Safe Sound Audio P1

[Mr. Moon]

I have read a few posts from folks who either purchased the Safe Sound Audio P1 preamp, or who were planning on it. I am wondering if any of the folk who have purchased one of the P1's (or borrowed one) has worked with it enough to share their thoughts about it. I have read some reviews of it and the P1's white paper, and it sounds like a very promising product that I may have to allocate funds towards in the future, but I'd like to hear some actual owner/user feedback before I risk purchasing one.

So, are there any P1 owners out there who have any observations/impressions of the P1 they'd like to share?

Thanks!

-mr moon

 

[chessrock]

I am wondering if any of the folk who have purchased one of the P1's (or borrowed one) has worked with it enough to share their thoughts about it.

Borrowed one for a few weeks. Worked with it. Thought everything about it was excellent.

 

[ozraves]

I had one for a review for my website. I liked it. The preamp is a significant step up from the Mackie level and possesses a clean but musical sound. The true magic of the unit lies in its expander/compressor/limiter. We'll probably add one to our studio when the budget allows.

--Steve
www.mojopie.com

 

[Poni]

I had one for a review for my website. I liked it. The preamp is a significant step up from the Mackie level and possesses a clean but musical sound. The true magic of the unit lies in its expander/compressor/limiter. We'll probably add one to our studio when the budget allows.

--Steve
www.mojopie.com

How does the pre amp compare to lets say a DMP3.

 

[ozraves]

How does the pre amp compare to lets say a DMP3.

i've not used a dmp3. i have used mackie, behringer, audio buddy and vtb1. the p1 is in a better class sonically. i think the difference is significant but ymmv. the top end is clear and the bass is tight.

steve
www.mojopie.com

 

[chessrock]

I thought the Safesound compared really well to the Sytek, actually, in some head-to-head bouts. The fact that it has a real and ample power supply is going to make it a better performer than a wall-wart based model like the DMP3 -- at least in certain applications.

 

[Mr. Moon]

How does the SSA p1 compare with the following preamps in the same approximate price range:

* DBX 376,
* Focusrite Track Master (or Penta),
* Grace 101,
* M-Audio Tampa
* Presonus Eureka
* Summit Audio 2BA-221

(Note: I've heard the comparisons between the P1, Beringher, Speck 5.0, and TFTPro P2 posted in another thread. None of the above preamps were included in the comparison.)

What I'm looking for is an "upgrade" preamp mainly for vocals, lead and otherwise. Currently, I'm using SP C1 and T3 mics, along with a Rode NTK mic through my Aardvark DP 2496 pre's (comparable to DMP3's, I've been told) and a SP VTB-1 with a RNC. I'll be recording mostly "heavier" down-tuned music, both acoustic and amped ...not Nu-Metal, but heavier stuff nonetheless.

I may move on the P1 while it's still ~$499.00.

Thanks!

-mr moon

 

[chessrock]

How does the SSA p1 compare with the following preamps in the same approximate price range:

* DBX 376,
* Focusrite Track Master (or Penta),
* Grace 101,
* M-Audio Tampa
* Presonus Eureka
* Summit Audio 2BA-221

I have an idea, Mr. Moon . . .


Why don't you go and buy all of the mic pres just mentioned, including the Safesound, and test each one out on a variety of mics and sources. And then tell us what you think. Because frankly, I don't think there's a guy alive with enough free time or interest to have done so. At some point you have to ask yourself if you might be over-thinking things just a tad.

 

[crazydoc]

...The fact that it has a real and ample power supply is going to make it a better performer than a wall-wart based model like the DMP3 -- at least in certain applications.

I don't have a clue what you mean by this. If anything, getting the power transformer out of the case would be an improvement.

 

[Mr. Moon]

I have an idea, Mr. Moon . . .


Why don't you go and buy all of the mic pres just mentioned, including the Safesound, and test each one out on a variety of mics and sources. And then tell us what you think. Because frankly, I don't think there's a guy alive with enough free time or interest to have done so. At some point you have to ask yourself if you might be over-thinking things just a tad.

I wish I could buy all those pre's and play with them! But, alas, my wife would personally hand my @ss to me on a plate if I purchased even a few of them!! ...Well, I guess that's if she *KNEW* I purchased them. I guess I could try to sneak 'em past her for some trial runs

And yeah, I may be overthinking it all a bit, or a tad, but I figure that if I'm laying down $500.00 on something that I won't get the chance to personally check out before I order it, I may as well be as anal-retentive as possible and research my options to the best of my ability. I figure this place is part of my "researching." I also figure folks here would rather see posts from me asking questions, rather than posts ranting about what a POS the thing is, right?! ...Or, maybe not



-mr moon

 

[chessrock]

I don't have a clue what you mean by this. If anything, getting the power transformer out of the case would be an improvement.

