High End Pre's revisited

[MadMax]

It's not what you think.
After that somewhat long winded thread, I decided to decide for myself.
Now, I'm not a pro and I don't know if I have golded ears. In fact I doubt it since I've been playing in front of loud Marshalls for close to 30 years. But I have the luxury of being able to spend some money on preamps, so I ordered some SCA stuff and I'm about to start building them. So here's what I got from the guy in brown shorts today.

OHHHH MANNN! I can't attach an image????SCA

 

[Robert D]

Cool man, I think I've decided to go with some SCA modules myself. What are you gonna stuff in that bad boy? I'm hearing great things about the J99s, and I saw a plot of a N72 that was spot on with a 1073 plot. I've heard some recordings with these that sound damn good.
Please keep us updated with how the project goes together, culminating of course with some samples.

Happy soldering!

 

[j-boy]

There seem to be so many threads about "high-end pre's" but what the world really needs is more high-end songs.

 

[Rodger Hartlett]

This isn't about Hi-End Pres . It's about SCA.They are a long way off .

 

[BigRay]

According to who? I see them on GS in the High End section all the time talked about by PROFESSIONAL engineers. Who do they think they are?? Im going to go tell them that Roger Hartlett said that they are NOT high end, By God!

This isn't about Hi-End Pres . It's about SCA.They are a long way off .

 

[Robert D]

There seem to be so many threads about "high-end pre's" but what the world really needs is more high-end songs.

What the world needs now
Is high end songs
It's the only thing that there's just too little of.

How's that? (I may have borrowed a bit)

 

[MadMax]

This isn't about Hi-End Pres . It's about SCA.They are a long way off .

Could you please explain how SCA are a long way off? I bought 4-a12's and 2 N-72's based on opinions and endorsements by some big time studio guys and I even talked with Michael Wagener about them before I bought them. He said he often prefers the A12's to the real API.

 

[Warhead]

I think he meant high PRICE = high end.

War

 

[Robert D]

Derik and Steve Cruz over at Cruzified Music have been doing some really nice sounding recordings with those SCAs. They sound pretty high-endy to me! If they don't qualify from a gear slut price per channel point of view, so what? They sound like the real deal, they spec out like the real deal, and they appear to be very well designed clones.

 

[MadMax]

Update

I built one of the A12 (API) modules. Now I'm assembling the wiring harness which is a PITA. You have to use special crimpers for each of the 6 wires that goes to each module. I can't find the crimpers anywhere in town, so last night I started soldering each connector.
Cut the wire, strip the wire, do it again, twist the wires together, stick them in the microscopic molex fitting, crimp them with needlenose pliers, solder them them stuff them in the connector.....X42!
I'm about half done.

The modules go together pretty easily. The hardest part is identifying the resistors.

My goal here is to get them up and running and then post some comparisons with my A&H board and maybe my Symetrix 528 pre.

 

[MadMax]

OK, I got 'em built. Now to test and install. With any luck, I should have them up and running in a day or two and I can start listening to them. If you care to look at the picture, they are from left to right; N72, N72, A12, A12, A12, A12.
I'm trying to remain objective, but I gota tell you, I can't wait to hear these.SCA preamps

 

[Phosphene]

Looks fun. Can't wait to hear some clipppppps.

 

[MadMax]

All racked up and ready to go. I'm going to record some test tracks tonite!
Racked SCA

 

[Robert D]

All racked up and ready to go. I'm going to record some test tracks tonite!
Racked SCA

The suspense is killing me! I know the N72s sound good, but I've never heard the A12s.

 

[MadMax]

I'm in test and troubleshooting mode right now. The A12's are working fine. The N72's have some gain issues that I'm trying to work thru with Tim as we speak-err, as I type this.
I recorded my voice thru one of the A12's last night using a Gefell M930. My first impression is it sounds "rich". But I haven't compared it to anything yet.