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Post by hio on Dec 21, 2018 5:17:41 GMT -6
STAM AUDIO 1073MPA (Review)
PROLOGUE:
I finally get this dual preamp and I am stunned to find the power supply is now internal instead of external, the TRS outputs are now inserts and the output gain is now 80 dB instead of 70 dB.
This is not exactly how it is advertised even to this day on their site, and I am confused how a company would do this without consulting the buyer first especially on a purchase being shipped from South America to the United States or anywhere far away for that matter. So what do you do if you have a return, the shipping is around $95 just to the states? Will I have to pay the original shipping cost plus a return shipping cost if I want to return this unit with their 30 day guarantee?
THE GUTS:
After putting it through the paces and looking at the finer details I have come to some conclusions. First, the build quality is top notch. Many air slots on top so rack mount these or get them out of the way because you wouldn’t want to spill a cup of java or a bottle of cerveza on it, but it is really nice being able to see the guts clearly without opening it up and heat dissipation will be much better.
I usually purchase products like this in duplicate anyway so I am able to check if something isn't quite right by comparing the two to the nth degree and have now for the better part of a week. I even build my own custom computers in tandem and even then they will have a rare random independency on occasion with the exact same components and parts. It’s Alive!
I have found these two preamps to sound identical with only a shared power supply which by the way is dead quiet. It would be shipped back immediately if it didn’t pass this test. I finally got to the point of cranking the gain on both pres to 80db and so loud that my dynamic mic sounded condenserfied (sic) where you can hear a dynamic microphone almost turn into a condenser microphone and you can hear a pin drop. Forget about needing a Cloudlifter for a Shure SM7B and what I would call a good modification upgrade with an extra 10 dB of gain just in case.
Again, I cannot emphasize how quiet the internal power supply is at higher gain settings and the most you would ever go to or need. All buttons, knobs (Marconi) and switches are extremely solid and you can tell this thing was built with integrity.
I also found a hole cut out in the back labeled SUM OUT CH1 & 2. I assume this is there in case one were to want the BAE type Steve Stephens mod where both channels sum to one output when miking a guitar cabinet with two mics and blending them together for some serious crunch time or just for a more enhanced or complex type sound.
SOUND:
I chose the Sowter upgrade option for an additional $100.00 for the output transformers and this unit sounds rich and full with a deep bottom along with a full range of frequencies in a balanced spectrum all the way up to a smooth high end. Carnhill input transformers and Sowter output transformers on this upgrade and truly sweet and vintage sounding and I have four decades of experience dealing with hundreds of preamps.
DRUM ROLL:
RATING SCALE: 1-10
BUILD QUALITY: 10
MODIFICATIONS: 10
SOUND: 10
OVERALL: 10
FINAL NOTES:
STAM AUDIO has a reputation for being slower than molasses from its infancy to the present day along with this review with shipping backlog preorders, and I believe this will be changing soon now that they are finally getting the much needed human resources support.
Joshua van der Stam the brainchild and founder of this company’s line up of products I feel is an artist first and obviously experiencing a huge learning curve with the demand for his products and the backlog of delays that exist. He also lives and works in a country often called “país de poetas” translated in English to “land of poets”.
We all have our weaknesses even moi (duh), and I feel better knowing Einstein often got lost on most all his walks.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 21, 2018 7:05:51 GMT -6
If one never gets lost? How does one know the cost, Of not knowing, what life wants to teach you ?
Great and fair review!
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Post by Martin John Butler on Dec 21, 2018 8:44:29 GMT -6
My little SA73 has the Sowters and I'm still loving it after a year of using it, which is the highest recommendation I can give. I've had a few very well reviewed preamps and after using them a lot found them to be be missing something I wanted, but not the SA73. Down the road I may use other style pres for different things, but the SA73 is staying right where it is. Besides vocals, I love it on bass.
