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Post by basspro on Nov 18, 2024 10:06:26 GMT -6
Anyone know anything about these?
I had a little extra cash and was googling 550a's and a couple of these popped up at my local GC. I can't find a ton of info other than the API press release and a few posts on the purple site.
Apparently these are hand-wired. I've used the current 550a's before and while they're ok, I've never been super impressed. I picked one of these anniversary editions up and was blown away, though! Put it on a snare and it was immediate magic. I also used to track in a room that was a little rough sounding - put a mono room track through it and cut 400HZ and did a little top and bottom boost and voila! Huge, impactful room sound.
After that, I immediately stopped what I was doing and went back to get another one! (Still one left if anyone wants one - it was $950 and in perfect shape. They were apparently $2k new)
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Post by basspro on Nov 19, 2024 10:24:46 GMT -6
 And I guess here is why these sound so great! Absolutely geeking out over these - someone should grab the last one while it's there! |
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Post by copperx on Nov 19, 2024 10:44:35 GMT -6
Yeah, I saw like 6 of those a week ago on the used listinga. I was tempted for a second, but I finally decided I need to prioritize other analog stuff
edit
... oh wait, you mean the 50th anniv one
nice!
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Post by basspro on Nov 19, 2024 11:46:56 GMT -6
Yeah, I saw like 6 of those a week ago on the used listinga. I was tempted for a second, but I finally decided I need to prioritize other analog stuff edit ... oh wait, you mean the 50th anniv one nice! Yeah, I was just looking at regular 550's and 3 of these popped up and they were at my local GC. Wasn't familiar with them so I did a bit of searching and realized it was a great deal. I immediately headed over there and they looked practically unused. As soon as I heard the one I bought, I knew I would hate myself if I didn't get another, so I called them to secure it, lol. Still one left! |
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Post by basspro on Nov 19, 2024 16:53:24 GMT -6
Aaaaaand I've been duped, lol. Just opened these up and they are definitely not the anniversary edition, just a regular 550A with a gold faceplate and black knobs. I guess I don't dislike the new 550 as much as I thought though - I've been loving these. Fortunately I paid a fair price for a normal 550, so I'm not out anything, but bummer to realize I don't have what I thought I did.
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Post by doubledog on Nov 19, 2024 17:11:30 GMT -6
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Post by basspro on Nov 19, 2024 17:17:19 GMT -6
Yeah, unfortunately not hand-wired. I gasped upon opening the case, haha. But definitely a fair price for a like-new 550A |
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 19, 2024 17:36:55 GMT -6
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Post by doubledog on Nov 19, 2024 22:59:56 GMT -6
if you can find them in stock... I'd like to build a pair of those |
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Post by copperx on Nov 20, 2024 9:13:28 GMT -6
Isn't the BT50 its own thing and not like the 550?
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Post by Johnkenn on Nov 20, 2024 9:17:44 GMT -6
Isn't the BT50 its own thing and not like the 550?
It’s Jeff’s take on the Original 550. |
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Post by basspro on Nov 20, 2024 10:31:44 GMT -6
BT50's were my original plan. I was doing some browsing/shopping on Sunday and those 550's popped up at my local GC and were listed as the Anniversary Edition, so I freaked out and bought two as soon as I could.
Now that I know the truth, I may end up selling them for BT50's at some point. But I'm happy to hold onto them for now - I really don't mind how they sound.
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Post by jaba on Nov 20, 2024 10:38:12 GMT -6
Bummer that you didn't get the deal you thought. Glad to hear you still liked them though. I'm a 550 fan (pretty much all the versions) but am definitely eyeing one or two BT50s down the road. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts if you end up snagging some.
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Post by matt@IAA on Nov 20, 2024 11:31:35 GMT -6
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Post by jaba on Nov 20, 2024 11:50:34 GMT -6
I would LOVE to try the V25. I have a pair of your LH95s and they're on every mix. Love them.
I'm still figuring out what would make the most sense (both the style of EQ and where it fits best into the workflow) so likely not jumping on anything too soon.
Crossing the Can/US border sucks though. Really bumps prices up unfortunately.
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Post by smashlord on Nov 20, 2024 12:34:30 GMT -6
BT50's were my original plan. I was doing some browsing/shopping on Sunday and those 550's popped up at my local GC and were listed as the Anniversary Edition, so I freaked out and bought two as soon as I could. Now that I know the truth, I may end up selling them for BT50's at some point. But I'm happy to hold onto them for now - I really don't mind how they sound. I have a pair of modern 550As and I've used a BT50 a friend built. I personally find them comparable. To me, they are more alike than say a 550A and a 550B, which again, are subtle differences. I personally think the current 550As sound great. I know this is always a controversial topic, but a friend that has an a Masters in electrical engineering from Cornell always makes fun of those at the studio who ramble on about how hand wired sounds better. He maintains there is no appreciable sonic benefit over a well-designed PCB with good through-hole components. In my own experience, I think my Serpent Splice 500s sound better than the Rev D UREI I used for 5 years (had them simultaneously) and its full of "evil" SMT components. and then there was that time I posted a blind shoot out between my vintage LA-2A and my Warm WA-2A and everyone thought the Warm sounded better. Oops!  |
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Post by basspro on Nov 20, 2024 16:52:42 GMT -6
I just heard back from API and apparently these were a custom order. They had a customer who ordered their BOX console in gold and had these made up to match. I didn't ask how many were made, but GC had four and there are two sellers on Reverb - one with a pair and one with a single. So I imagine there were 8 total and there's another one floating around somewhere. (unless they had a gold 560 made?)
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,059 
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Post by ericn on Nov 20, 2024 18:24:19 GMT -6
I just heard back from API and apparently these were a custom order. They had a customer who ordered their BOX console in gold and had these made up to match. I didn't ask how many were made, but GC had four and there are two sellers on Reverb - one with a pair and one with a single. So I imagine there were 8 total and there's another one floating around somewhere. (unless they had a gold 560 made?) Considering the history of APi & all the A1’s that have been sold as A’s they would have thought “ not going down that road of reusing face plates again.” I should know better, but here is the thing if they or their dealers have any remaining 550 anniversary editions, this significantly reduces the value of those. In this day in age of CNC engraving this is just stupid! |
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