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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 20, 2022 8:32:27 GMT -6
Now that I have officially entered the realm of the 500 series, I've been looking at various pieces I could add to my rig, particularly those that would fill a void in my hardware. One of those would be an 1176 FET style compressor... or more likely a pair. I see a few out there and would love to hear thoughts and opinions on them vs the full rack counterparts. I would also love to hear what other options are out there.
I see IGS has their 576 Blue Strip Style 1176. I also see the Purple Audio Action 500. The consensus on that one is like their rack version its a touch more HiFi. I believe Hairball has their FET 500 too. Anyway, let me know your thoughts. Please keep in mind that I am not a tech, so I am not looking for a kit I would need to build.
BTW, If I missed a thread on this already, just point me to it. I did not see one.
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Post by phdamage on Apr 20, 2022 9:23:04 GMT -6
I haven't used the 500 series versions, but the Hairball 1176 rev A I've used sounds great to me. I only slightly prefer my Audioscape (rev A), but that could just be cosmetics (knobs feel a tiny bit more solid). I've also seen the Hairball 500 series assembled for as low as $400 on Reverb in the last year. unsure one would get that low again, but certainly lower than the $600 ones I see right now.
My first thought went to the Serpent Splice, but you could easily get a pair of Hairballs for the same price.
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Post by Quint on Apr 20, 2022 9:35:21 GMT -6
I haven't used the 500 series versions, but the Hairball 1176 rev A I've used sounds great to me. I only slightly prefer my Audioscape (rev A), but that could just be cosmetics (knobs feel a tiny bit more solid). I've also seen the Hairball 500 series assembled for as low as $400 on Reverb in the last year. unsure one would get that low again, but certainly lower than the $600 ones I see right now. My first thought went to the Serpent Splice, but you could easily get a pair of Hairballs for the same price. Serpent Splice is what I'd be looking at as well. Though I guess I need to check out those Hairball ones. I didn't realize they were going for so cheap. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2022 10:17:28 GMT -6
Another vote for the Serpent Splice.
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Post by EmRR on Apr 20, 2022 11:28:31 GMT -6
CAPI FC526. Not a clone, but an adaptation with the same "on paper" timings. Like API did an 1176, with a cleaner compression profile.
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ericn
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Balance Engineer
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Post by ericn on Apr 20, 2022 11:42:37 GMT -6
Serpant Splice, awesome great tool, pretty much nails the 1176.
CAPI and the action are more of artist’s interpretations. In my mind they are not really clones just very useful branches of the FET comp tree. Sort of like the real Daking FETs.
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Post by Johnkenn on Apr 20, 2022 13:18:29 GMT -6
Yeah. Good suggestions here. I haven’t used the transformer 526, but it might get dirty like an 1176 now. jsteiger |
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Post by drbill on Apr 20, 2022 13:40:01 GMT -6
Serpent Splice all the way. I've got 4 of em. Killer 1176's.
Another interesting option : A pair of Chroma's with 1176 color modules installed - Implodes. These absolutely floored me, and I've kept a pair of Chroma's spec'd out for this exact purpose - an API flavored 1176. Pretty much zero chance they are ever going to get reconfigured any other way....
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 20, 2022 13:48:56 GMT -6
Serpent Splice all the way. I've got 4 of em. Killer 1176's. Another interesting option : A pair of Chroma's with 1176 color modules installed - Implodes. These absolutely floored me, and I've kept a pair of Chroma's spec'd out for this exact purpose - an API flavored 1176. Pretty much zero chance they are ever going to get reconfigured any other way.... I've just begun exploring the Colour Modules. Unfortunately, they are not in stock lately. |
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Post by thehightenor on Apr 20, 2022 14:19:46 GMT -6
Serpent Audio Splice MK2.
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Post by stam on Apr 20, 2022 14:44:10 GMT -6
I make one, they are really cool to make
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Post by EmRR on Apr 20, 2022 16:01:43 GMT -6
Yeah. Good suggestions here. I haven’t used the transformer 526, but it might get dirty like an 1176 now. jsteigerThe dirt is in the FET reaction to compression, the transformer won’t make that particular dirt. |
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 20, 2022 16:06:35 GMT -6
I have some Hairball FET500 rev F and they are nice. Not the easiest kits to build. But sound great.