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Post by stam on Dec 21, 2018 9:30:37 GMT -6
STAM AUDIO 1073MPA (Review) PROLOGUE: I finally get this dual preamp and I am stunned to find the power supply is now internal instead of external, the TRS outputs are now inserts and the output gain is now 80 dB instead of 70 dB. This is not exactly how it is advertised even to this day on their site, and I am confused how a company would do this without consulting the buyer first especially on a purchase being shipped from South America to the United States or anywhere far away for that matter. So what do you do if you have a return, the shipping is around $95 just to the states? Will I have to pay the original shipping cost plus a return shipping cost if I want to return this unit with their 30 day guarantee? THE GUTS: After putting it through the paces and looking at the finer details I have come to some conclusions. First, the build quality is top notch. Many air slots on top so rack mount these or get them out of the way because you wouldn’t want to spill a cup of java or a bottle of cerveza on it, but it is really nice being able to see the guts clearly without opening it up and heat dissipation will be much better. I usually purchase products like this in duplicate anyway so I am able to check if something isn't quite right by comparing the two to the nth degree and have now for the better part of a week. I even build my own custom computers in tandem and even then they will have a rare random independency on occasion with the exact same components and parts. It’s Alive! I have found these two preamps to sound identical with only a shared power supply which by the way is dead quiet. It would be shipped back immediately if it didn’t pass this test. I finally got to the point of cranking the gain on both pres to 80db and so loud that my dynamic mic sounded condenserfied (sic) where you can hear a dynamic microphone almost turn into a condenser microphone and you can hear a pin drop. Forget about needing a Cloudlifter for a Shure SM7B and what I would call a good modification upgrade with an extra 10 dB of gain just in case. Again, I cannot emphasize how quiet the internal power supply is at higher gain settings and the most you would ever go to or need. All buttons, knobs (Marconi) and switches are extremely solid and you can tell this thing was built with integrity. I also found a hole cut out in the back labeled SUM OUT CH1 & 2. I assume this is there in case one were to want the BAE type Steve Stephens mod where both channels sum to one output when miking a guitar cabinet with two mics and blending them together for some serious crunch time or just for a more enhanced or complex type sound. SOUND: I chose the Sowter upgrade option for an additional $100.00 for the output transformers and this unit sounds rich and full with a deep bottom along with a full range of frequencies in a balanced spectrum all the way up to a smooth high end. Carnhill input transformers and Sowter output transformers on this upgrade and truly sweet and vintage sounding and I have four decades of experience dealing with hundreds of preamps. DRUM ROLL: RATING SCALE: 1-10 BUILD QUALITY: 10 MODIFICATIONS: 10 SOUND: 10 OVERALL: 10 FINAL NOTES: STAM AUDIO has a reputation for being slower than molasses from its infancy to the present day along with this review with shipping backlog preorders, and I believe this will be changing soon now that they are finally getting the much needed human resources support. Joshua van der Stam the brainchild and founder of this company’s line up of products I feel is an artist first and obviously experiencing a huge learning curve with the demand for his products and the backlog of delays that exist. He also lives and works in a country often called “país de poetas” translated in English to “land of poets”. We all have our weaknesses even moi (duh), and I feel better knowing Einstein often got lost on most all his walks. Thank you for your in depth review, I am pleased you like my work and thanks for the patience during the extended wait to receive your product. A few points I wanted to clarify: 1) The internal toroidal power supply is more expensive and quieter than the previous external one. It also allows you to use the unit in both 115V and 230v which gives the user flexibility in case of moving abroad, travel and to us as manufacturers. 2) The output gain is now 80dB instead of 70dB of gain as the MK2 version has 3 stages vs 2 stages on the original. While sound-wise it does not make much of a difference if any, it is closer to the original design. 3) We do not accept returns to Chile anymore due to endless customs problems. A client can return a unit within 30 days of purchase to our engineers based in their country and it will then be sold as B stock. Shipping is refundable if the unit arrives faulty both ways. I fail to see how an improved version (like it being quieter and having 10dB more of gain) would be a reason to return something, I would take it as a pleasant surprise! The Summing is exactly for what you mentioned, we will sell a kit down the line for those who want that included Enjoy your unit and thanks again for this in depth review, much appreciated. Josh
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 21, 2018 9:47:37 GMT -6
Perhaps just make note that if you are making changes to pieces in production just send out a update email or post it on your site fb page to advise clients of the reason for the change: then no surprises for anyone?
