D.W. Fearn mic pres.......any thoughts???

[DonGraham]

I've been doing some research on the high(er) end mic pre market for an l upgrade to my digi 002R stock pres.......My current main LDC's are a Nuemann TLM 103 and Groove Tubes GT55.......I was wondering if any of you have experience/opinions( ) on D.W Fearn pres compared to some of the others I have looked at: Neve Portico, Universal Audio 610, Avalon 737.....or any other api, trident or whatever........

The one thing I am not really intersted in is a vintage pre that needs constant maintence and cost $8000.......I would really like to keep the cost under $3000 for 2 channels or $2200 for one channel. (I think the single channel Fearn is about $2400).

It seems most of the mic preamp discussion on the board right now is about low/mid grade products, so any input about these high end pres is appreciated.

[Michael Jones]

I don't have any experience with DW Fern pres.
But I do have 4 channels of Audix 35102's
Think.... API pre meets Neve EQ, with some of the cleanest highest gain you'll hear!
A pair will run you anywhere from $1850 - $2200.
Now, they are vintage, but need no more upkeep than any other piece of rack gear.

I also have 4 channels of API 312 pres.
These are phenomial!
You want to know what your mike REALLY sounds like?
Hook it up to one of these puppies!
Price for a pair?
You'll need a powered rack, and 2 modules.
Probably around $1800, individual modules make the price per channel a little lower.

[Michael Jones]

Here's 8 channels of some pretty high end stuff.... well... high end to me anyway.

[Michael Jones]

Here's a close up of the 35102's.
These are spectacular for the price point, if you can find them.

[SonicAlbert]

That's a nice budget you are working with, but I would stay around $1,700-2,300 for the pair of preamps. The Fearn is no doubt an amazing preamp, but is really overkill for you in my opinion. I say spend about $2,000 on a couple channels of really good preamps, and then put the remaining $1,000 in a stash toward eventually getting yourself a really superb mic.

I own a Grace 201, which I think should be on your list too. Other preamps I suggest you take a look at for around $2,000 or so are the Pendulum MDP-1, TAB Funkenwerk V-78 (if you can get a couple without a long wait--production is very limited right now), Great River MP-2NV, or the Neve Portico you mentioned.

I've read very mixed things about the UA 610. Too many people saying they are using it primarily as a bass DI. I'm also not into the channel strip thing, so I personally would drop the 737 off your list.

The API's are a good suggestion, and in that vein there is the new Purple Audio preamp coming out called the "Biz" that looks very interesting.

http://www.purpleaudio.com/Product/biz.html

The cool thing about the "Biz" or the API's is that you could buy a six space lunchbox, put a couple preamps in it now, and then add a couple eq's and compressors later. Or more preamps. It's flexible, and once you have the lunchbox it doesn't cost that much to add modules now and then as needed.

[Teacher]

get a 2K Mic first!!!!

unless you do a bunch of synth music and even then you can by a DI/Line Input for about 5-600...

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by DonGraham

It seems most of the mic preamp discussion on the board right now is about low/mid grade products, so any input about these high end pres is appreciated.

I got a chance to audition several mid-priced and high end mic pres at a mini "shootout" last year, and the DW Fearn stood out to a lot of us in attendance. Very smooth and professional sounding piece of equipment, there.

[Michael Jones]

OH!!!
I just remembered.

I once had the opportunity to audition the Mellinia Media HV 3D 8 channel mic pre-amp.
They also make a 4 channel version that runs about $2800.
This thing was beautifully transparent! I mean crystal clean - stellar!
You may want to consider it too.

[DonGraham]

Originally Posted by Teacher

get a 2K Mic first!!!!

unless you do a bunch of synth music and even then you can by a DI/Line Input for about 5-600...

I am actually working on ditching the TLM 103 and getting a U87 as we speak........Although, so far the TLM 103 suits my female vocalist nicely.....the mic is "bright (some say harsh)" but the singer has a really warm lower voice......so If the U87 deal falls through..Oh well.....either way I want a kick ass pre!!!!

[donkeystyle]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true

here's those audix pre's michael suggested.

[Dot]

DonGraham, what sort of projects are you working on, and what kind of sound do you want? I'd recommend that you also get into some better mics if you're wanting to get the most out of a high-end preamp.

[DonGraham]

Well, I feel that at some point if I want to expand, I have to start with some piece of high end gear....i already have a couple of decent mics but only the stock pres in my digi002.....So I figured why not make my first high end piece a preamp....hence DW Fearn....etc....etc...


Does anyone know anything about the newer trident pres----~1100 for 2 channels???? just another option..

[Michael Jones]

Originally Posted by donkeystyle

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true

here's those audix pre's michael suggested.

Those are the ones!

Kind of a funky rack though.