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Post by gouge on Apr 29, 2023 6:52:46 GMT -6
Am considering a pair of the hairball comps. Primarily because im chasing a fet linkable comp in 500 series thats affordable.
Wondering how they sound.
My only reference in hardware world are the purple actions.
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Post by kcatthedog on Apr 29, 2023 7:49:31 GMT -6
For what its worth, I had 3 76a, clones, Audioscape, HB and Stam, found the HB a little grittier: dirtier.
I currently have the stam 76 adf and the f is the cleanest circuit.
The HB boxes use very good parts, which, at least, with my HB76A, seemed to give it some extra texture in a good way.
I think you can buy, HB gear with confidence, as long as you know you want the F version.
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Post by ironinthepath on Apr 29, 2023 10:14:28 GMT -6
I purchased a pair of the Hairball Rev D 500 series kits to solder up a year or two back, haven't yet found the time to put in the hours. Has anybody here compared Hairball Rev D 19 inch vs. 500 series (or other flavors)?
Thanks.
Update: didn’t mean to hijack this thread, perfectly happy to hear about a comparison of 19 inch vs 500 series version for Rev F from anyone having experience with both. (I built a Gyraf clone years ago, Rev F I believe but with Lundahl input transformer using MNAT PCB, really liked it)
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Post by plinker on Apr 29, 2023 16:25:58 GMT -6
I've just purchased an HB Rev D (500), and I've been comparing it to my Stam 76D+. Here's what I've found (I'm using the Stam in solid-state mode -- no tube output): - the Stam is softer sounding with some extra low-mid emphasis - the HB is harder sounding and a bit leaner in the low-mid. I think the HB is truer to the EQ of the source, but the Stam sounds 'sweeter' -- not necessarily a good thing. I don't hear any grit or badness in the HB. If I were compressing vocals or electric guitar or fiddle (especially ones cut with the hard sounding mic), the Stam would be great. For softer instruments, like drums, acoustic guitar, the HB will be exceptional! If you really need a track to cut, the hardness of the HB will help. I'm really curious which one sounds most like an actual 1176D !!! PS: my use of "hard" and "soft" is derived from Stav's Mixing With Your Mind book. To me, legato instruments tend to be harder sounding while staccato instruments tend to be softer sounding. PPS: I'm not interested in arguing about this, in case it comes up  |
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Post by gouge on Apr 29, 2023 16:39:19 GMT -6
Can i read into your review that the HB has less mid forward push?
Im preferring true to the source in this case.
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Post by plinker on Apr 29, 2023 16:56:02 GMT -6
Can i read into your review that the HB has less mid forward push? Im preferring true to the source in this case. Well, I think they both have mid-forward push, but they do it differently. The HB is a more of an upper-mid chiseled push, whereas the Stam is a softer push with exaggerated lows. I think the HB is truer to the source, but the Stam makes the source sound better -- under certain conditions. I'll try to post some examples in the next day for you. |
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Post by Blackdawg on Apr 30, 2023 2:38:10 GMT -6
I have 2 of these if you want something run through them.
The Rev F is the most clean sounding of the 1176s. It won't sound nearly as "dirty" compared to an A or D.
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Post by stam on Apr 30, 2023 4:30:16 GMT -6
I've just purchased an HB Rev D (500), and I've been comparing it to my Stam 76D+. Here's what I've found (I'm using the Stam in solid-state mode -- no tube output): - the Stam is softer sounding with some extra low-mid emphasis - the HB is harder sounding and a bit leaner in the low-mid. I think the HB is truer to the EQ of the source, but the Stam sounds 'sweeter' -- not necessarily a good thing. I don't hear any grit or badness in the HB. If I were compressing vocals or electric guitar or fiddle (especially ones cut with the hard sounding mic), the Stam would be great. For softer instruments, like drums, acoustic guitar, the HB will be exceptional! If you really need a track to cut, the hardness of the HB will help. I'm really curious which one sounds most like an actual 1176D !!! PS: my use of "hard" and "soft" is derived from Stav's Mixing With Your Mind book. To me, legato instruments tend to be harder sounding while staccato instruments tend to be softer sounding. PPS: I'm not interested in arguing about this, in case it comes up Awesome feedback! This is because of the extra low end on the Sowter output transformer. I have 4 original 5002 here and the Sowter was the only one that reproduced this so I went with that. Circuit wise should be quite similar. Now to add more grit I added the tube output stage. I would be curious to hear how you compare them with the Tube Output engaged? |
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Post by plinker on Apr 30, 2023 7:38:29 GMT -6
Awesome feedback! This is because of the extra low end on the Sowter output transformer. I have 4 original 5002 here and the Sowter was the only one that reproduced this so I went with that. Circuit wise should be quite similar. Now to add more grit I added the tube output stage. I would be curious to hear how you compare them with the Tube Output engaged? I figured it must be in Sowter -- I believe you're the only one using those in the 76s. Why don't you use the Sowter in the 500 series 76A? Is it too big for that format? If you sold 500 series Rev D with the Sowter output, I would scoop them up  |
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Post by stam on Apr 30, 2023 7:45:01 GMT -6
Yes, they are very expensive but you get what you pay for. Excellent service as well.
