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Post by itzprime on Jun 13, 2024 13:52:41 GMT -6
I actually like the KT clone with the mod better than the original LA-2A. Sounds cleaner and more modern.
I also liked C here better
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Post by jacobamerritt on Jun 13, 2024 13:54:32 GMT -6
I actually like the KT clone with the mod better than the original LA-2A. Sounds cleaner and more modern. I also liked C here better It's been mentioned a bunch here, but - the KT-2A with the Kenetek Optocell is excellent. Game changer. Kenetek makes one specifically 'tuned' to the KT-2A, if you request it. |
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Post by doubledog on Jun 13, 2024 14:56:47 GMT -6
Yeah I wouldn’t expect there to be tons of difference in an a/b test as long as they have managed to get within approximate ball park. And since the outcome is also a bit source dependent I am not that surprised that vote comes out different than expected. I think it really would take someone super dedicated to pick a specific unit. This is why i think single source comparisons are difficult to call on. When you have them on several tracks you start hearing the overall character that builds up on various sources and the difference gets enhanced. we also did not hear the original track (before processing ) so we really don't know how much the sound changed overall in A/B(CD). Not to mention either could always sound better or worse in context (in a mix) so blind shootouts of single tracks are only good for one thing. |
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Post by doubledog on Jun 13, 2024 14:59:33 GMT -6
I actually like the KT clone with the mod better than the original LA-2A. Sounds cleaner and more modern. I also liked C here better It's been mentioned a bunch here, but - the KT-2A with the Kenetek Optocell is excellent. Game changer. Kenetek makes one specifically 'tuned' to the KT-2A, if you request it. I think that's what I have -- reverb.com/item/33853566-klark-teknik-kt-2a-2a-kt-t4b-opto-attenuator-upgrade-by-kenetek - but didn't realize it was specifically for the KT-2A/2A-KT? I thought it was just the standard version. But sounds great (I replaced the output cap and a couple tubes on mine too) |
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Post by jacobamerritt on Jun 13, 2024 15:20:21 GMT -6
Yes, he makes different versions for different comps- looks like you chose the right one by accident then! |
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Post by phantom on Jun 13, 2024 19:46:57 GMT -6
A for sure is much better.
But just because I saw that it's the real LA-2A. I actually not even heard any of the files.
But the more expensive one is the better one, it simply has more depth and warmth. CLEARLY!
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Post by geoff738 on Jun 13, 2024 19:48:13 GMT -6
I actually like the KT clone with the mod better than the original LA-2A. Sounds cleaner and more modern. I also liked C here better It's been mentioned a bunch here, but - the KT-2A with the Kenetek Optocell is excellent. Game changer. Kenetek makes one specifically 'tuned' to the KT-2A, if you request it. What is the degree of difficulty making this change? Cheers, Geoff |
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Post by notneeson on Jun 13, 2024 21:14:49 GMT -6
It's been mentioned a bunch here, but - the KT-2A with the Kenetek Optocell is excellent. Game changer. Kenetek makes one specifically 'tuned' to the KT-2A, if you request it. What is the degree of difficulty making this change? Cheers, Geoff On par with swapping a tube. Like the physical swapping of a tube. Nothing more. |
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Post by geoff738 on Jun 13, 2024 21:16:20 GMT -6
What is the degree of difficulty making this change? Cheers, Geoff On par with swapping a tube. Like the physical swapping of a tube. Nothing more. Ooh. Even I could do that. Cheers, Geoff |
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Post by Dan on Jun 14, 2024 0:00:56 GMT -6
Yes, he makes different versions for different comps- looks like you chose the right one by accident then! Yes everything depends on the binning of the optical element and how saturated the control path is beforehand that feeds it. When it works, it works splendidly with no control voltage bleed into the audio path like digital and pwm compressors but unlike them, everything is dependent on the physical optical detector used as a variable resistor rather than using a complex low pass filter on the control voltage that switches coefficients with time and polarity. |
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Post by jacobamerritt on Jun 14, 2024 0:45:38 GMT -6
On par with swapping a tube. Like the physical swapping of a tube. Nothing more. Ooh. Even I could do that. Cheers, Geoff Yes, it’s extremely easy on the KT-2A… It does require specific small T8 and T10 star wrenches to remove to lid screws, but I got a full set online that included the sizes I needed for like $5. |
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Post by itzprime on Jun 14, 2024 1:49:22 GMT -6
It's been mentioned a bunch here, but - the KT-2A with the Kenetek Optocell is excellent. Game changer. Kenetek makes one specifically 'tuned' to the KT-2A, if you request it. What is the degree of difficulty making this change? Cheers, Geoff Took me around 15 minutes and that was because one of the screws wasn't threaded correctly (but what do you expect from a compressor at that price). |
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Post by thehightenor on Jun 14, 2024 3:01:18 GMT -6
Out of context, I don't really like any of these. It reminds me of the compressor in the VoxBox, which changes the tone in an obvious way when compressing. It's a big part of why I eventually sold it off. I'm not sure I'd notice it in a dense mix, but I did in mixes (and tracking) I was doing. I feel a similar characteristic between these samples, but A had less GR, and is MAYBE the one I'd choose, but if I was in the chair, I'd use something different. Of course, that's just me. Contrary to popular belief, the LA2A isn’t a very easy compressor to use, yes it has only two knobs, but it actually has a very small sweet spot where the balance between the gain make up amplifier and the gain reduction work in balance with other. My favourite LA2A (after the original of course) is the Audioscape Opto comp - when it’s in its sweet spot I think it can sound truly great and capture some of that original Teletronix vibe  The ultimate easy two knob tube comp is the Retro STA Level - you’ve got to work quite hard to make that box sound bad |
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Post by Shadowk on Jun 17, 2024 6:31:50 GMT -6
I can’t say I’ve ever found an LA-2A hard to use if you have a modicum of vocal restraint. At some point it will clamp in the sweet spot with the right settings. It’s keeping it consistent on the quieter portions that’s the trick.
Although ime especially in the genre I mainly worked in it was a bit hit or miss because they’d not had studio nor classical training. I’m used to 2A’s and I was probably this forums main protagonist for it. However today outside of a stick to a classic chain to get the work done studio in search of my sound I’m starting to much prefer the Chandler opto.
You can really clamp down with that thing, take the edge off a bit but still keep things hi-fi. Certainly not the simplest comp to use out there but it’s worth messing around with.
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