Sytek over mackie?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Frankm666
  • Start date Start date
Well, I can't tell you topology wise exactly what makes them tick. I just know how they sound. Reviews as well of D&R stuff have always been incredible. D&R boasts extremely intense specs on their equipment. I remember reading a review of the orion a few years ago where the reviewer did not believe the specs. The reviewer pulled out all the test equipment and gave it a shot. Not only was D&R correct (I believe it was their frequency response specs), but the reviewer noted that his results were actually far better than what D&R had posted as a spec.

As far as Paul "blatantly pimping this board", I don't buy that. I remeber a while ago where someone accused him of this just because he mentioned a D&R preamp. He has n't even posted on here in quite some time thanks to several people here. It just isn't worth his time to have to out up with the crap others give him for being associated with a company. But, thats OK. It is what it is. I know him personally, talk to him all the time, and I know that he is a good guy with good intentions, that represents a great product line. Thats all I need to know.
 
You can talk until you're blue in the face about how amazing the specs are, etc. etc.

And yea, I'm sure Paul is a great guy to deal with. But talking specifically about his product, after asking him several times, he hasn't been able to offer me anything other than the fact that it's based on a 2017 instrument amp. Which has since been discontinued, so I'm assuming it's the INA217 now.

Anyway ... big deal. All of these chip-based mic pres have amazing specs. I'd like to know what sets his apart, making it worth the $500 or so price tag. If he can do that, then I'll shut up. :D Right now, I don't know anything about it that would make it any different than a DMP-3, Rane, Joemeek, or any of the other bargain-basement brands that do the same thing.
 
chessrock said:
You can talk until you're blue in the face about how amazing the specs are, etc. etc.

And yea, I'm sure Paul is a great guy to deal with. But talking specifically about his product, after asking him several times, he hasn't been able to offer me anything other than the fact that it's based on a 2017 instrument amp. Which has since been discontinued, so I'm assuming it's the INA217 now.

Anyway ... big deal. All of these chip-based mic pres have amazing specs. I'd like to know what sets his apart, making it worth the $500 or so price tag. If he can do that, then I'll shut up. :D Right now, I don't know anything about it that would make it any different than a DMP-3, Rane, Joemeek, or any of the other bargain-basement brands that do the same thing.
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Excepting any comments about Paul, I agree with this assertion. There are so many pre-amps that are chip based (and based on the same chip) out there these days that cost way less than $500, there would have to be a solid reason to charge that price. I know that the DMP3 is one good low priced pre for home recording. The best thing is to try them if you can and make any decision your own.
 
I agree that specs don't mean a whole lot in the scheme of things. What I do know about D&R is how it sounds. The D&R makes the whole mess of cheaper preamps listed sound pretty thin and dull. It has a good clean sound with a lot of depth. Yet, even with it's transparency, it does not seem to sound very dull like a lot of fairly transparent pre's can often do. I can't tell you why it sounds better (at least to me I guess), but I know it does. Other people who have used it seem to think the same. There are a lot of people out there who have used all sorts of really nice gear that also agree. I personally don't care how they do it. The only thing I care about in a build really is the durability of the unit. Since I only own a console that never moves (it weighs close to 2000 pounds), I can't even totally attest to D&R's durability. What I can say is that if the outboard preamps sound even close to what the consoles sound like, which I am told they do, then the price tag is very fair to say the least (remember it is a 2 channel unit as well). Sound quality wise it plays very nicely with a lot of preamps that cost much more. I have compared my console's sound characteristics to some pretty nice stuff. In the clean and transparent department it held up very well against Millenia and Buzz audio preamps. I have not had the fortune to compare it to a GML pre yet, and would like to get an Earthworks in the studio for a bit as well. In the end, on most tracks I liked the D&R sound better than the Grace, and even better than the Hardy's. Of course all of this is just my opinion, but it is an opinion based on experience and use. I have several reasons for reccomending this preamp. First, and most importantly, I love the D&R sound. Secondly, I have had great experiences so far in dealing with Paul from D&R, and D&R as a whole.
 
xstatic said:
I agree that specs don't mean a whole lot in the scheme of things. What I do know about D&R is how it sounds. The D&R makes the whole mess of cheaper preamps listed sound pretty thin and dull. It has a good clean sound with a lot of depth. Yet, even with it's transparency, it does not seem to sound very dull like a lot of fairly transparent pre's can often do. I can't tell you why it sounds better (at least to me I guess), but I know it does. Other people who have used it seem to think the same. There are a lot of people out there who have used all sorts of really nice gear that also agree. I personally don't care how they do it. The only thing I care about in a build really is the durability of the unit. Since I only own a console that never moves (it weighs close to 2000 pounds), I can't even totally attest to D&R's durability. What I can say is that if the outboard preamps sound even close to what the consoles sound like, which I am told they do, then the price tag is very fair to say the least (remember it is a 2 channel unit as well). Sound quality wise it plays very nicely with a lot of preamps that cost much more. I have compared my console's sound characteristics to some pretty nice stuff. In the clean and transparent department it held up very well against Millenia and Buzz audio preamps. I have not had the fortune to compare it to a GML pre yet, and would like to get an Earthworks in the studio for a bit as well. In the end, on most tracks I liked the D&R sound better than the Grace, and even better than the Hardy's. Of course all of this is just my opinion, but it is an opinion based on experience and use. I have several reasons for reccomending this preamp. First, and most importantly, I love the D&R sound. Secondly, I have had great experiences so far in dealing with Paul from D&R, and D&R as a whole.
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That is an opinion that is worth it's salt!

I will try to find a D&R to hear it myself. Thanks.
 
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