You are correct, they don't fit, however, I had a company in the US make us a custom output transformer that does fit and retains the same sound as the Sowter. I could even use it on the rack units and might in the future.
By the way, all the upcoming SA-76-5A, D and F among other units will be built in the United States by a very special company. I'll have more details in the upcoming weeks. This units will serve all North American customers including Canada.
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Post by plinker on Apr 30, 2023 7:56:08 GMT -6
Yes, they are very expensive but you get what you pay for. Excellent service as well. You are correct, they don't fit, however, I had a company in the US make us a custom output transformer that does fit and retains the same sound as the Sowter. I could even use it on the rack units and might in the future. By the way, all the upcoming SA-76-5A, D and F among other units will be built in the United States by a very special company. I'll have more details in the upcoming weeks. This units will serve all North American customers including Canada. "SA-76-5A, D and F" -- in 500 format?? |
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Post by copperx on Apr 30, 2023 9:40:27 GMT -6
Yes, they are very expensive but you get what you pay for. Excellent service as well. You are correct, they don't fit, however, I had a company in the US make us a custom output transformer that does fit and retains the same sound as the Sowter. I could even use it on the rack units and might in the future. By the way, all the upcoming SA-76-5A, D and F among other units will be built in the United States by a very special company. I'll have more details in the upcoming weeks. This units will serve all North American customers including Canada. And will it have a bypass switch? 😃 |
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Post by copperx on Apr 30, 2023 10:02:26 GMT -6
Am considering a pair of the hairball comps. Primarily because im chasing a fet linkable comp in 500 series thats affordable. Wondering how they sound. My only reference in hardware world are the purple actions. I was recently looking for an affordable 1176 compressor with a sound similar to the Serpent Splice, which I really like from demos but find too expensive. So I used ZenAudio's Clipalator to download clips of all 1176-style compressors that I could find and conducted a thorough blind comparison. I found that the WesAudio Mimas and the Lindell 7x-500 were the only two compressors with a similar box tone to the Splice. It also turns out that the three units use Carnhill transformers. I bring this up because Lindell offers a stereo unit, the 77x-500, at a more accessible price of around $700 new. It might be worth looking into for an inexpensive alternative. |
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Post by jaba on Apr 30, 2023 13:09:32 GMT -6
Am considering a pair of the hairball comps. Primarily because im chasing a fet linkable comp in 500 series thats affordable. Wondering how they sound. My only reference in hardware world are the purple actions. I recently looking for an affordable 1176 compressor with a sound similar to the Serpent Splice, which I really like from demos but find too expensive. So I used ZenAudio's Clipalator to download clips of all 1176-style compressors that I could find and conducted a thorough blind comparison. I found that the WesAudio Mimas and the Lindell 7x-500 were the only two compressors with a similar box tone to the Splice. It also turns out that the three units use Carnhill transformers. I bring this up because Lindell offers a stereo unit, the 77x-500, at a more accessible price of around $700 new. It might be worth looking into for an inexpensive alternative. Other than the box tone, how does the Lindell 7x-500 compare to others? I mostly only know the OG Urei 1176s - Blue stripe, Rev D, Rev H - but curious to hear your thoughts overall. |
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Post by gouge on Apr 30, 2023 16:29:10 GMT -6
Thx for the heads up Copperx. I wasn’t aware of the Lindell. A great option.
