One and only one $1,000 mic preamp

[Dot]

mrbowes, I live in RTP. Check your PM's.

 

[R-J-X]

ME1NV by Great River is hot!

 

[Warhead]

The new ADK AP1 is worth a listen, easy to swap out transformers and opamps for loads of different flavors in one box. It's got a real power supply on board as well, and a clean-ish D.I.

War

 

[mhelin]

Certainly the Neve preamps have a sound of their own. As far as them not working well with newer mics, I don't find that to be true at all. The slew rate is part of what makes the Neve preamps so fat sounding. I do agree that unless you are looking for that specific sound, a Neve preamp may not be the wisest choice for a first preamp. But, Neve preamps do what they do and do it better than just about anything out there. There is most certainly a "magic" there that is very sought after. In my opinion they are an excellent tool to have around, but they are also sort of a specialty item and I would reccomend a decent assortment of other pre's before going down the Neve path.

The new Neve preamps are different stuff compared to the "Neve preamps" mentioned above. They are more like the AMEK line stuff with the transformerless input stage, opamps etc. It was the vintage Neve gear which were "fat" sounding. The new gear I assume has much more open and transparent sound (no own sound).

 

[Walter Tore]

I am considering this pre amp - the seventh circle audio n72 preamp. Walter
http://www.seventhcirclestudios.com/SCA/SCA.htm

 

[Outlaws]

Put that money into fixing up your room.

 

[mrbowes]

^
i have acoustic foam and soon will be putting fiberglass boards on the walls, but in reality i can't make a serious investment into fixing up the rooms b/c i do not own the property.

i'm going to buy a house in a few years, and at that time will make a serious investment into room treatment.

however, the DI function of the pre will not be influnced by room acoustics, so that's one benefit of upgrading a pre now.

 

[artCROSS]

Josh,
whatever you decide man, you gotta let me try it out! I pm'ed you a while back

 

[krimson]

Wow, I amazed no-one has mentioned the Hamptone Jfet model. 2 channels of mic pre and DI that are awsome to say the least. You can get an already built one for less than $1000. Very versitile for anything I would think. Just a thought to release.

 

[mrbowes]

^
my only issue w/ the Hamptone kits is that i've never heard a sample of how they really sound. i've heard greathing about them, but never any real samples. it's hard throwing down a G on something to which you've only heard a handful of reviews.

 

[tdukex]

I think Fletcher was even impressed with the Hamptone.

 

[krimson]

I think Fletcher was even impressed with the Hamptone.

Yes, I read somewhere that he was impressed with it. Either way I love both my Hamptone jfet and tube pres. They just sound sooooo good. I highly recommend them.

 

[fraserhutch]

^
i have acoustic foam and soon will be putting fiberglass boards on the walls, but in reality i can't make a serious investment into fixing up the rooms b/c i do not own the property.

i'm going to buy a house in a few years, and at that time will make a serious investment into room treatment.

If you go to the studio building forum, you can get info on how to make this a non-permanent solution.

The rigid fiberglass panels I built are removeable, so I can take them with me when I move.

There are solutions for creating and attaching bass traps in non-destructive ways.

I would seriously consider researching them. They made a HUGE difference in my room.

My $0.02.

 

[riccol]

Yo DOT or anyone else who can answer this

You said speaking of the BAE 312A ---

"you can use other opamps with it – like Hardy, older API, Millennia, Forssell –"

Can you provide a little more explantion for a realtive newb?