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Post by Vincent R. on Jul 19, 2021 7:37:30 GMT -6
I saw this posted in the DIY section by Blackdawg and wondered if the discussion might get some more traction here in Pro Audio. realgearonline.com/thread/12312/link-audio-designs-ssl-preampsI know I'm really curious how these units sound. They are being offered as a kit or assembled. I'm not a DIY person myself, but the pricing is reasonable for the assembled kits. I'm curious how they compare with SSL's VHD Preamp & 611EQ. Link Audio Design is currently offering: 4000 Series EQ. E Series Transformer based preamp. E Series Transformerless preamp. G Series Preamp. 9000 Series preamp. linkaudiodesign.bigcartel.com/products |
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Post by Blackdawg on Jul 19, 2021 10:00:01 GMT -6
Can't comment directly, but they should be a bit different I'd think given that the Link's are based directly off of the older designs. They all sound different just from the examples.
I haven't heard the brand new units from SSL but would imagine they are similar to the Duality pre amps. Which weren't bad or great at anything just nice work horse pre's.
You might have been luck checking GroupDIY for more real world experience with the Links.
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Post by Bat Lanyard on Jul 20, 2021 7:35:08 GMT -6
Would be great to have a set of the SQL's and the price is right. Shiny things on the internet at this point though. Would be great to hear from someone who's used them.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jul 20, 2021 10:47:08 GMT -6
Agreed. I wouldn't mind grabbing a pair of E series preamps, SQLS, and a pair of SSL's 4000 series the comps 611 DYN. It would be great to have a pair of SSL channel strips around when needed. Really want to hear some opinions on these first.
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Post by Blackdawg on Jul 20, 2021 11:36:52 GMT -6
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jul 20, 2021 12:01:13 GMT -6
The EQ pretty much nails the sound of an old 4K, with a the pre you would have the filters all they need now is the dynamics. Is it better than the plugins? Well here you don’t have recall and only one instance.
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Post by Vincent R. on Mar 30, 2022 6:46:03 GMT -6
Well, I just ordered my 500 Series Rack and a pair of the SLQ51X Brown. I'm looking forward to getting them and putting them through their paces. Will grab a pair of the preamps when they are back in stock. Also, will be on the look out for a pair of the SSL 611 DYN modules to complete the channel strips.
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 5, 2022 8:19:37 GMT -6
Receive the EQs last night. They are very clean and sweet sounding. The pots are nice. I'm looking forward to start using them. More to come.
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 5, 2022 10:41:06 GMT -6
Receive the EQs last night. They are very clean and sweet sounding. The pots are nice. I'm looking forward to start using them. More to come. aw what? You cheated and didn't have to build them??? psssshhhh jk I like them too. Very useable EQs. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 5, 2022 10:52:23 GMT -6
Receive the EQs last night. They are very clean and sweet sounding. The pots are nice. I'm looking forward to start using them. More to come. aw what? You cheated and didn't have to build them??? psssshhhh jk I like them too. Very useable EQs. Ha ha. I have said many times that I am not a tech. I'm sure I could learn, but I'd rather spend the time making music and getting better at recording and mixing. |
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 5, 2022 11:25:49 GMT -6
aw what? You cheated and didn't have to build them??? psssshhhh jk I like them too. Very useable EQs. Ha ha. I have said many times that I am not a tech. I'm sure I could learn, but I'd rather spend the time making music and getting better at recording and mixing. Nothing wrong with that. Plus these are not the kits I'd recommend to start on. Some tricky mechanical things. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 5, 2022 11:40:00 GMT -6
I'm hoping to grab (2) of their SLK-E01 preamps at some point and a couple of Royal Blue Colour modules at come point, as well as SSL's 611 DYN for a pair of full SSL style channel strips.
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 5, 2022 12:26:29 GMT -6
I'm hoping to grab (2) of their SLK-E01 preamps at some point and a couple of Royal Blue Colour modules at come point, as well as SSL's 611 DYN for a pair of full SSL style channel strips. yeah i liked the sound of the preamps in their demos. Seemed great. the colour module slot really makes them cool. Be interesting to compare to just DIYRE CP5 preamp since it's a pretty clean preamp and very affordable(and easy to build). |
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Ox Han
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Post by Ox Han on Apr 5, 2022 14:06:38 GMT -6
I bought an slk4E01 with the trx - I only have briefly tried it on mono OH and kick. it has a very tight sound and does not have much heft, which I think are SSL signatures, but I’ve no experience on an SSL board.
I can only compare it to the New six channel 500 and it is indeed thicker than that, but sounds less “open” which really makes sense of you think about open on one end of the spectrum and thick on the other. Both are fast and tight. Neither has much heft. I like what the E01 brings function wise for its cost. No idea if either pre will stick around until I use them more. I’ll try to post a clip or two in the coming weeks
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 5, 2022 14:30:40 GMT -6
I bought an slk4E01 with the trx - I only have briefly tried it on mono OH and kick. it has a very tight sound and does not have much heft, which I think are SSL signatures, but I’ve no experience on an SSL board. I can only compare it to the New six channel 500 and it is indeed thicker than that, but sounds less “open” which really makes sense of you think about open on one end of the spectrum and thick on the other. Both are fast and tight. Neither has much heft. I like what the E01 brings function wise for its cost. No idea if either pre will stick around until I use them more. I’ll try to post a clip or two in the coming weeks I want it more as an input section of my channel strip. Not sure how often I'll really use it as a preamp, but with the Colour Module who knows. I had the Alpha channel for a while and there were a few times it's cleaner sound beat out my usual Neve stuff. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 6, 2022 20:02:39 GMT -6
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Post by paulnajar on Apr 7, 2022 2:29:14 GMT -6
I bought a pair of the SL4kE01 a few months back mainly because it packs a lot of functionality into a 500 series including the colour slot which I have a quite a few of. I also use the 500 gear for mixing pre summing via 3 x Cranborne Adat 500 racks so these ticked a lot of boxes.
