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Post by kilroyrock on Sept 12, 2016 9:09:28 GMT -6
Correct, I have the half rack versions. They say they are the same parts, but my pre73 has a 24v supply vs 16v from 500 series. Same parts, but there is no room to upgrade the microphone level transformer, only the output transformer (from what I've read) You can get a pre73 MKII used for pretty cheap these days. The MKIII+ comes with carnhills
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Post by svart on Sept 12, 2016 9:28:52 GMT -6
My alctron pres are out for delivery today. I guess tonight I might see if they were worth the money..
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Post by kilroyrock on Sept 12, 2016 12:03:26 GMT -6
svart do you have a regular neve or other neve clone to compare it to? I'm sure you're do, considering you're like the audio batman
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Post by svart on Sept 12, 2016 12:12:17 GMT -6
svart do you have a regular neve or other neve clone to compare it to? I'm sure you're do, considering you're like the audio batman I do! I have a set of 1272's with carnhill transformers and original BA283's.
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Post by kilroyrock on Sept 12, 2016 12:30:50 GMT -6
svart do you have a regular neve or other neve clone to compare it to? I'm sure you're do, considering you're like the audio batman I do! I have a set of 1272's with carnhill transformers and original BA283's. Good, I feel I can actually trust your comparison on these then!
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Post by svart on Sept 13, 2016 7:15:22 GMT -6
So I got the preamps.
I didn't get a chance to get into the studio to try them out, but I did pop one open to take a look.
First impressions:
1. They are heavy. Maybe 2lbs each. 2. The yellow on the front panel is more like splotchy brown on one unit, and orange on the next. 3. The blue flakes off easily. It's either paint or poorly applied powder coat. 4. I don't see polystyrene caps like the original 1073, but I do see "Wima" branded mylar film caps instead. 5. Input transformer is shielded. Can't tell if it's Mu metal or not. 6. Output transformer is large. Larger than I expected! Smaller than the Carnhill reproductions, but larger than other brand reproductions. 7. Unit still had pieces of stripped wire and insulation inside.. Quality control seems to be an issue. 8. PCB edge connector is not beveled, might be hard to insert until I file it down. 9. PCB edge pins are all labeled with their signals. 10. Unit has "EQ" jumper/connector as the GAP preamps do. 11. "Air" setting shares the same switch as "polarity". You get one or the other it seems.
So far it seems like if you can overlook the aesthetics, and possibly do a once-over to make sure that solder blobs and wire pieces are cleaned out of your unit, these are a great deal, especially at 150$. It still remains to be heard how they compare to the real thing.. But seeing the insides tells me that it should be relatively close.
And by that I mean, as close as any clones are to each other, or to the originals. Even the original preamps were likely 10-20% different from each other due to the part tolerances of the times.
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Post by kilroyrock on Sept 15, 2016 6:13:00 GMT -6
Can you take a picture of the inside?
Input transformer is shielded on gap as well, I think all input transformers for neve pre's are. I'll compare it to my gap. The carnhill you buy to replace the stock transformers is a smaller format transformer, so that may be similar.
Is there a second transformer for line?
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Post by svart on Sept 16, 2016 6:19:21 GMT -6
Can you take a picture of the inside? Input transformer is shielded on gap as well, I think all input transformers for neve pre's are. I'll compare it to my gap. The carnhill you buy to replace the stock transformers is a smaller format transformer, so that may be similar. Is there a second transformer for line? Sorry, I just put them in the rack last night, didn't even think to take a pic! A couple other thoughts: 1. They are covered on all sides, and they are a super tight fit in a 500 slot. You can expect to scrape the blue paint off the sides installing them. 2. There is only 1 input transformer. I do not know if it has a separate "Line" winding, but putting in the "Line" switch sounds more like it's just putting in an attenuator/pad. More subjective thoughts: I plugged one up and matched levels with a 1272 (original BA283 and carnhill reproduction transformers). This was a 57 on guitar cab that I had set up for the recording session last night. Honestly I didn't hear much difference. The highs were very similar, but the lows were slightly less full (and slightly means very slight). I decided to do a different test and decided to insert one of the units in the main output path before the A/D. I matched the levels as best as possible and listened. The low end is definitely less full. The kick and bass pulled slightly to the side without the preamp, but the side with the preamp sounded a slight bit tighter. Cymbals and guitars sounded identical in overall tone, but I noticed a slight increase in midrange "focus" which made the guitars seem a little more apparent. This could certainly be a result of less low end making it seem more mid-range centric. Over the next few sessions I'll try some more stuff with these, but right now I'm pretty happy with them as-is. I think the money you save using these is much more important than the slight difference in sound from a more authentic clone or the real thing. Honestly I don't see much reason to go on an upgrade quest with these and I'm considering buying a pair of the EQs now.
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Post by kilroyrock on Sept 16, 2016 6:37:08 GMT -6
Well damn. That's deafening. What about in the saturation department? When I pushed my pre73 with stock transformers it was more ffff-y than with the carnhills, which I liked so much I used it on the bass I posted to the "what are you working on" section.
It'd be nice to have a few more neve style for tracking! A few more vp28's though too!
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Post by svart on Apr 13, 2017 10:45:26 GMT -6
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Post by winetree on Apr 13, 2017 13:39:42 GMT -6
Wow, They keep going up in price. I remember when they were $105 apiece.
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Post by kilroyrock on Aug 18, 2017 9:08:06 GMT -6
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,817
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Post by ericn on Aug 18, 2017 9:36:31 GMT -6
Wow, They keep going up in price. I remember when they were $105 apiece. That's the market!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2017 10:15:38 GMT -6
I've been kinda following the thread(s) about the Alctron Neve-ish pres on GS. One guy in this thread ( www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/1144195-alctron-mp73.html) posted gut shots and theorized it looked pretty much identical to a Chameleon 7602... however, in another thread primarily about this piece, someone who has one was talking about how the EQ is a bit wonky. www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/1166817-alctron-mp73eq.html?highlight=alctron"I have some old CL7602's here and the mid band is not like this^ at all..it works as expected.. the EQ73 mid band is humorously wide, my first thoughts were..WTF"
As with all of this kind of stuff, and because of my chronic gear-itis, I always take a dirty peek just to see if there's anything there worth noting, but it would seem, at least in my uneducated opinion, that maybe with mods this Alctron could be useful... maybe... though I have no intention of buying one.
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Post by kilroyrock on Aug 18, 2017 10:29:52 GMT -6
I've been kinda following the thread(s) about the Alctron Neve-ish pres on GS. One guy in this thread ( www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/1144195-alctron-mp73.html) posted gut shots and theorized it looked pretty much identical to a Chameleon 7602... however, in another thread primarily about this piece, someone who has one was talking about how the EQ is a bit wonky. www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/1166817-alctron-mp73eq.html?highlight=alctron"I have some old CL7602's here and the mid band is not like this^ at all..it works as expected.. the EQ73 mid band is humorously wide, my first thoughts were..WTF"
As with all of this kind of stuff, and because of my chronic gear-itis, I always take a dirty peek just to see if there's anything there worth noting, but it would seem, at least in my uneducated opinion, that maybe with mods this Alctron could be useful... maybe... though I have no intention of buying one. For 300 bucks, and I see inductors in those pictures, I think it's a pretty good deal. I'm tempted to buy it, but I also have a trip to tennessee for the eclipse and a birthday to pay for.. it IS 3 paycheck month though...
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