XDR's or Behringer T1953

[pdlstl]

I currently have no pre's other than the XDR's in my Mackie.

Would the Behringer T1953 be a step up or should I stay with what I have?

I record strictly acoustic audio.

Thanks,

Earl

[Massive Master]

I hate to sound "typical" - Buy the Behringer (make sure you can return it if you don't like it), try it out on a few things and let your ears decide.

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com

[SonicAlbert]

The Behringer is going to be a step sideways or down. Don't spend the money until you have enough to buy something that is a noticable improvement, i.e. a couple classes up from the Mackie XDR's.

[Toy Room]

With the Behringer, replace the exsisting 12ax7 tube with an AU and you will be amazed at how well this cheap pre can actually sound!

Same trick applies to the ultra cheap Aphex 460 tube condenser mic. Replace the tube and you have an amazing microphone!

[pdlstl]

Really? This is something I wasn't aware of.

Can you elaborate a little? Have you done this?

Thanks,

Earl

[Toy Room]

different tubes have differnet natural sonic characteristics

these mods were both told to me by studio owners here in vancouver and I have done them both. The aphex 460 mic has beaten out an M149 on certain vocals using an AU tube in place of the AX it ships with (warmer and cleaner) and please dont get me wrong, the m149 still wins hands down 90% of the time but the other ten, it is usually beat by this cheap ass mic

the behringer pre is a unit i used to own (and now kiking myself for getting rid of it) and another unit that can benefit from a tube change. In my use, I always kept the AX around for when I wanted a slightly grittier or overdriven sound.

Get one. You cant go wrong. Take it a step further than I did and try a bunch of different tubes in it and see which would suit different applications :-)

[Drummer4Life05]

Intresting there, Toy Room.

I have a question about tubes. Are they all the same size? And is there a website/resource where one can find out about the different types of tubes and what the specs mean?

[pdlstl]

Toy - I've done some googlin' since reading your first post and have a question.

I've discovered that there many manufacturers. Telefunken, Mullard, Amperex, GE, RCA, etc. Do your people recommend one brand over the others?

Drummer4life05 - Do a quick Google search. Tons o' stuff out there.

Thanks,

Earl

[Drummer4Life05]

Thanks Earl.
Shoulda thought of that myself.

[Toy Room]

OH-OH!!!!


I am about as technically smart as the telephone pole outside my window! Your best resource for information is to find out who the other studio owners are in your area and talk to them and their techs. Find out the little tricks and try them to see if they benefit you! I have learned a great deal of little tricks from a lot of different people here and not all of them have worked for me. To the best of my knowledge, most tubes as used in this regard are of the same size and pin configuration. Different manufacturers and even different locations of manufacture can impact the tonal quality of any particular tube. The only option there is to try a few a see which sounds the way you want it to.

Am I spewing off at the mouth a little too much?? :-)

Cheers!

[pdlstl]

Toy,

No, no, everything is cool!

What you've done is set me off on path I'd never thought about.

I was able to pick up a used T1953 off eBay about an hour ago for $107 and am bidding on some higher-end NOS 12AU7's. I love the way these tubes are described. "crystal-clear highs and solid, punchy lows".

I'm guessing some of these tubes (mostly from Great Britain, Germany and Holland) were originally used in audiophile quality hi-fi systems.

Heck I believe I've found a new hobby! Just for the record, I also just ordered a UA M610 tube pre so I think I'll be alright even if the T1953 doesn't work out. Will definitely keep you updated.

Thanks!

Earl