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Post by guitfiddler on Dec 21, 2018 16:04:57 GMT -6
When things begin to be in stock and the wait isn’t very long. I will look again into Stam products
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Post by iamasound on Dec 21, 2018 23:34:50 GMT -6
When things begin to be in stock and the wait isn’t very long. I will look again into Stam products Ditto
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Post by hio on Dec 22, 2018 17:57:20 GMT -6
Thank you to the few that voiced their appreciation for the review I did on this unit. This had to go to my editor and copywriter, and then along to my manager, agent, lawyer and publisher so it was a big deal for me and I never write reviews, but something inside said I just had to do it, so whatever.
Anyway, with that said, I just want to be perfectly clear that never did anyone ask me to write a review in any form of communication or anyone associated with Stam Audio for that matter. Scouts honor!
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 22, 2018 18:50:08 GMT -6
I doubt anyone here was question your genuiness.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 23, 2018 19:55:30 GMT -6
This had to go to my editor and copywriter, and then along to my manager, agent, lawyer and publisher so it was a big deal for me and I never write reviews, but something inside said I just had to do it, so whatever.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 23, 2018 20:15:13 GMT -6
I thought he was being facetious ?
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Post by jakeboy on Dec 24, 2018 9:04:53 GMT -6
I am waiting for a 1073mpa as well as an SA-67. Great review that makes me really want the 1073mpa to arrive before I start tracking my next album. Merry Merry!
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Post by jakeboy on Jan 10, 2019 19:44:15 GMT -6
My 1073mpa shipped today and will arrive next Wednesday!Woooohooooo!
Review to follow.
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Post by stam on Jan 15, 2019 16:38:54 GMT -6
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Post by brenta on Jan 15, 2019 17:06:06 GMT -6
Cool. Basically confirms what I’ve been hearing in my Stam 1073 with Sowters. The low end is phenomenal and the preamp is smooth even on harsh sources.
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Post by jakeboy on Jan 15, 2019 22:23:49 GMT -6
Yay! My 1073mpa arrived today! I need a couple patch xlr to xlr cables so I can start tracking with this bad boy. Looks well-built, powered up fine and is installed in my rack.
Gotta order a couple cables ASAP. Only 2 music stores in town and neither carry short xlrs. I plan to record this weekend and will then post a review here.
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Post by ragan on Jan 15, 2019 22:28:45 GMT -6
Yay! My 1073mpa arrived today! I need a couple patch xlr to xlr cables so I can start tracking with this bad boy. Looks well-built, powered up fine and is installed in my rack. Gotta order a couple cables ASAP. Only 2 music stores in town and neither carry short xlrs. I plan to record this weekend and will then post a review here. Got a soldering iron and some other cables to cannibalize?
