Cheapest High-end pre...

  • Thread starter Thread starter JuliánFernández
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I don't believe in making statements that are too broad. My console is full of "chip based pre's" That stood neck and neck with API, OSA, and my Chandler.
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yes that's right. chip based preamps draw less current than discrete versions that's why they use them in most consoles. the more expensive higher end consoles would be discrete and have a large power transformer. output impedances would be low .
 
I used a Lundahl set 1:7 on the input, An API 2503 set 1:3 on the output. Right now I have a melcor 1731 in the opamp slot running at +/- 15 volts (melcor is what API originally used, the API 2520 is a reworking of this design)..I plan on building another and using a John Hardy 990 for a different, cleaner sound..I originally built it on a breadboard but scored some 325 line cards which I wired like 312's (a few jumpers, remove the line stuff from the input side)...all in all not too hard..
I don't like to be too broad but I have yet to see a chip based, transformerless pre that can even approach API, Neve or OSA (GREAT pre's, I know Dale, the designer)..I have been knocking aroung this biz for a long time..What kind of console you talkin' about?

Ray
 
For a $200 price point Im getting alot of mileage out of my line 6 UX2...though its really more of an breakout box for a Mic preamp modeling program...Ill bet that it is the closest thing to the liquid channel out there.

Anyhow I get the sounds of Neve 1076...API...Avalon...etc.
 
Rodger Hartlett said:
i wouldn't call the DAV BG1 high end . it only has one phase switch for one channel . looks like ch2 doesn't have phantom (?!) .the circiut is probably your typical op amp based design that wouldn't differ much from the RNP. i highly recommend the RNP in that price bracket. i believe the specifications are similar or even better.
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From what I gather, it's main intended use is or was location stereo recording, not much need for two phase switches, or switchable phantom for each channel.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
For a $200 price point Im getting alot of mileage out of my line 6 UX2...though its really more of an breakout box for a Mic preamp modeling program...Ill bet that it is the closest thing to the liquid channel out there.

Anyhow I get the sounds of Neve 1076...API...Avalon...etc.
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Walters? Is that you?
 
Well, my console was pretty expensive. Maybe thats why it sounds good even with chips:)
 
I think if you asked a lot of these professional classical recording guys about the BG1, they would say that it is high end....
 
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On the question, what makes a high end pre, I would have to say that the grainyness (no such word) of the signal is the primary difference I hear between the under $1000 crowd and the above the $1000 crowd. Also the accuracy of the frequency range.

I have used, well, a lot of preamps, from a DMP3 up to a Neve 1084. At about $600 used or maybe $750 new, you get into some decent sounds i.e. Sytek, Voicemaster Pro, Envoice, but when you compare them to say a Great River, they sound slightly coarse.

You can however, add a little smoothing compression and mask the grain somewhat which translates to a really decent sound given the right mic. So soundwise, I think a pro sound can come in under $1000.
 
nuitronic said:
are these samples of the BG-1 in action? if so, thanks. if not, thanks anyways. ;)
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of course..why do you think I posted it?.. :) :p ;)
 
Big Ray--I thought they were, but there were several preamps mentioned in this thread and I wanted to be sure. I haven't heard the BG-1 before, but I am very impressed. Of course, the Neumanns and Gefells sound great, but you can tell that the BG-1 sounds wonderful. Thanks so much for posting these samples!

Have you ever compared the BG-1 with a Hardy-type preamp (M1, SCA J99, JLM 99v, etc.)? They sound like the may be a bit similar (smooth, open, slightly colored in a musical way).
 
Big Ray, do you have a recording of piano through the BG1? I'd be interested to hear that. Also, what converters were you using on the audio examples you have linked to?
 
Hey Big Ray, I'm going to be in Switzerland for a week in January, Zurich to be exact. Can you point me to any decent gear shops in the area? I am willing to travel to Germany, France or Austria. All are within a days drive.
 
Middleman said:
Hey Big Ray, I'm going to be in Switzerland for a week in January, Zurich to be exact. Can you point me to any decent gear shops in the area? I am willing to travel to Germany, France or Austria. All are within a days drive.
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Gear Shops...well,,, all the best mic manufacturers are here(In Germany).Daniel Weiss(High End ADCs) is in Switzerland I do believe. What are you looking for specifically??ADCs, Monitors, Mics, DACs?Or just window shopping?You are welcome to come down here and have some beers! There is a nice hi-fi shop here and I live right in the middle of schoeps, MG, Neumann and AKG.

Teddy
 
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I havent done an A-B comparison, but I have auditioned a John Hardy. The John Hardy/Neve etc preamps utilize transformers in the signal path, so they are slightly more colored, maybe a little "slower", not as detailed.. Which makes them really nice on stringed instruments such as guitar, cello, etc..but for what I am doing, (Classical location recording) I need the least amount of coloring I can buy...I do intend on buying a Neve or John Hardy, but they are very colored compared to the BG1, to my ears. Of course the gefells dont hurt..but honestly...the DAV is just a great pre all around...I highly reccomend it. Mick is making me a dual voltage version so I can use it here and the US. Also, at 110 AND 220 Volts, the draw is only about 22 watts, so if you wanted to run it in the field on DC, a 50 watt power inverter(I use exceltech) would be more than enough.


nuitronic said:
Big Ray--I thought they were, but there were several preamps mentioned in this thread and I wanted to be sure. I haven't heard the BG-1 before, but I am very impressed. Of course, the Neumanns and Gefells sound great, but you can tell that the BG-1 sounds wonderful. Thanks so much for posting these samples!

Have you ever compared the BG-1 with a Hardy-type preamp (M1, SCA J99, JLM 99v, etc.)? They sound like the may be a bit similar (smooth, open, slightly colored in a musical way).
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Preamps, mics mainly. Thanks.

Or just a good music shop. Someplace with 110v stuff as I would be bringing it back to the US. :D
 
Middleman said:
Preamps, mics mainly. Thanks.

Or just a good music shop. Someplace with 110v stuff as I would be bringing it back to the US. :D
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I sent you a PM.
 
here are a couple for you.

Audiosphere
Distributes Cardas amongst others.
Audiosphere GmbH, Enzo Nolli, Postfach, 8047 Zurich, Switzerland.
Phone : +4113831008. Fax : +4114917496. Email : enolli_audiosphere at hotmail.com


Audio Art
Distributes Coincident Speaker Technology, Plinius, Symposium Acoustics and Gamut amongst others.
Audio Art GMBH High-End Import, Hofwiesenstr. 267, CH - 8050 Zurich.
Phone : +41 1 310 84 00. Fax : +41 0 1310 8401. Email : soul-audioart at dplanet.ch


WEISS ENGINEER Ltd.
Florastrasse 42, Uster
TEL : (41) 1 940 20 06 / FAX : (41) 1 940 22 14 / E-mail : weiss@weiss.ch
Manufacturer of professional digital audio equipment mainly for Mastering Studios. We make EQs, Dynamics, A/Ds,
D/As, Sampling Frequency Converters, POW-R Dithering, Mixers, Interfaces etc.

SOLID STATE LOGIC Official Web Site
distributed by Dr. W. A. GUNTHER,
Seerstrasse 77, CH-8703, Erlenbach-Zurich
TEL : (41) 1 910 4141 / FAX : (41) 1 910 3544
 
The signal chain on all that stuff was DAV->MOTU Traveler. Some of it is 96k, some of it is 44.1k. The MOTU A/D is of course, just OK.A bit brittle.


SonicAlbert said:
Big Ray, do you have a recording of piano through the BG1? I'd be interested to hear that. Also, what converters were you using on the audio examples you have linked to?
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