what preamp would you put before a dbx 160 for vocals?

[earworm]

i'd like to get me a dbx 160 , to see how it works on vocals,
but then i'd like to plug my mic (akg c414) into a 'nice' preamp,
i was looking for just a preamp, without eq or compression
and it kinda seems like the Maudio tampa might be a good choice...
or what else would you throw 'in front' of a 160 ?
i'm mostly recording hiphop, punk, metal, all underground stuff,
so a little bit of agression and color wont scare me

i mainly record vocals trough a joemeek vc8 (which is actually a guitar preamp) , now i'm comparing it with my symetrix 528 which i find more tweakable, has better eq, but does sound a bit dirty i think...

my next test would be:

some preamp ... dbx 160 (or 160x) ... and then some eq

i've never recorded vocals 'clean', without tweaking with eq's later on,
i'm still looking around for something that i like "as it is", something that sounds ok without tweaking the hell out of it... so what preamp compliments the 160?

thanks

[xfinsterx]

Go pick up a portico.
Or maybe a great river?
Or how bout a RNP?
Ive heard the sebatron dosent do a bad job.

Best of luck.

-Finster

[Middleman]

I've used a DMP3 and a Voicemaster Pro then into the DBX 160x. Results were very good.

When my Portico shows up, then I can tell you how that sounds.

[earworm]

i'm also looking at the dmp3,
but what about the tampa, i heard lots of people say the compressor is real nice, maybe if i get that machine i wouldn't need a 160 anymore...
which would be too bad cause i sure want to test it!!

[Rhamett]

i have DBX160 and a sebatron2000e. even with a re-20 EV female vocals is very smmothe and beautifull . i only use around 10to1 on ratio but driven hard with the seb so gain makeup is not really needed by the dbx.this makes the vocal chain very quiet and a bit of color. good for bass too.