Need help on mic pre-amps

  • Thread starter Thread starter Giganova
  • Start date Start date
Giganova

Giganova

gimmi your mic!
hey guys --

I have a budget of approx. $1,500.- and wanted to shop for a good mic pre for my condensor mics (Gefell M930, Neumann KSM184 and AT4047), and to "warm up" my outboard synths. There's so many choices, and its hard to decide without having the opportunity to listen to pres. Here's my list which I've narrowed down to:

o John Hardy M1 2-channel ($1,650)
pro: pristine audio quality
con: no instrument (DI) input

o Manley mono pre ($1,450)
pro: good audio quality, DI input
con: only one channel

o Vintech 1272 ($1,400)
pro: great "Neve"-esque sound, DI input, 2 channels

o Vintech X73i ($1,400)
pro: Neve 1073 components
con: only 1 channel, needs expensive power supply ($250)

o Langevin 2 channel pre ($1,300)
pro: 2 channels, DI input, EQ

o Drawmer Tubestation ($1,050)
pro: 24/96 digital output, DI input, compressor
con: only 1 channel

o TOFT ATC-2 ($1,000)
pro: 2 channel strip including EQ + compressor
con: audio quality as good as the ones above??

o Avalon 737 SP ($2,000)
pro: channel strip incl. EQ + compressor, audio quality
con: pricy!

Right now I tend to get the Vintech 1272. Do you think the Neve 1272 components make a big difference compared to the 1073 modules in the Vintech X73i? The Vintech 1272 would give me 2 channels for the same price as the mono-X73i.

What do you suggest would be good & cost-effective choice? Has anyone of you compared some of the pres and/or owns one of them?

I appreciate your help!
 
What you got for preamps now?One of each.. LOL..The Hardy or the Langevin DVC looks like a cool option{I've never used one}..You need 2 chans. for st. synth right..





Don
 
I'd think just about any of the ones on your list should do just fine! :D

I'm a little partial to John Hardy . . . mostly because he's a fellow Chicagoan, but also because I happen to think his stuff is a small cut above whatever else seems to be out there -- imho. But I'd still make do with anything on your list.
 
I'll take the green ....you go to mercenary or atlas and get a manley or vintech or langevin(manley)
In HIs Name
BK
 
Mic pre

Check out the D&R Mic Amp. Go to www.softfiles.com/D&R.html and check the specs. Two channels for factory direct for $495.00 and they have them on sale now for $445.00. Can't beat them at three times the money.
 
Do you use one pwr? If so, how do they compare to others of that price range?

Giganova - Buy all of them, choose the one you like the most and donate the rest to me (I'll pay shipping no problems :D)
 
Price range

I talked to a guy that was using the Focusrite and when he bought the first D&R he quit using the Focusrite and ordered more D&R Mic Amps. All D&R products compete with stuff that cost many times more. If you are not happy, I'll refund your money as long as you don't scratch it.
 
Ahhh . . . so we have a dealer, here. :D


That's cool. So tell us about this thing. What kind of mic pre is it? Transparent / colored? Tube / solid state? Transformer input or no transformer? Discrete? Chip-based (and if so, what kind of chip? Burr-brown?)

You can't just just come on this board and say "Hey, I'm selling a mic pre, and it's good." Details would help.

That's a great photo of your mic pre, by the way.
 
The obvious contender in that price range is the RNP. If you have any soundclips (A/B would be even better), can we hear em?
 
What kind of mic pre is it?
Very Transparent

Doesn't color the sound

No Tubes so none of that warm 2nd harmonic distortion so many of us like.

No transformers

Chip-based (I believe we are using the 2017 but it could be a Burr-brown since we would only have two in the unit. Since Burr-Browns pull four times the current we could not use them in our consoles. Originally we were using transistor (discrete) but found we could have better performance from the 2017 series. You must not be familiar with D&R. D&R consoles are the quietest Analog consoles in the industry. They out spec SSL & Neve in every spec except one. SSL has a better crosstalk spec but only measured not heard. We sound great out of the box due to much detail in the design to make sure the signal path stays in phase as much as possible.

All in all, if you are looking for that warm tube sound, D&R is not the one. Now if you are looking for accuracy, D&R fits the order. Hey, try it out and you tell me. If you don't like it, I'll refund your money.

I've worked for Amek, Soundtracs and installed and serviced everything out there and I have never been as impressed with any manufacturer as I am with D&R. They work great right out of the box.

Ray Benson from Asleep at the Wheel bought a D&R Triton after testing it with a bag of Burr-Browns. He decided to only put BBs on 4 channels out of 48. There just wasn't that much differance.

Thanks for the interest.
Paul
 
Re: Price range

prw said:
I talked to a guy that was using the Focusrite and when he bought the first D&R he quit using the Focusrite and ordered more D&R Mic Amps. All D&R products compete with stuff that cost many times more. If you are not happy, I'll refund your money as long as you don't scratch it.
Click to expand...

I thought I smelled spam the first time I read about D&R!

When are you guys gonna wise up that it just isn't smart to come in here acting like you're a customer when you're really the manufacturer or dealer???

Just because it's a BBS, that doesn't mean we're all a bunch of schoolkids looking for game cheats.

Sack up and get honest. Most of the folks here are willing to give a read to what you have to say about your product if you'll just be honest about who you are and why you're here.

When you come in passing yourself off as something other than you are it turns a bunch of us off to your product. I for one don't like the idea of financing some lying clown's enterprise.

Right now I don't care if the D&R is the best and most cost-effective preamp available on the planet. I'd rather spend my $$$ on gear built and sold by REPUTABLE FOLKS that don't have to resort to lying to sell their product.
 
D&R two Channel Mic Pre

Oh, I forgot. I'm not a dealer. I'm the US Distributor. D&R sells Factory Direct which means you get it for about 40% less money.
Is it ok for me to be on this forum? I'm an engineer as well and operate a studio.
 
Excuse me!!

I'd rather spend my $$$ on gear built and sold by REPUTABLE FOLKS that don't have to resort to lying to sell their product.

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way. I didn't come to this forum to sell but to learn and when asked I gave the truth as I believe it. If I in any way offended you or anyone, please forgive me. I have been on this site for several days and never trid to hide the fact that I sell D&R.
 
Re: Re: Price range

c7sus said:
I thought I smelled spam the first time I read about D&R!

When are you guys gonna wise up that it just isn't smart to come in here acting like you're a customer when you're really the manufacturer or dealer???

Just because it's a BBS, that doesn't mean we're all a bunch of schoolkids looking for game cheats.

Sack up and get honest. Most of the folks here are willing to give a read to what you have to say about your product if you'll just be honest about who you are and why you're here.

When you come in passing yourself off as something other than you are it turns a bunch of us off to your product. I for one don't like the idea of financing some lying clown's enterprise.

Right now I don't care if the D&R is the best and most cost-effective preamp available on the planet. I'd rather spend my $$$ on gear built and sold by REPUTABLE FOLKS that don't have to resort to lying to sell their product.
Click to expand...

Hey man he's told us he works for them, I mean you don't have to be so harsh to him. I personally don't mind if he wants to tell us about his product, it's fair enough, but I can understand why you might not want him to, but relax a little eh? :)
 
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