Tascam M520 in 2025 ?

[Pedro Dos]

Hello everybody,
I'm new here but I was reading a lot of discsussion here and always found help !
I hope you can help me today.

I have the opportunity to get a fully working M520 next week and i'm wondering if it's a good choice in 2025 ?

I will use it with an Antelope Orion 32 into my daw. I'am actually making changing in my studio and before this opportunity of getting the M520 I was thinking of buying multiples types of preamps 500 format or not like focusrite isa two, or neve 1073 clones, into my antelope orion again.

I have also a tascam model 24 for clean and neutral preamps.

Do you think it will be a good choice to get the Tascam M520, that I will mainly use for the preamps ?

Thank you

Pedro

 

[ecc83]

Think long and hard friend before acquiring a complex piece of 45 year old electronics. Even if everything works perfectly on it now (which I doubt) you have to face constant upkeep which will be increasingly difficult as the years pass and parts become ever more rare and expensive. If you are personally able to do the technical work, not so bad but employing a tech', if you can find one, will be expensive.
Then, what do you hope the pre amps will do for you? It is a big debate I know but I am firmly in the camp which prefers the cleanest pres I can get. Any "mojo" or "attitude" can be added with software or just buy a couple of "dirty" jobs for particular uses?

A quick scan around with Google has found several requests for service information so that could be an issue? But then there is the redoubtable Mr Sweetbeats on the strength here and I am sure he will offer excellent guidance.

Dave.