RNP Vs. ART DPS II

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DarkCide

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I need a mic pre for recording heavy rock and thrash metal music.

The RNP is kind of expensive but I'm willing to spend $400 as long as I'll never need to buy another preamp unless I want to record a super high quality professional recording.

Is the RNP worth the investment or is the ART DPS II just as good?
 
While I do know that the RNP is a nice preamp indeed, I happen to have a TPS-II. On various forums many seem to have it out for ART in general. However, I am very fussy indeed, and I was quite pleasantly surprised to find out that the TPS-II is a wonderful and rich sounding preamp. Before I fully understood how to adjust the gain stages correctly for proper S/N I was confused. However now I know how to properly set up gain stages it is super quiet to say the least. It is nicely built and sturdy as a brick outhouse. The other feature that has sold me on it several times over is the adjustable impedance for the mic. This allows custom tailoring for any mic used. You WON"T get that on most preamps under a Grand. It is a huge +, so much so I can't impress enough how much it matters. The metering is also nice and accurate for letting you know what is going on for input and output. Overall it is versatile as all getout. I'd highly recommend it. 2 channels to boot..........
 
I have a DPS II. I got it on a trial and found the inserts were dead. Big deal! I can get around that. I am very inpressed with this preamp especially for guitar amps, acoustic guitars, and percussion. I'm sure I could get it to work on vocals etc as well but I haven't taken the time to try it yet. My Focusrite Trackmaster pro doesn't get used as much that's for sure. The DPS II analog outs are really good but I think the digital outs are a bit harsh. The adjustable mic impedence is a fantastic feature that I use a lot. I can look at the impedence of the mic in use and adjust the preamp to the mic. Pretty cool function. The RNP is great but I have to say the DPS II has a lot more functionality. I guess it depends on what you are looking for.
 
What do you need it for?
I like the RNP and it gets a lot of use (I also have a John Hardy and a Phoenix and a Safe4 Sound and a .....)
I didn't like the ART, but that's why we don't all drive Chevy's. Different tastes out there. For me, the ART was a little to "present", like I could tell it was there. For some stuff that might be preferable for you.
Some guys claim the RNP has a "stamp"to it, I don't hear that.
 
i have a tps (not a dps, but close) and my rnp stops it's ass, hands down.
tps = not much head room
 
I'll be using it for heavy metal/rock guitar sounds and also for powerful vocals.

The RNP is supposed to be clear and transparent and I'm not sure if that's a good thing for the kind of music I'll be using it for.

The DPS II is a lot cheaper and I like it the fact it has a SPDIF output.

I should mention that even though I'm on a low budget, I'm not looking for a starter preamp. I already have the audio buddy but I out grew it very quickly.
 
DarkCide said:
I'll be using it for heavy metal/rock guitar sounds and also for powerful vocals.

The RNP is supposed to be clear and transparent and I'm not sure if that's a good thing for the kind of music I'll be using it for.

The DPS II is a lot cheaper and I like it the fact it has a SPDIF output.

I should mention that even though I'm on a low budget, I'm not looking for a starter preamp. I already have the audio buddy but I out grew it very quickly.
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It works great with dynamic mics and heavy guitar tones. I haven't tried it on vocals. I'm pretty stuck on my Focusrite Trackmaster pro for vox.
 
The DPS would do well for the guitar but I think the RNP would suit the vox better...hmmmmmmmmmmmmm big help huh?
 
I figured the RNP would be better for vox since it's transparent. If I end up with the art, hopefully I'll be able to tweek a good sound.
 
I have some songs with the DPS II here, they are of my wife, "Held" is a much better mix/performance/etc. I think I have the 1176 and pultec eq from the UAD-1 for plugs on "Held", with I think a little of the UAD-1's dream verb as well.

