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Post by Ward on Dec 6, 2020 19:08:43 GMT -6
It is honestly in my top-10 buys of 2020. And it's all your fault, drbill <sigh>.... What is is new....... Please keep up the good work.
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Post by Coil Audio on Dec 6, 2020 19:27:22 GMT -6
I really don't like the Coil Audio guys but I would say buy their stuff its amazing. </sarcasm> You misspelled "mind altering audio orgasm"
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Post by drbill on Dec 6, 2020 19:28:27 GMT -6
<sigh>.... What is is new....... Please keep up the good work. I'm trying. Only by the grace of God with all the mayhem going on around here.....
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80hz
Junior Member
Posts: 63
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Post by 80hz on Dec 6, 2020 21:15:43 GMT -6
I haven't tried many of the options listed here but really want to check out the Coil stuff. BUT for a tube preamp I do have experience with, the Manley Force (4 channel) is insane. The only word I can think of is "silk" - which I realize is probably trademarked by Rupert Neve Designs, but the Manley Force adds something on top that I have never heard before in a preamp. Maybe not desireable on every track in a mix that's for sure, but for the stuff that needs it, its really great!
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Post by Vincent R. on Dec 6, 2020 21:53:46 GMT -6
The clips I’ve heard of the Retro Powerstrip always impress me. I’d love to try one for them out.
The Demeter VTMP is a great tube preamp for solid state and TLM mics. It just adds something to them. I initially recorded a BLUE Kiwi through it and it was amazing. It was THE preamp for my U87ai for a while. I thought it also made my old Peluso 2247se sound like a real deal mic. I only sold it cause I decided to go all Neve. Might just be an experiment, but that’s where I am now. Luckily I sold it to a friend and frequent partner in crime... I mean music. So if I need it I can just ask to borrow it.
I also loved my Tab Funkenwerk V78M. I really loved that preamp and hated selling it. It took my AA mics to another level. It was also really nice with my FleA 49. I really liked it in male voices and alto belter voices. It was not my favorite on Soprano voices though. Actually I used to record my vocals with the U87ai through this and then my wife’s soprano through the Demeter. Lol.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 6, 2020 23:06:27 GMT -6
You know what - I’m a moron - o totally loved the CA70 from Coil...that’s the one with the negative feedback right? I really need to look into the single channel version of that. The NF was like a super useful tone shaper...like different from eq.
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Post by zonkola on Dec 6, 2020 23:25:59 GMT -6
You know what - I’m a moron - o totally loved the CA70 from Coil...that’s the one with the negative feedback right? I really need to look into the single channel version of that. The NF was like a super useful tone shaper...like different from eq. Yep, that's the one. coilaudio.com/ca70s.html
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 7, 2020 0:23:40 GMT -6
I totally posted that in the wrong thread...but it works here too
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Post by shoe on Dec 8, 2020 14:04:52 GMT -6
I have more channels of vintage tube preamps than makes any sense, like 40+ kinds. The Coil CA-70 is the only one in the OP’s list that would match my taste. A lot of the vaunted later era tube stuff (post-1955?) I came around to thinking “why not just use SS?” Much of it lacks the vibe tubes are capable of, but keeps the part that’s troublesome. A lot of early SS does vibe ‘better’ without those problems. Really? I don't find the REDD to be solid state-ish, especially when comparing vs the TG2, which was meant to be its solid state equivalent. Of course, I did also put NOS tubes in mine that give it a more colorful sound than the stock EHX tubes (though I also quite like the EHX ones).
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Post by EmRR on Dec 8, 2020 14:12:46 GMT -6
I have more channels of vintage tube preamps than makes any sense, like 40+ kinds. The Coil CA-70 is the only one in the OP’s list that would match my taste. A lot of the vaunted later era tube stuff (post-1955?) I came around to thinking “why not just use SS?” Much of it lacks the vibe tubes are capable of, but keeps the part that’s troublesome. A lot of early SS does vibe ‘better’ without those problems. Really? I don't find the REDD to be solid state-ish, especially when comparing vs the TG2, which was meant to be its solid state equivalent. Of course, I did also put NOS tubes in mine that give it a more colorful sound than the stock EHX tubes (though I also quite like the EHX ones). Yes, really. MORE SS-ish is the key, not that it is SS-ish in comparison to SS. The good tube sound is mostly in the 1940's. Late '50's and early '60's is competing directly with SS products, and has compromised design constraints.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,934
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Post by ericn on Dec 8, 2020 14:31:13 GMT -6
I really don't like the Coil Audio guys but I would say buy their stuff its amazing. </sarcasm> See this what happens when it looks like the person your mic is named after is going to save the world, you get all snarky 😎
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Post by plinker on Dec 8, 2020 14:43:48 GMT -6
Really? I don't find the REDD to be solid state-ish, especially when comparing vs the TG2, which was meant to be its solid state equivalent. Of course, I did also put NOS tubes in mine that give it a more colorful sound than the stock EHX tubes (though I also quite like the EHX ones). Yes, really. MORE SS-ish is the key, not that it is SS-ish in comparison to SS. The good tube sound is mostly in the 1940's. Late '50's and early '60's is competing directly with SS products, and has compromised design constraints. I'm curious where you stand on the Hamptone, Doug? No negative feedback in that circuit and it's pretty clean.
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Post by EmRR on Dec 8, 2020 14:58:45 GMT -6
Yes, really. MORE SS-ish is the key, not that it is SS-ish in comparison to SS. The good tube sound is mostly in the 1940's. Late '50's and early '60's is competing directly with SS products, and has compromised design constraints. I'm curious where you stand on the Hamptone, Doug? No negative feedback in that circuit and it's pretty clean. I haven't used one. I don't have ANYTHING new. It should be ok if same as the DIY article circuit, it has a number of design elements that tick the right boxes.