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Post by copperx on May 1, 2023 13:45:15 GMT -6
Other than the box tone, how does the Lindell 7x-500 compare to others? I mostly only know the OG Urei 1176s - Blue stripe, Rev D, Rev H - but curious to hear your thoughts overall. I'm sorry, I don't have experience with the original 1176s to comment. The 7x-500 does not have fully variable attack and release settings (they're 3-way switches), and it's not as easy to dial in the exact attack for vocals as with my Stam 76A. It is less noisy than the Stam, because it's not a Rev A. The 77x-500 does have a fully variable attack and release. The ranges are extended compared to a regular 1176. You can dial the release faster than a 1176 to get some crazy distortion. |
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Post by plinker on May 4, 2023 20:00:15 GMT -6
Update:
- The Hairball is, indeed, truer to the source. Period. It's not harder sounding, like I said before. The source was originally hard, and the HB just did its 76D thing on it.
- The SA76D does add a softer syrup to the source along with additional low-mids. it either works or not. Again, I think it's no fail on legato sources like Vox, violin, etc.
- I have an SA-76A-5 coming this week. When I get it, I'll post a comparison of Vox on all three.
My goal is to shrink-wrap a bunch of 76s into 500 format and go nuts!
Sorry for the delay.
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Post by copperx on May 4, 2023 20:42:03 GMT -6
- The SA76D does add a softer syrup to the source along with additional low-mids. it either works or not. Again, I think it's no fail on legato sources like Vox, violin, etc. - I have an SA-76A-5 coming this week. When I get it, I'll post a comparison of Vox on all three. You described exactly what I hear on my SA-76A-5. It's like a syrupy blur that smooths and extends the source. Like the audio version of the image below. It's a beautiful thing.  |
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Post by abridge27 on May 8, 2023 3:42:06 GMT -6
Update: - The Hairball is, indeed, truer to the source. Period. It's not harder sounding, like I said before. The source was originally hard, and the HB just did its 76D thing on it. - The SA76D does add a softer syrup to the source along with additional low-mids. it either works or not. Again, I think it's no fail on legato sources like Vox, violin, etc. - I have an SA-76A-5 coming this week. When I get it, I'll post a comparison of Vox on all three. My goal is to shrink-wrap a bunch of 76s into 500 format and go nuts! Sorry for the delay. Thanks for this A/B. Very cool to read about your results here. I too have the SA76 d +, and notice a similar thing with mine compared to what my Revive modded Warm WA76 (also Rev D clone) sounded like... Minus maybe the high mid sculpt thing you mention, which the Warm had more of an all around clean but beefy / thick low end and push more higher up than high mids. The mod made it smoother rather than ratty which the stock was a bit. The D + is very smooth and elegant for a FET compressor and also hass a sparkle up top that gives it a cool fun chatacter. I've also had the SA76, (original Stam Rev A in 19 inch rack) which I've since sold (I miss it dearly) and it felt a little more 1176 to me than the D +, which feels like its own unique creature. Josh is a legend. Curious about the hairball as well, but feel like my Jim Williams special modded Aphex 651 has all the true to source smack I could ever ask for lol. Loved it so much I ordered a second one. Still eager to check out a Beta76, or Audioscape Rev F. as the samples I've heard are awesome and wondering if that revision is more my taste. Won't sell the Stam though even if so cuz it's just special. |
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Post by plinker on May 26, 2023 11:27:19 GMT -6
I got my SA-76A-5 (500 series unit) a couple of days ago, and have been comparing it to the SA-76D+. The SA-76A-5 has the same sweet box tone of the 76D+ -- so, Stam really did get the smaller Cinemag output traffo to sound like the target Sowter in the D. The A sounds great! I totally get why people like it on vocals or anything else that needs to be up front. It's a bit brighter and has some grip/texture to it. I don't hear any additional noise, relative to the D...and I'm pretty sensitive to noise. I'd really like to have the D in 500 format, please! |
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Post by copperx on May 26, 2023 21:38:44 GMT -6
I got my SA-76A-5 (500 series unit) a couple of days ago, and have been comparing it to the SA-76D+. The SA-76A-5 has the same sweet box tone of the 76D+ -- so, Stam really did get the smaller Cinemag output traffo to sound like the target Sowter in the D. The A sounds great! I totally get why people like it on vocals or anything else that needs to be up front. It's a bit brighter and has some grip/texture to it. I don't hear any additional noise, relative to the D...and I'm pretty sensitive to noise. I'd really like to have the D in 500 format, please! I agree, the 76A sounds beautiful. So when would you use the Stam D? I now want to buy the rev D. |
