Sytek over mackie?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Frankm666
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Yes.




Ha! Just couldn't resist the flip, one-word answer. I don't have either, though I play live thru Mackie XDRs every weekend.

From what I've read here, Syteks are a clear step above. But I don't say that out of any firsthand knowledge.
 
In my opinion it is most certainly a step up from any mackie. The onyx however has really closed that gap though:)
 
xstatic said:
In my opinion it is most certainly a step up from any mackie. The onyx however has really closed that gap though:)
Click to expand...

And this pretty much says it.

War
 
Okay- Grace 101 a real step up from Sytek?

Thanks for the help on this. I got a father's day give coming and trying to sort this out.
Frank
 
Personally, I would rather have the Sytek pre's than the Grace pre. Not just for the amount of channels, but I like the Sytek/Neotek sound better.
 
xstatic said:
Personally, I would rather have the Sytek pre's than the Grace pre. Not just for the amount of channels, but I like the Sytek/Neotek sound better.
Click to expand...

What do you like better about it? Also, what type of music did you use them both on? Just curious.
 
The Sytek has a smoother richer sound to me, but still on the clean end of the spectrum in comparison to other preamps. The Grace is certainly for clean, but still seems a little "sterile" to me. I can certainly see where this could be advantageous, but most of the scenarios involve incredible sounding rooms with the right type of music and amazing mics. I think thats where the Grace really comes into its own. For a clean transparent sound I like my D&R console preamps much better. The outboard version of those is only $475 ish for 2 channels. Thats less than one channel of Grace, and in my opinion is a little more versatile. It doesn't matter to me whether I record strings, acoustics, rock drums, electric guitars or vocals. In almost every situation so far I have preffered the D&R, or at least it has come very close to what I wanted. Enough so that I sold my Grace's. The D&R just seems to add a lot of Dimension to a track, plus it's part of my console which leaves me a nice short path should I want EQ as well. The Syteks are fairly similar to the D&R preamps to me (which is also why I don't own 8 channels of Sytek). The Syteks also just seem a little more versatile to me in that I could use them for Rock, or for acoustic stuff and feel pretty good about it. They are based on the preamps from Neotek consoles which are very highly respected consoles. Of course all of this is just my opinion, and every listens and hears things a little differently.
 
I was going to go for a John Hardy M1 but now...

Maybe the Sytek is they way to go. If I got the JH then I'm still tracking four tracks of drums through my old mackie 1202 (the first one.) (Two more tracks are RNP, RNC, and the two are the preamps in my 828.) Maybe one channel of JH as my gold channel might be the way to go- Or maybe I might need a better mic then the C1. AT4050, 4060, 4047 maybe. Thing is this is a father's day gift so I can only get one thing(either a mic, the JH, the sytek).... Very confused. Any thoughts welcomed. Thanks for the help,
Frank
 
I like my grace 101.

Haven't compared it to a Sytek, though.
 
Syteks are nice. Good utility pre's. Not too much $$$. Mackies, not so much. I havn't tried the Onyx yet, though.
 
I have read that the syteks are very quite and very good for classical styles of music like ensembles, strings etc. since it's very clean and clear. Although, I have never tried a sytek, but would like to. :)
evt
 
I haven't heard the Sytek outboard pres, but I have heard the pres on the Neotek Elite console. Those pres sounded really good to my ears. If the outboard version is similar to those, then it's definitely a step up from Mackie.

I've found that that the easiest way to tell if it's going to be a step up or not is to throw a mic that needs a lot of gain (like a ribbon and some dynamics) at the pre and see how it handles it. Lower-end pres will sound muddy, harsh, papery, disgusting, etc...
 
EleKtriKaz said:
I haven't heard the Sytek outboard pres, but I have heard the pres on the Neotek Elite console. Those pres sounded really good to my ears.
Click to expand...

I've heard that the Sytek's were suppose to be an improved version of the standard Neotek pres. I don't know if that's true or not.

I've found that that the easiest way to tell if it's going to be a step up or not is to throw a mic that needs a lot of gain (like a ribbon and some dynamics) at the pre and see how it handles it.
Click to expand...

The Sytek's I've used have worked quite well with ribbons.
 
xstatic said:
For a clean transparent sound I like my D&R console preamps much better. The outboard version of those is only $475 ish for 2 channels. Thats less than one channel of Grace, and in my opinion is a little more versatile. It doesn't matter to me whether I record strings, acoustics, rock drums, electric guitars or vocals. In almost every situation so far I have preffered the D&R, or at least it has come very close to what I wanted. Enough so that I sold my Grace's. The D&R just seems to add a lot of Dimension to a track, plus it's part of my console which leaves me a nice short path should I want EQ as well.
Click to expand...

How much of that do you think is the board, and how much the preamp itself? I'm just wondering if the outboard D&R preamps are going to have the good qualities you like in the board. Have you been able to A/B them?

I ask because my brother is going to be upgrading his preamp soon, and I am advising him on it. So far, I've felt like the Grace 101 is the choice for him, but the D&R is intriguing, and I like that it has two channels and a built in power supply I believe. Really wish I could hear it. My brother is going to be recording vocals mostly, for rock type stuff, plus some acoustic guitar and possibly electric as well.

I personally own a Grace 201, which I am *very* happy with. I've used it to record piano in some very nice studios, and it has been superb at that.
 
I have not been able to put the D&R outboard preamp up against the console pre's. I just have not had a reason to buy the outboard. I have had to take the US rep's word on this one. I have dealt with this person on many occasions and it was talking to him that convinced me to buy my first D&R console from him. It was everything he said it would be and more. Through my dealings with Paul (at D&R USA) I have really come to like and trust him. He says the D&R preamps sound just like the consoles. Not only that, but it has the topology of the newer D&R consoles which are one step up from even mine which I absolutely love. I am even thinking about making the simple chip swap in mine to bring them to the newer sound.

My last post may not have been conveyed properly by me. I do like the Grace preamps. I just feel like the D&R may be a better fit at less money, for more channels. I can't say for sure however how much of the sound I get is console related, but I take a lot of my tracks straight off the group out (much like a direct out since mine is a recording console with 24 floating busses). I really can't see how tyring them at that price would be a bad thing. I think if they actually marketed over here in the US they would do very well, and that the price may dramatically go up. I have actually talked with Paul about trying to market them more over here. The few people that do know about D&R seem to really love D&R consoles.

As far as the Syteks go, I can't say for sure exactly how similar they are to the Neoteks since I have never had the two side by side. I have done work on both though and the Neotek stuff is truly underrated and absolutely beautiful sounding. The EQ's as well. I really wish they would sell outboard EQ's as well. If you need more info on Sytek, give them a call. There is a good chance if you do you will actually get to talk to Mike Stoika (spelling? ) himself. He is a really good guy:)
 
I have zero experience with the D&R stuff.

But I don't particucularly care for the way Paul has blatantly pimped this board over the past several years.

When I last talked to him, he mentioned their outboard mic pres are just based around a 2017 instrument amp. Just like every other budget mic pre on the market, basically. Before I'd consider something like that, I'd need to know what it is about it that makes it any more special than any of the other chip-based ones out there, ala Joemeek, dmp3, aphex, rane, etc. etc. etc.
 
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