M35 vs. M308B sound quality?

C

Cliff Kane

New member
I have a questions for those of you who are familiar with both the Tascam M35 and the Tascam M308B mixing boards:
Which of these two boards has the better sounding mic pres and eq? I know that the M308B has more features, but from a sound quality point, which one is better? Also, does the M35 have phantom power for condenser mics?

Thank for your help!
Cliff
 
Cliff Kane said:
I have a questions for those of you who are familiar with both the Tascam M35 and the Tascam M308B mixing boards:
Which of these two boards has the better sounding mic pres and eq? I know that the M308B has more features, but from a sound quality point, which one is better? Also, does the M35 have phantom power for condenser mics?

Thank for your help!
Cliff
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The 35 does not have phantom. It does have input transformers and is fully modular. I don't believe the 308 has either of these attributes but am not certain of this. Up grading the trannies and chips in the 35 will improve it's performance quite a bit.
 
RRuskin said:
The 35 does not have phantom. It does have input transformers and is fully modular. I don't believe the 308 has either of these attributes but am not certain of this. Up grading the trannies and chips in the 35 will improve it's performance quite a bit.
Click to expand...

Thanks Rick. What does the M308B use if it doesn't have transformers? Do you think that the M35 has a better sound than the M308B?

Thanks,
Cliff
 
Cliff Kane said:
Thanks Rick. What does the M308B use if it doesn't have transformers? Do you think that the M35 has a better sound than the M308B?

Thanks,
Cliff
Click to expand...


Tascam switched to active differential input front ends at some point. As far as I know, the last console to use input transformers was their large format Model 16.

Having never used the 308, I can't advise you as to how good it is or isn't.

I currently have a 2600-32 that is also transformerless and don't care for the preamp section too terribly much. That's more a function of TASCAM preamp design philosophy in general rather than the transformer/non-transformer issue. (The Tascam preamps I've dealt with all sound rather soft/slow in the transient department. I like a lot more "bip" and use Great River, FMR, Deanne Jensen, & Spectra Sonics devices to get it.)
 
Cliff Kane said:
I have a questions for those of you who are familiar with both the Tascam M35 and the Tascam M308B mixing boards:
Which of these two boards has the better sounding mic pres and eq? I know that the M308B has more features, but from a sound quality point, which one is better? Also, does the M35 have phantom power for condenser mics?

Thank for your help!
Cliff
Click to expand...

I always found TASCAM mixing boards to sound thin reguardless of model. But I ditched all of mine 25 years ago. I think of them more as collectors items than useable consoles. But YMMV Certainly.
 
I have used the 308B specifically and found it very nice sounding. The term "warm" may be overused but it applies to that board. I don't have experience with the M35 but do with the M30 but not sure how similar they are in sound quality. I think I preferred 308B over the M30 but it's not that dramatic of a difference, sound wise but feature wise, the 308B is a winner. Both boards are nice though.
 
I would imagine the M308 being much larger, and listing for a good amount more $$ to buy when new would be better than the smaller and older model 30 or 35.

I had bought a preowned M308 back in '96 (according to the s/n in the back, this particularr M308 is a 1985 model), as well as a Tascam 48, and believe it or not I was just too busy all these years to use them, but I am looking forward to start using them, finally!, so I am curious how the 308 will sound. (Ditto my A-3440 with Model 2A/MB-20, another very cool little mixer I like alot).

One minor 'complaint' I can say about the 308 is that its difficult to find a suitable piece of studio desk that it can rest on due to its square shape and longer size depth, since many desks/tables emphasize the width instead, such as for an M512 or 520, or even the M312.
 
Cliff Kane said:
M35 vs. M308B sound quality?
Click to expand...

Just looking at sound quality I prefer the M300 series to the M35. Ultimately it’s a judgment call, but that's my take on it.

I get great recordings with Tascam gear... always have, but I know what I'm doing. ;)
 
well its a been a while but do you or anyone reading this reply have a manual on the tascam 308-B to sell? we need one!
greetings
krys
 
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