MAudio Preamp Chips

[tkingen]

The best mic preamps from MAudio seem to be the Octane, Tampa and DMP3. I wonder if anyone has any information on which preamp chips are used for them. Are the the same or different?

Thanks,
Terry

 

[Alexi]

dont they use burr brown's?

 

[tkingen]

dont they use burr brown's?

Alexi,

I know that the DMP3 uses Burr Brown's, but there are different Burr Brown chips available for this purpose. For example, the DMP3 uses one that is less expensive than the Burr Brown's that are used in the Toft ATC-2 or Safe Sound P1, which I believe are INA217's.
Anyway, I was curious if the all the MAudio's used the same chip as the DMP3, and then added additional features to make them more attractive to the prosumers.

Regards,
Terry

 

[Alexi]

hi there,
i searched the forum and found the studio projects guys post saying that there is only one type of burr browns out there.
im curios cause i've been thinking about purchasing the dmp3 too, cause it's cheap and i can't really afford a rnp yet.

 

[Alexi]

you should check the rme quadmic out, sounds great, and is as affordable as the dmp3

 

[tdukex]

The DMP3 is based on the Burr Brown INA163 chip (same as the Grace 101). To my knowledge, it is the only M-Audio preamp that uses that chip.

 

[tdukex]

you should check the rme quadmic out, sounds great, and is as affordable as the dmp3

The RME quad mic costs $450.

The DMP3 costs $150.

If you are looking at per channel price of $112.5 vs $75, then you can accurately say that the per channel price is in the same general range. You cannot, however, accurately state that the Quadmic is "as affordable as the DMP3." That statement implies the total cost of both units is comparable. And it isn't.

 

[Alexi]

well, of course, you're right but rme offers you a way better quality. i was just refering to the price per channel, m-audio manufactures in taiwan, rme comes straight out of germany.

 

[chessrock]

I know that the DMP3 uses Burr Brown's, but there are different Burr Brown chips available for this purpose. For example, the DMP3 uses one that is less expensive than the Burr Brown's that are used in the Toft ATC-2 or Safe Sound P1, which I believe are INA217's.

If you check Digikey, you'll notice the INA-163 and the INA-217 are the exact same price.

And the 163 is used in some pretty high-end stuff.

 

[tkingen]

If you check Digikey, you'll notice the INA-163 and the INA-217 are the exact same price.

And the 163 is used in some pretty high-end stuff.

Very interesting! I had read somewhere (maybe another forum?) that the INA-217 was considered a step up from the INA-163. This seemed to make sense as some mid priced pres were using the 217's, and some of the lower priced (that I knew about) were using 163's. But, maybe not!
Any thoughts on the difference in sound between the two? What are some of the more expensive pres that are using INA-163's?

Regards,
Terry

 

[tdukex]

Very interesting! I had read somewhere (maybe another forum?) that the INA-217 was considered a step up from the INA-163. This seemed to make sense as some mid priced pres were using the 217's, and some of the lower priced (that I knew about) were using 163's. But, maybe not!
Any thoughts on the difference in sound between the two? What are some of the more expensive pres that are using INA-163's?

Regards,
Terry

I just mentioned one above!

 

[chessrock]

Very interesting! I had read somewhere (maybe another forum?) that the INA-217 was considered a step up from the INA-163. This seemed to make sense as some mid priced pres were using the 217's, and some of the lower priced (that I knew about) were using 163's. But, maybe not!
Any thoughts on the difference in sound between the two? What are some of the more expensive pres that are using INA-163's?

The problem with all these chips is they keep getting discontinued.

The Analog Devices' SSM-2017 was actually the original el-cheapo instrument amp used in all the budget pres; and it had it's flaws. They discontinued that particular chip a while back, so Texas Instruments stepped in and picked up the slack by making a pin-compatible replacement in their 217.

I'm sure it's very likely a step up from the original 2017. Scott Dorsey told me in an email a while back: "It couldn't be any worse."

The 163, on the other hand, is the successor to the INA-103, which has been used in some of the higher-class gizmos like the Grace Design.

Supposedly they're kinda' similar yet different ... but both a pretty sizeable improvement from the original offerings by Analog Devices. It seems Burr-brown has been taking care of the audio market very capably. And that's a big win for the home/project studio.