for exemple the HH on the roland to match the MK2 .... pretty everything can be tuned in the Roland ...
Thanks! We actually did tune everything on the Roland to get everything as close as possible, but you can't get them to sound alike. There's apparently more to it than a simple pitch adjustment.
I own a real TR-808 and don't feel that they 'messed up the clap and cowbell' on the MKII. The cowbell does sound slightly closer to the MKI on my TR-808, but it's not 'way off' on the MKII either. The clap on the MKII does sound quite close to my TR-808. The pitch is perfect (it was too low on the MKI) although the 'reverb trail' is somewhere between the MKI and MKII on my TR-808. The clap on both actually do sound better than the TR-08, which has too much of a 'crackle' in the clap sound. My 808 sounds smoother, more like the RD-8s. The most 'off' to me are actually the hihats. Too dark (but maybe it's better if tuned up a little) and too much 'tone' on the RD-8 compared to my TR-808. The hihats on the TR-08 are even more off though, sounding too piercing and bright.
But I know that different TR-808 units will all sound a bit different, so it really depends on what you're comparing it to. This makes it hard to say which sounds 'more like a TR-808' in general. 😉I do still think the RD-8s are much better sounding than the Roland TR-08 though.
I’d love a comparison with the Acidlab drumatix..I tried one in a store and I really liked the sound and I prefer the 606 over the 808 for hats and snare.. just that wimpy kick drives me nuts. I’ve ruled the Roland variants out because of the micro usb power.
I'd really like to get my hands on an Acidlab machine, but the manufacturer appears to be out of business now :(
@@CaptainPikant probably chased from the market with the B onslaught
Honestly I feel like more could have been done to call it a mark 2 upgrade, they could have added some heavier new features, like a decay knob on the cowbell would be cool, or an ability to live record pitch change to the kick since 808 kicks are notoriously known for the long bass like draw that's so often used with fake 808 sounds in daws and on like every post 2000s rap song ever lol. It'd be cool to be able to automate it on the actual 808 machine
In my opinion I do like the black, on the first 4, even though it doesn't blend as well, it does show the divide between 1 through 4 and 5 through 8 better
I agree, pitch automation on the kick would have been a killer feature!
Could you make a comparision of drumbrute impact / pros and cons type of video please
Hi Yusuf, thanks for the suggestion! We'd love to try a new compact format with pros and cons in addition to full length reviews, so we put it on our idea list :)
I have an Analog Rytm Mk2, so I'm not in the business for the Behringer machines. But the Mk2 RD-8 is a winner for the improved claps alone. Shame they missed the opportunity to give the cowbell tune and decay knobs. Oh, and the TR-08 has the far punchier kick, so I'd go for that in a hearbeat. ;)
The pitch range variations are likely just something to do with the manufacturing tolerances of the potentiometers.
They should keep upgrading the firmware, I feel it would make more of a difference than having a mkII.
You are wrong in regards to the clap capacitor on the mk2 it occasionally does need to charge up, on mine anyway after 1 or 2 hits.
Ours just had to charge up only once after turning it on and it didn't lose its charge over the session, hence "no longer an issue" :) But I'm curious to see how that evolves over time because I remember that the MKI didn't need that many triggers to charge up when I first got it...
Happy with my MK1, clap is better in my opinion and I dont need a very long decay on the kick.
Dig it dig it
To my ears the Behringer sounds much better than the Roland. It sounds more dynamic whereas the Roland sounds quite flat.
Wow. they did a great job with the mkII it sounds better! I like it better than the Roland as well.
Yeah the Roland sounds weedy & not analog
I use a RD-8 MK1 and like it. But it always kills my Genelec studio monitor (it start to crackle after a while) even on low volume. I guess that is the frequency of the the kick drum my studio monitor dislike. Has someone the same problem?
It's interesting. I have a real TR-808 and comparing the MKI vs MKII with my 808 it's a bit of a mixture which sounds closest. The clap of the MKII sounds identical to my 808. The same goes for the claves. But the Rimshot on the other hand (apart from the volume thing) sounds closer to the MKI. Also the toms are slightly closer to the MKI, but my tuning range is a little different.
The bass drum on my TR-808 actually has a longer maximum decay than even the MKII. The most 'off' to me sounds the hihats, which are higher and 'cleaner' sounding on my TR-808. But the RD-8 hats are still closer than the Roland TR-08 hats are, which sound even more off to me, but in the opposite direction (too bright). 😅
But having heard other TR-808s online, I know there are quite a lot of differences between separate units, which makes comparisons a bit hard in general. I think either Behringer RD-8 is pretty close to 'an' example of a TR-808 without it likely matching any particular unit exactly.
So many people tried to copy the amazing drum pattern on sexual healing. Like Steve Winwood, Higher Love. None were as good!