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Post by plinker on May 26, 2023 23:02:49 GMT -6
I got my SA-76A-5 (500 series unit) a couple of days ago, and have been comparing it to the SA-76D+. The SA-76A-5 has the same sweet box tone of the 76D+ -- so, Stam really did get the smaller Cinemag output traffo to sound like the target Sowter in the D. The A sounds great! I totally get why people like it on vocals or anything else that needs to be up front. It's a bit brighter and has some grip/texture to it. I don't hear any additional noise, relative to the D...and I'm pretty sensitive to noise. I'd really like to have the D in 500 format, please! I agree, the 76A sounds beautiful. So when would you use the Stam D? I now want to buy the rev D. I want the Stam D in 500 format. I'm not overwhelmed by the tube output of the SA 76D+, and would like to shrink the basic Stam D to 500 format. I think the rev D is more applicable, across the board, than the A. It's smoother with less brightness. The D is like a Lincoln Towncar and the A is a Chevy Camaro. |
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Post by niklas1073 on May 29, 2023 3:58:26 GMT -6
Update: - The Hairball is, indeed, truer to the source. Period. It's not harder sounding, like I said before. The source was originally hard, and the HB just did its 76D thing on it. - The SA76D does add a softer syrup to the source along with additional low-mids. it either works or not. Again, I think it's no fail on legato sources like Vox, violin, etc. - I have an SA-76A-5 coming this week. When I get it, I'll post a comparison of Vox on all three. My goal is to shrink-wrap a bunch of 76s into 500 format and go nuts! Sorry for the delay. Thanks for this A/B. Very cool to read about your results here. I too have the SA76 d +, and notice a similar thing with mine compared to what my Revive modded Warm WA76 (also Rev D clone) sounded like... Minus maybe the high mid sculpt thing you mention, which the Warm had more of an all around clean but beefy / thick low end and push more higher up than high mids. The mod made it smoother rather than ratty which the stock was a bit. The D + is very smooth and elegant for a FET compressor and also hass a sparkle up top that gives it a cool fun chatacter. I've also had the SA76, (original Stam Rev A in 19 inch rack) which I've since sold (I miss it dearly) and it felt a little more 1176 to me than the D +, which feels like its own unique creature. Josh is a legend. Curious about the hairball as well, but feel like my Jim Williams special modded Aphex 651 has all the true to source smack I could ever ask for lol. Loved it so much I ordered a second one. Still eager to check out a Beta76, or Audioscape Rev F. as the samples I've heard are awesome and wondering if that revision is more my taste. Won't sell the Stam though even if so cuz it's just special. I suppose price wise the manufacturing country tends to make some difference so I have ended up with some europe made units. I have a beta76, If I would live in the u.s. I would likely have ended up with an audioscape or stam. But I am thrilled with the beta. It’s smooth but with a nice character. I mainly use the “vintage mode” with the carnhill. But in the modern mode you can get it really clean. I have other polish units too and they have something in common. In addition to being great sounding, to my ear at lest, the build quality is top notch. I don’t know how similar sounding their 500 version Mimas is, but that has an interesting digital recall built in and also do have the carnhill. I use only rack units, but with my experience of their 19” products, an interesting 500 series to throw into the alternatives here could be the IGS blue stripe. |
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Post by Ward on May 29, 2023 6:15:33 GMT -6
I agree, the 76A sounds beautiful. So when would you use the Stam D? I now want to buy the rev D. I want the Stam D in 500 format. I'm not overwhelmed by the tube output of the SA 76D+, and would like to shrink the basic Stam D to 500 format. I think the rev D is more applicable, across the board, than the A. It's smoother with less brightness. The D is like a Lincoln Towncar and the A is a Chevy Camaro. I pretty much agree with both your posts in this thread, and see your point on the sweet spot! If we are using car analogies, The 1176 A revision is the Corvette The 1176 D revision is the Charger and the 1176 F revision is the towncar. The G and H revisions are K Cars. (except for the 1178 which shines like magic on certain applications) |
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Post by chessparov on May 29, 2023 11:35:33 GMT -6
Gee that makes my Nanocompressor a Yugo.
But at least I can leave still leave it in push button Automatic.
Like an Edsel.
Chris
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