GreatRiver NV, Aurora GTQ2, Phoenix DRS-2

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Scinx

Mechanical Monkey
I dont need to know "which one to buy" because I will figure that out. I also am not asking "which is best" cause I find that a rather foolish question. What I am looking for is: how are the following pre's different in regards to sound. I record mostly alt/indie/hard rock
GreatRiver ME-2NV, Aurora GTQ2, Phoenix DRS-2
 
chrisgraff over at hc's recording forum has used all three in sessions. you might go over there and post your question up.
 
Haven't tried the Aurora yet. The DRS is more modern-sounding than the GR. The DRS has a big airy sound. The tranformerless inputs make it quite faster. The GR is more of a classic vintage sound. The GR is very versatile and has an additional transfomer on the D1

I personally think the DRS is the ultimate alt rock pre. Also, it has inputs on both the front and back, and you can actually use them all at the same time.

If you listen to "Past" as this page, everything but the drums uses the DRS.
http://www.users.qwest.net/~musical5/

I reviewed both units:
DRS review
GR review

Also, if you're looking in that price range, you might consider the API 3124+.

Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
The Project Studio Handbook
 
the Aurora does have a built in 1073 style EQ which the others don't have...

there's supposed to be a single channel aurora due out the first half of next year
 
Thanks Dan - I actually had read your review and it does help. In addition, I started looking into the 3124 (seems economical) while researching this topic at the GS Board. It almost seems to me that the DRS has too much air - but it could be an mp3 thing. I really want to hear the GTQ2. Also - what is the negative aspect of buying 2 or 3 different single channels instead of (1) two-channel unit other than not having a stereo capability with the same pre
 
the negative i see is you can't do stereo recordings....if thats important to you then its a problem if not then it wont be..
 
It seems the DRS and GTQ are basically the same as Tanner rebranded the DRS when he split from Phoenix? I wonder if they sound really close. I can careless about the EQ because its fixed.
 
Scinx said:
Thanks Dan - I actually had read your review and it does help. In addition, I started looking into the 3124 (seems economical) while researching this topic at the GS Board. It almost seems to me that the DRS has too much air - but it could be an mp3 thing. I really want to hear the GTQ2. Also - what is the negative aspect of buying 2 or 3 different single channels instead of (1) two-channel unit other than not having a stereo capability with the same pre
Click to expand...

Scinx, the DRS just has a more open sound.

The disadvantage of buying 2-3 single channels is that you'd be sinking a lot of your budget just into the power supplies.
If you bought a DRS-1, ME-1NV and a John Hardy 1. It would cost you over $3K for three channels. 2. You'd have no possibility for stereo recordings or even drum OH's. 3. If you get a multi-channel unit, you're getting the individual channels for less since you only pay for one power supply.

While you're looking around for preamps, check out this thread on what we're doing with an API 3124 and different opamps.

A great new pre on the market is Sebatron - and you can get a 2-channel VMP-2000e for about $950.

Dan Richards
The Listening Sessions
The Project Studio Handbook
 
As you can prolly tell by the post - I was quite tired and irritable. What I should have said was that the EQ will not be the deciding factor. Stupid post? Absolutely! Plus the two units are based on different neves. :D Thanks Teacher for your input. I just want to buy a nice high quality pre that will work for a slew of things and that I wont outgrow. Its hard without hearing any of them firsthand.
 
Scinx said:
Thanks Dan - I actually had read your review and it does help. In addition, I started looking into the 3124 (seems economical) while researching this topic at the GS Board. It almost seems to me that the DRS has too much air - but it could be an mp3 thing. I really want to hear the GTQ2. Also - what is the negative aspect of buying 2 or 3 different single channels instead of (1) two-channel unit other than not having a stereo capability with the same pre
Click to expand...


My mixing style swings in the direction of lots af "air", so thats what youre hearing. Just to clerify the GTQ and the DRS have nothing in common. 2 completely different designs. The DRS can go from acoustic sweetness to ferocious guitars, like nothing I have used. I feel its the most versatile pre on the market today. I directly compared it to the MP2-NV for a month, and came to my conclusion. I have used the GTQ-2, and would still choose the DRS as my "desert island" pre.
 
Scinx said:
It seems the DRS and GTQ are basically the same as Tanner rebranded the DRS when he split from Phoenix?
Click to expand...

No, not at all. The DRS and the GTQ are quite different. The GTQ is based on old Neve circuits while the DRS is an entirely new design from a guy that used to design circuits for Neve.

The 'TF-1' op-amp in the DRS was originally built as a 'class A' alternative to the BA-440 and BA-640 op-amps in 3415 and 1081 modules... this led to a completely new and different sounding amplifier for the Phoenix Audio equipment.
 
I figured they were different, and when I looked they were different, but was thrown off by Leveque who said Tanner had taken the UK design with him and released it (that being the gtq design and not the drs - my mistake of assumption) - hence the question mark in that post :D
Fletcher - what do you think of the DRS vs the GTQ2? And how helpful are the GTQ2 EQs?
 
Aurora comments from a friend:

A great preamp. My personal favorite preamp ever is the Gordon Audio pre. It is not colored like a Neve, but it has balls like no other. The Aurora audio GTQ2 would be my next choice for guitars. It's less expensive than the Gordon, plus it has eq as well.

***

I really, really like the Aurora Audio GTQ2. I'll be buying one this year for sure.

As far as how i'd compare it with the $4000 Gordon? The Gordon is certainly transparent, but with more punch than i've heard from any other preamp. When I a/b'd it against another popular $2000+ Neve-alike, I was shocked how much better the Gordon sounded. The Gordon has balls the size of Texas.

Back to the GTQ2: it's an exact copy of a 1064 (as per my understanding). I personally love *that* sound. $2k for 2 channels pre w/EQ? That's the best deal going as far as I'm concerned.

The GTQ2 lives up to the hype. The Gordon lives up to the hype and more. If both preamps were the same price, it would be a very difficult choice. But they aren't. It's not a difficult choice for me.

Steve
www.mojopie.com
 
Thanks Steve - I saw those comments over at HC based off your first tip. I usually like to see a decent number of people make comments like that - I get skeptical that something is up when one person is constantly beating the drum for something...maybe Im just cynical ;)
 
Scinx--

Chris is a session and touring guitarist from Nashville.

I ask him for advice on what is coming down the pike since he gets to see some items very early on. He tends to be ahead of the curve. He was on the Phoenix mic pre a very long time before anyone else even knew what one was. And, back then, the street price was $1,200 for the two channel. :)

Steve
www.mojopie.com
 
Thanks for the backround Steve. I just like to use professional skepticism when on these boards. You never know when a poster is either part of a company or being paid in gear. Now I have to finish the time machine so I can buy some pre's.
 
Scinx said:
Now I have to finish the time machine so I can buy some pre's.
Click to expand...

Can I catch a ride?..I need to pick up some stuff!!:cool:





Don
 
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