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Post by jakeboy on Jan 16, 2019 7:45:58 GMT -6
Lol I sure do, Ragan and am considering going that route!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2019 22:45:04 GMT -6
STAM AUDIO 1073MPA (Review) PROLOGUE: I finally get this dual preamp and I am stunned to find the power supply is now internal instead of external, the TRS outputs are now inserts and the output gain is now 80 dB instead of 70 dB. This is not exactly how it is advertised even to this day on their site, and I am confused how a company would do this without consulting the buyer first especially on a purchase being shipped from South America to the United States or anywhere far away for that matter. So what do you do if you have a return, the shipping is around $95 just to the states? Will I have to pay the original shipping cost plus a return shipping cost if I want to return this unit with their 30 day guarantee? THE GUTS: After putting it through the paces and looking at the finer details I have come to some conclusions. First, the build quality is top notch. Many air slots on top so rack mount these or get them out of the way because you wouldn’t want to spill a cup of java or a bottle of cerveza on it, but it is really nice being able to see the guts clearly without opening it up and heat dissipation will be much better. I usually purchase products like this in duplicate anyway so I am able to check if something isn't quite right by comparing the two to the nth degree and have now for the better part of a week. I even build my own custom computers in tandem and even then they will have a rare random independency on occasion with the exact same components and parts. It’s Alive! I have found these two preamps to sound identical with only a shared power supply which by the way is dead quiet. It would be shipped back immediately if it didn’t pass this test. I finally got to the point of cranking the gain on both pres to 80db and so loud that my dynamic mic sounded condenserfied (sic) where you can hear a dynamic microphone almost turn into a condenser microphone and you can hear a pin drop. Forget about needing a Cloudlifter for a Shure SM7B and what I would call a good modification upgrade with an extra 10 dB of gain just in case. Again, I cannot emphasize how quiet the internal power supply is at higher gain settings and the most you would ever go to or need. All buttons, knobs (Marconi) and switches are extremely solid and you can tell this thing was built with integrity. I also found a hole cut out in the back labeled SUM OUT CH1 & 2. I assume this is there in case one were to want the BAE type Steve Stephens mod where both channels sum to one output when miking a guitar cabinet with two mics and blending them together for some serious crunch time or just for a more enhanced or complex type sound. SOUND: I chose the Sowter upgrade option for an additional $100.00 for the output transformers and this unit sounds rich and full with a deep bottom along with a full range of frequencies in a balanced spectrum all the way up to a smooth high end. Carnhill input transformers and Sowter output transformers on this upgrade and truly sweet and vintage sounding and I have four decades of experience dealing with hundreds of preamps. DRUM ROLL: RATING SCALE: 1-10 BUILD QUALITY: 10 MODIFICATIONS: 10 SOUND: 10 OVERALL: 10 FINAL NOTES: STAM AUDIO has a reputation for being slower than molasses from its infancy to the present day along with this review with shipping backlog preorders, and I believe this will be changing soon now that they are finally getting the much needed human resources support. Joshua van der Stam the brainchild and founder of this company’s line up of products I feel is an artist first and obviously experiencing a huge learning curve with the demand for his products and the backlog of delays that exist. He also lives and works in a country often called “país de poetas” translated in English to “land of poets”. We all have our weaknesses even moi (duh), and I feel better knowing Einstein often got lost on most all his walks. Thank you for your in depth review, I am pleased you like my work and thanks for the patience during the extended wait to receive your product. A few points I wanted to clarify: 1) The internal toroidal power supply is more expensive and quieter than the previous external one. It also allows you to use the unit in both 115V and 230v which gives the user flexibility in case of moving abroad, travel and to us as manufacturers. 2) The output gain is now 80dB instead of 70dB of gain as the MK2 version has 3 stages vs 2 stages on the original. While sound-wise it does not make much of a difference if any, it is closer to the original design. 3) We do not accept returns to Chile anymore due to endless customs problems. A client can return a unit within 30 days of purchase to our engineers based in their country and it will then be sold as B stock. Shipping is refundable if the unit arrives faulty both ways. I fail to see how an improved version (like it being quieter and having 10dB more of gain) would be a reason to return something, I would take it as a pleasant surprise! The Summing is exactly for what you mentioned, we will sell a kit down the line for those who want that included Enjoy your unit and thanks again for this in depth review, much appreciated. Josh is the summing mod/kit already being offered? for the upcoming 1073 mpa?
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Post by Bat Lanyard on Jul 13, 2019 9:00:42 GMT -6
When things begin to be in stock and the wait isn’t very long. I will look again into Stam products Ditto x 3
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Post by din on Jul 13, 2019 9:07:54 GMT -6
Can’t wait for the summing option! I use that on my TG-2 all the time.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 12:17:27 GMT -6
Can’t wait for the summing option! I use that on my TG-2 all the time. didnt even know that option was there, but thats dope. mine is backordered, so it would be nice to add it. is stam offering this already?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2019 22:24:05 GMT -6
it would nice to have a high pass filter on these unit.
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