BEST 1000 dollar PREAMP

[Warhead]

The A Designs gear gets you real on the tube side of things...it's very clean stuff...hell of a nice box!

War

 

[chessrock]

What really makes me drool in that price bracket are the Old School Audio and/or API stuff. And the John Hardy M-1 is nice.

I guess all the Tapeoper "Indie" guys must be rubbing off on me.

 

[Fletcher]

Looks like I'm going to have to look seriously at the GR, BAE API and Phoenix preamps. Too bad GC doesn't have any units like this.

Gee whiz... you mean you won't find clothes at Wal-Mart that are as interesting as the stuff you'll find at a boutique... go figure. Sorry, but how would this help anything? You could go to a store and check them out side by side with some snotty little prick who has been clerking there for a sum total of 7 weeks raising the gain on the most expensive unit?

Bro, may I humbly suggest that you order them all in, sit down in your studio and work with them... in your place, on your schedule, on your music. You can get every one of those things in like 3 phone calls, delivered to your home or office by a nice man wearing brown shorts.

Seriously, the only way to check this stuff out is in your place, on your music. You're going to get a lovely range of different opinions here, but they're really of little practical substance for your specific application. I threw out the Great River suggestion because it was the one that first came to mind in the $1k budget range... I mean, it should be the first one that comes to my mind, we had a hand in it's design criteria, but the others that have been mentioned, from the API to the BAE [and you might even want to throw the OSA stuff in with that... they're some excellent sounding pre's], they all sound excellent, but they all sound different.

Your requirements aren't my requirements, aren't any other poster on this thread's requirements... they're your requirements, so it behooves you to take the time and energy to explore the possibilities... or not.

Peace.

 

[musical5]

Thanks for all the input everyone. Looks like I'm going to have to look seriously at the GR, BAE API and Phoenix preamps. Too bad GC doesn't have any units like this. I would love to be able to try all three of them out.

Kind of random...anyone had any experience with the Ampex MX-10 tube mixer/preamp? I think they're really old, like 60s.

Heya,


When you get back from Florida, you can hear the Phoenix at my place. In fact Im supposed to take it to another studio in Chandler and listen to it against some API's, an Avalon, and an older focusrite. Maybe we can set it up for you to be around than.

 

[pdlstl]

On the advice of Fletcher (I too was looking at the UA M-610), I have a Great River ME-1NV in transit to me as I write this.

This will give me the Great River, an Avalon M5 and the pres in my Mackie. Although I was wanting a tube pre, I'm going to wait until I can afford the real deal.

Will report on the Great River in a week or so.

BTW, Fletcher, Jay and the other fine folks at Mercenary are fantastic to work with!

 

[EleKtriKaz]

Heya,


When you get back from Florida, you can hear the Phoenix at my place. In fact Im supposed to take it to another studio in Chandler and listen to it against some API's, an Avalon, and an older focusrite. Maybe we can set it up for you to be around than.

Sounds great. That would be quite helpful.

 

[maskedman72]

i have a mp2nv and it kicks ass on everything i put through it. you will not be dissapointed.