So what you're saying is that mic pres with Walwart power supplies are just as clean, have just as much headroom, perform just as well, etc. etc. ? ? Am I reading you right?

 

[christiaan]

I don't see the correlation between power supply type and sound quality either.
A good wallwart is better than a shitty internal power supply. It's as simple as that. In the end, all they do is pumping some juice into the unit.
And when a preamp manufacturer wants more headroom, well they just have to design a wall-wart that provides 24 volts or 48 volts or whatever they think is plenty enough.

As a matter of fact. Don't the big consoles have their dedicated power supply externally? Yes, they do.

 

[crazydoc]

No - I'm just saying that whether the pre uses a wallwart or an internal transformer makes no difference in it's quality, per se, assuming the power output of the transformer and the gauge of the wire are adequate for the power needs of the circuit (and they are minimal for a preamp.)

Now, if you want to say that more cheap preamps use wall warts than expensive ones, this is probably true, since it is cheaper in the long run to manufacture it without running line voltage into the box (likely won't need UL approval - the wall wart itself has the approval), and a cheaper circuit will only need one voltage, whereas another, probably more expensive one might need multiple voltages from a transformer.

If you took a given preamp and powered one individual unit with an internal transformer, and another identical unit with a suitable wall wart, there would be no qualtative differences in the signals out of the units (except the internal one would be more likely to show 60/120Hz hum if the tranny weren't properly isolated.)

Sorry to nit pick, but your post ...The fact that it has a real and ample power supply is going to make it a better performer than a wall-wart based model like the DMP3... made it sound like the wall wart itself caused the degraded performance, which is not the case.

 

[chessrock]

Sorry to nit pick, but your post ...The fact that it has a real and ample power supply is going to make it a better performer than a wall-wart based model like the DMP3... made it sound like the wall wart itself caused the degraded performance, which is not the case.

Yea, but you didn't quote the rest of my sentence . . . which goes something like: "at least in certain circumstances."

I realize I'm nitpicking, now, too. I don't know a hell of a lot about this stuff, either, so you can take what I say with a grain. I just know of too many well-respected audio engineers who seem to like turning their noses up at wall-wart stuff. Maybe it's just an image thing. Who knows? I think the DMP3 is great. I used one for several years and got what I consider to be good tracks with everything I used it on.

 

[acorec]

So what you're saying is that mic pres with Walwart power supplies are just as clean, have just as much headroom, perform just as well, etc. etc. ? ? Am I reading you right?

No. A wallwart supply does exactly the same thing as an internal supply. It is weather or not the Pre-amp is designed to be clean, with high headroom etc. Having the power supply detached from the internals of the pre-amp is a matter of debate as I have talked with dozens of audio-engineers in my career about this.

There are logical arguments on both sides and neither side can be disputed in any meaningful way.

(PS: I have designed for DBX and prefer internal power supplies, but that is just me)

 

[chessrock]

I have talked with dozens of audio-engineers in my career about this. . . . (PS: I have designed for DBX and prefer internal power supplies, but that is just me)

Wow. I didn't realize we had an industry giant amongst us.

 

[crazydoc]

Yea, but you didn't quote the rest of my sentence . . . which goes something like: "at least in certain circumstances."

But the point I was trying to make was that there are no circumstances where that is true, to my knowledge - and if there are, I'd sure like to hear about them.

 

[chessrock]

That's interesting, Crazydoc.

I can't think of any circumstances offhand, but I know a lot of techie geeks that would disagree with you and argue with you until they're blue in the face. But I have no idea if they're even right, or if they're just full of crap.

The whole "no wallwart" thing could very well be another audio myth, perhaps?

 

[crazydoc]

...There are logical arguments on both sides and neither side can be disputed in any meaningful way.

If you can put me in touch with the arguments I'd appreciate it.

The whole "no wallwart" thing could very well be another audio myth, perhaps?

Could be. As christiaan pointed out, some high end equipment have external power supplies. But of course, these aren't wall warts.
Personally, for ease of use, I would prefer just to plug a line cord into 110V. But for the cleanest signal, it makes sense to separate the power supply from the rest of the circuit, especially if it's a switching supply.

 

[Teacher]

well i know of 2 peices that use wall warts and have head room for days. the RNP and speck eq(i'm not to sure if headroom applies to eq's also)...try to clip those mofo's i dare ya....