You can compare to the other tracks on there with different mics into a VTB-1, those other tracks didn't have the benfit of the UAD-1, or real monitors.

http://mysite.verizon.net/resq6asf/

My opinion is that the between the two if you held a gun to my head, I guess I would pick the VTB-1, but that is by only a slight edge, the DPS II certainly has more features with the totally variable input impedance and digital out. But then the VTB-1 has a tube blend that you can dial in exactly what you need. But then the DPS II has more clean gain (meaning less hiss when pushed hard).

I know that doesn't help you choose between the RNP and DPS II.... :rolleyes:
 
I had to do a test with the DPS II on Vocals. I tried a few mics and A/B'd the DSP II with My Focusrite Trackmaster Pro. With the Warm Vocal setting and any Mic I tried my voice sounded better on tape. I tried every preset on the Focusrite and couldn't come up with anything that was better sounding than the DSP II. Anyone wanna buy a preamp? :rolleyes: JK I like the focusrite for a lot of things just not my voice.

I'm impressed with this preamp for it's versatility. Now it's no neve by any stretch of the imagination but I only paid 50 bucks for mine. Well worth it!
 
Micter said:
I had to do a test with the DPS II on Vocals. I tried a few mics and A/B'd the DSP II with My Focusrite Trackmaster Pro. With the Warm Vocal setting and any Mic I tried my voice sounded better on tape. I tried every preset on the Focusrite and couldn't come up with anything that was better sounding than the DSP II. Anyone wanna buy a preamp? :rolleyes: JK I like the focusrite for a lot of things just not my voice.

I'm impressed with this preamp for it's versatility. Now it's no neve by any stretch of the imagination but I only paid 50 bucks for mine. Well worth it!
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Where did you get it from for $50?

All online stores sell it for no less than $250.
 
Dudes, isn't this the Mic forum?


Anyway, the RNP isn't particularly clean, in my experience. Haven't tried the ART.
 
I dont hear the RNP as being clean at all really. Definitely some high/mid coloration happening.
 
DarkCide said:
Where did you get it from for $50?

All online stores sell it for no less than $250.
Click to expand...

I picked it up used with the inserts not working.
 
BigRay said:
I dont hear the RNP as being clean at all really. Definitely some high/mid coloration happening.
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It definitely emphasizes the mids on vocals, but in a very flattering way when used with Dynamic mics like an SM57 or SM57b.

I own an RNP now and it is exactly what I need for my voice, I can't say for yours though. I won't be looking for any other preamp for vocals.

I have not tracked an electric guitar through it yet, so no help there.

I rented a DPS II for a weekend when I was in pursuit of the definitive bass DI tone. That wasn't it, but it was a very good sounding DI when running my Pbass direct in. I don't even know if I ever got around to trying vocals on it too much. From what I remember, they sounded pretty good, (but not as good as the RNP.) I liked having the SPDIF out though. That is a big plus. Some of the settings on the dial for tube coloration were great; some were kinda noisy to me.

For what it's worth, my pursuit for the perfect bass DI ended with a Sansamp.

bilco
 
Micter said:
I have a DPS II. I got it on a trial and found the inserts were dead. Big deal! I can get around that. I am very inpressed with this preamp especially for guitar amps, acoustic guitars, and percussion. I'm sure I could get it to work on vocals etc as well but I haven't taken the time to try it yet. My Focusrite Trackmaster pro doesn't get used as much that's for sure. The DPS II analog outs are really good but I think the digital outs are a bit harsh. The adjustable mic impedence is a fantastic feature that I use a lot. I can look at the impedence of the mic in use and adjust the preamp to the mic. Pretty cool function. The RNP is great but I have to say the DPS II has a lot more functionality. I guess it depends on what you are looking for.
Click to expand...


What do you exactly mean by "harsh" when you refer to the digital out?

Also I found an ART DPS II for $170 brand new. Is that a good price?
 
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DarkCide said:
What do you exactly mean by "harsh" when you refer to the digital out?

Also I found an ART DPS II for $170 brand new. Is that a good price?
Click to expand...

The digital outs weren't as warm sounding as the analog outs to my ears. $170 is a really good price.
 
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