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Post by plainofjars on Dec 9, 2020 10:27:13 GMT -6
I’ll throw in the Useful Arts pre as well. Not sure what it’s based on, but I love mine! I think the demos sound pretty outstanding. Surprised there isn’t more discussion about them. Did you compare them to other tube pres? What do you like about the sound vs other tube boxes out there?
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Post by EmRR on Dec 9, 2020 11:19:30 GMT -6
I’ll throw in the Useful Arts pre as well. Not sure what it’s based on, but I love mine! I think the demos sound pretty outstanding. Surprised there isn’t more discussion about them. Did you compare them to other tube pres? What do you like about the sound vs other tube boxes out there? Looks interesting, hadn't heard of it. Wonder if it really is a pentode front end (not my fave approach, doesn't mean it isn't yours) or a triode connected pentode.
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Post by plinker on Dec 9, 2020 11:43:07 GMT -6
From Useful Arts: "Nowhere to be found is the pedestrian 12AX7 — a popular preamp tube choice for guitar amps and mass-market tube mic preamp circuits."
Whew! Good thing they aren't using that stupid, common as dog shit, 12AX7 tube thingy that RCA created back in the 40s. Nothing useful ever came of that POS tube...
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Post by EmRR on Dec 9, 2020 11:56:54 GMT -6
From Useful Arts: "Nowhere to be found is the pedestrian 12AX7 — a popular preamp tube choice for guitar amps and mass-market tube mic preamp circuits." Whew! Good thing they aren't using that stupid, common as dog shit, 12AX7 tube thingy that RCA created back in the 40s. Nothing useful ever came of that POS tube... I hate that tube anywhere but guitar amps.....anything that had one in it never won, and I let it go eventually. But if you want a grainy glassy topcoat, it's there for ya!
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Post by nick8801 on Dec 9, 2020 11:57:04 GMT -6
I’ll throw in the Useful Arts pre as well. Not sure what it’s based on, but I love mine! I think the demos sound pretty outstanding. Surprised there isn’t more discussion about them. Did you compare them to other tube pres? What do you like about the sound vs other tube boxes out there? I feel the same. Just not a whole lot out there at the moment. Seem to be a lot of people using the tube di’s. I didn’t really compare it to anything. I thought the demos sounding really good so I gave it a shot. Really happy with it. I did my whole solo record with just that pre! I’d love a Chandler Redd, but it’s a little too expensive for me at the moment. I think the color knob really sold me on it. It can go from very clean and hi fi to more of a vintage colorful sound.
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Post by plinker on Dec 9, 2020 12:19:26 GMT -6
From Useful Arts: "Nowhere to be found is the pedestrian 12AX7 — a popular preamp tube choice for guitar amps and mass-market tube mic preamp circuits." Whew! Good thing they aren't using that stupid, common as dog shit, 12AX7 tube thingy that RCA created back in the 40s. Nothing useful ever came of that POS tube... I hate that tube anywhere but guitar amps.....anything that had one in it never won, and I let it go eventually. But if you want a grainy glassy topcoat, it's there for ya! Yeah; I hear you...I just don't like it when manufacturers try to distinguish themselves by putting others down. It's not classy, and we know that tube circuits are all about class!
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Post by EmRR on Dec 9, 2020 12:34:46 GMT -6
I hate that tube anywhere but guitar amps.....anything that had one in it never won, and I let it go eventually. But if you want a grainy glassy topcoat, it's there for ya! Yeah; I hear you...I just don't like it when manufacturers try to distinguish themselves by putting others down. It's not classy, and we know that tube circuits are all about class! I didn't see where they called anyone out, just a tech statement in my book.
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Post by OtisGreying on Dec 10, 2020 7:08:01 GMT -6
From Useful Arts: "Nowhere to be found is the pedestrian 12AX7 — a popular preamp tube choice for guitar amps and mass-market tube mic preamp circuits." Whew! Good thing they aren't using that stupid, common as dog shit, 12AX7 tube thingy that RCA created back in the 40s. Nothing useful ever came of that POS tube... I hate that tube anywhere but guitar amps.....anything that had one in it never won, and I let it go eventually. But if you want a grainy glassy topcoat, it's there for ya! So no love for an LA2A?
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Post by EmRR on Dec 10, 2020 8:16:33 GMT -6
I hate that tube anywhere but guitar amps.....anything that had one in it never won, and I let it go eventually. But if you want a grainy glassy topcoat, it's there for ya! So no love for an LA2A? Have a 12AY7 in mine, with resistor change. An LA-2A and a Pultec are similar in that the amp can be anything.
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Post by plinker on Dec 10, 2020 9:45:18 GMT -6
I hate that tube anywhere but guitar amps.....anything that had one in it never won, and I let it go eventually. But if you want a grainy glassy topcoat, it's there for ya! So no love for an LA2A? TLA100 too...
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Post by OtisGreying on Dec 10, 2020 17:20:53 GMT -6
Have a 12AY7 in mine, with resistor change. An LA-2A and a Pultec are similar in that the amp can be anything. Interesting, how would you say the 12AY7 changes the sound? Something you’d recommend?
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Post by EmRR on Dec 10, 2020 19:37:59 GMT -6
More relaxed, lower tube gain equates to a bit less NFB overall. I didn't make this on up, there were a lot of posts about it at GroupDIY in the big LA-2A thread a decade ago.
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