Id echo the Splice is what Id go for if not building something. 2 in 1 with the A and D circuit plus the mix and match is cool. Serpents stuff is always great.
From a sonic stand point there should be no change. The hairball ones use the exact same transformers and FETs in their full rack kits vs 500. Long as your PSU is up to snuff I wouldn't let that hold you back.
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Post by bgrotto on Apr 20, 2022 20:50:47 GMT -6
Serpent Splice is pretty darn excellent.
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Post by drumsound on Apr 21, 2022 0:38:32 GMT -6
I've had an Action forever and I still love it.
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Post by robschnapf on Apr 21, 2022 8:19:44 GMT -6
I love 526s.
But what I love about them is that they have familiar attack release behaviors to
An 1176 but sound uniquely like API..
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Post by craigmorris74 on Apr 21, 2022 9:43:23 GMT -6
I have a Hairball REV A 500 unit. It sounds great but I find that adjusting the input to get the right amount of compression to be a little fiddly compared to a rack unit.
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Post by Vincent R. on Apr 21, 2022 10:06:36 GMT -6
That Serpent Splice seems to be the clear winner in terms of recommendations. I have a hard time spending that much for it when I can grab a rack unit Audio Scape for less or a Distressor for only a touch more though. Hmm.
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Post by dougwendal on Apr 21, 2022 12:36:35 GMT -6
Another Serpent Splice user and recommendation here. Use it all the time.
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Post by robschnapf on Apr 21, 2022 13:10:09 GMT -6
What Vincent said ^^
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Post by Ward on Apr 21, 2022 14:16:40 GMT -6
That Serpent Splice seems to be the clear winner in terms of recommendations. I have a hard time spending that much for it when I can grab a rack unit Audio Scape for less or a Distressor for only a touch more though. Hmm. Street price is $1349, or roughly two Audioscape 76s.  (yes, I'm biased, no secrets here!) |
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Post by enlav on Apr 21, 2022 14:26:59 GMT -6
Has anyone used the IGS Blue stripe? I've heard glowing reviews of other pieces from IGS.
That Serpent Splice seems to be the clear winner in terms of recommendations. I have a hard time spending that much for it when I can grab a rack unit Audio Scape for less or a Distressor for only a touch more though. Hmm. Street price is $1349, or roughly two Audioscape 76s.  (yes, I'm biased, no secrets here!) I was hoping you'd say that 500-series versions were in the works. |
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Post by Ward on Apr 21, 2022 14:52:48 GMT -6
Has anyone used the IGS Blue stripe? I've heard glowing reviews of other pieces from IGS. Street price is $1349, or roughly two Audioscape 76s. (yes, I'm biased, no secrets here!) I was hoping you'd say that 500-series versions were in the works. I WISH!!! I’ll bring it up at the next planning meeting I promise. Maybe an A/D switchable |
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Post by enlav on Apr 21, 2022 15:01:20 GMT -6
I WISH!!! I’ll bring it up at the next planning meeting I promise. Maybe an A/D switchable Ugh, please consider my coffers first. I'm trying to save money. |
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 21, 2022 15:05:00 GMT -6
That Serpent Splice seems to be the clear winner in terms of recommendations. I have a hard time spending that much for it when I can grab a rack unit Audio Scape for less or a Distressor for only a touch more though. Hmm. Street price is $1349, or roughly two Audioscape 76s. (yes, I'm biased, no secrets here!) But also availble now, no wait or effort to buy. and its 2 in one...really its like 4 different units since you can mix and match the input/output stages on the splice. And it won't take up 4u of space. And the splice has built in parallel(huge) And a HPF side chain I love my 76A. But its not really "cheaper" either. Or even the same feature wise. |
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(yes, I'm biased, no secrets here!) 
(yes, I'm biased, no secrets here!)