I”m comparing it to the pair of super analogue SSL pres I have built into a series 1 SSL Nucleus. The E01’s definitely have more heft and and colouration that the Nucleus ones as I expected given the transformers. For me I will choose the E01’sahead of the Nucleus ones given there’s a similarity but a bit of extra mojo to them. They are still somewhat clean and tight sounding but driven they get some nice grit. The filters and colour slot extend their functionality as well. I’ve mainly used them for drum room mics and to put keyboard synth sounds through when mixing. They were great for that.
I did a test sending a stereo drum loop of live kit playing a funk groove through them and driving the input quite hard to hear their style of distortion and then compared that to the same test through a pair of Hairball Lola’s and Avedis MA5’s. Certainly not as much heft or bigness as either of those but still very tasty and a more contained sound - not as big bottom. I’ve bought and built quite a few channels over the pandemic so I’m a bit spoilt for choice and need more time to lean the sound of some of it.
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 7, 2022 9:36:38 GMT -6
I bought a pair of the SL4kE01 a few months back mainly because it packs a lot of functionality into a 500 series including the colour slot which I have a quite a few of. I also use the 500 gear for mixing pre summing via 3 x Cranborne Adat 500 racks so these ticked a lot of boxes. I”m comparing it to the pair of super analogue SSL pres I have built into a series 1 SSL Nucleus. The E01’s definitely have more heft and and colouration that the Nucleus ones as I expected given the transformers. For me I will choose the E01’sahead of the Nucleus ones given there’s a similarity but a bit of extra mojo to them. They are still somewhat clean and tight sounding but driven they get some nice grit. The filters and colour slot extend their functionality as well. I’ve mainly used them for drum room mics and to put keyboard synth sounds through when mixing. They were great for that. I did a test sending a stereo drum loop of live kit playing a funk groove through them and driving the input quite hard to hear their style of distortion and then compared that to the same test through a pair of Hairball Lola’s and Avedis MA5’s. Certainly not as much heft or bigness as either of those but still very tasty and a more contained sound - not as big bottom. I’ve bought and built quite a few channels over the pandemic so I’m a bit spoilt for choice and need more time to lean the sound of some of it. How well do they work as input modules? I assume you simply engage the pad before running a line signal through them. Mostly I want to be able to use them to hit the SSL comp a little harder if needed. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Apr 7, 2022 22:02:01 GMT -6
My only problem with the EQ is just like real SSL is the lack of filters.
Yah I know in the SSL universe the filter is part of the preamp, but guys come on admit it every single one of us reaches for it during mix ( all line no mic level inputs) considers it a part of the EQ!
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 7, 2022 22:27:21 GMT -6
My only problem with the EQ is just like real SSL is the lack of filters. Yah I know in the SSL universe the filter is part of the preamp, but guys come on admit it every single one of us reaches for it during mix ( all line no mic level inputs) considers it a part of the EQ! yeah i loved the filters on the Duality console I got to use for a short time. Used them all the time. It's a downside to the EQ too as it does have them but not variable. Obviously not enough room for more knobs.. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 8, 2022 4:22:26 GMT -6
My only problem with the EQ is just like real SSL is the lack of filters. Yah I know in the SSL universe the filter is part of the preamp, but guys come on admit it every single one of us reaches for it during mix ( all line no mic level inputs) considers it a part of the EQ! yeah i loved the filters on the Duality console I got to use for a short time. Used them all the time. It's a downside to the EQ too as it does have them but not variable. Obviously not enough room for more knobs.. True, but it’s why I bought the Link over the SSL. |
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Ox Han
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Post by Ox Han on Apr 8, 2022 14:57:11 GMT -6
My only problem with the EQ is just like real SSL is the lack of filters. Yah I know in the SSL universe the filter is part of the preamp, but guys come on admit it every single one of us reaches for it during mix ( all line no mic level inputs) considers it a part of the EQ! I agree but I also really like preamps with filters. I personally think filters go a long way in shaping sound. It’s also pretty rare to find just a pre amp with both hpf & lpf especially in 500 format. These link audio preamps really pack a lot of bang-for-buck with filters and color module. I think they could be great utility preamps, but I haven’t used mine enough yet |
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Post by paulnajar on Apr 8, 2022 17:54:09 GMT -6
How well do they work as input modules? I assume you simply engage the pad before running a line signal through them. Mostly I want to be able to use them to hit the SSL comp a little harder if needed. There are two ways to build the pad as described in the build guide. You can either have them as a 20dB pad and no impedance change (don't quote me on the impedance) OR you can build them with a couple of different resistors that turn the pad switch into a true mic/ line switch with -30dB attenuation and a change to typical line impedance. You also have to put the input gain Greyhill to the 42 position. I went with the second option here and it works as described. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 8, 2022 18:12:50 GMT -6
How well do they work as input modules? I assume you simply engage the pad before running a line signal through them. Mostly I want to be able to use them to hit the SSL comp a little harder if needed. There are two ways to build the pad as described in the build guide. You can either have them as a 20dB pad and no impedance change (don't quote me on the impedance) OR you can build them with a couple of different resistors that turn the pad switch into a true mic/ line switch with -30dB attenuation and a change to typical line impedance. You also have to put the input gain Greyhill to the 42 position. I went with the second option here and it works as described. That helps. Thank you. |
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