Opinions needed on "high end" preamps

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hrn

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Opinions needed on preamps

Hi,
I'm about to buy two channels of some great preamp to take a step further. It will be used for rock music and I'm looking for that rich and massive sound.

Anyone having some opinions and experiences of these, please mention if I have forgot some better unit in your opinion in this price range:

1. Sumit 2BA-221 Tube Mic/Line/DI preamp

2. Chandler 1272EX, production series Neve 1272-style Preamp

3. Chandler TG-2 "Beatle-era" Pre-Amp

4. Vintech Audio - Neve units

5. Helios

6. Phoenix Audio DRS-2

7. The stuff of Brent Averill

8. API

Hans,
www.hagen.nu
 
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I don't know much about any of those. But I don't think there's a dog in the bunch.

I've heard the "Helios" have a VERY distinct color, supposedly great for Hard Rock.

I've been lusting after Phoenix's stuff for a while myself.

I'm pretty much convinced that ANYTHING from Brent Averill is going to be golden! I have a pair of his Audix 35102's.

The API's from Brent are next on my list. Or maybe a single channel of the Calrec for vox.
 
Like Michael says there's not a dog in the bunch...Also look into Old School Audio's preamps..Its on my next mic pre purchase..Cross compatible with API 512's ect.You can check them out at www.atlasproaudio.com Good luck


Don
 
For rock drums, API is the way to go. We've been swapping out the opamps in an API 3124 with vintage 2520's and Millennia MM-99's and getting great results.

"Big and massive" is tricky, because you can't do that on every channel or you'll wind up with mush. For my money, the Great River MP-2NV is the best unit to get a Neve 1073-inspired sound while still maintaining definition.

The Phoenix Audio DRS-2 is also a great design when used over many tracks.

For "big and massive" I really like the Vintech Dual 72 on amps.

hrn, what's your total budget for pres?

_____________

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions
 
I did have an opportunity to use the Mellinia Media 8 channel mic pre once.
Absolutely the cleanest, most uncolored mic pre I have ever used. A great piece of equipment to be sure.
The ONLY drawback for me was that I didn't like the way you had to "dial in" the different stages of gain.
 
Thanks all of you for your inputs!

Dot, First I will buy a pair to start with. Then I will get more over the time. I think the first choice is important. It will kind of be the start of the way to go. Probably I will need more of the same kind.

As a start I will be able to use it on all mono and stereo tracking such as vocals, guitars, bass, drum overheads...And wilas a complement use my Presonus Digimax when recording more than 2 tracks. It does a descent work.

The new preamps will be recorded through a Creamware A-16 Ultra 16 ins/outs lightpipe able to do 24/96 lightpipe with 8 ins/outs. The card is a Hammerfall.

The budget at the moment is around the price of a Phoenix Audio DRS-2 to start with.

I've heard that it's better with separate power units to the preamps. If this is true, stereo racks would be better than multichannel racks with one power supply...Any truth in this?

Hans,
www.hagen.nu
 
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