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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 23, 2014 9:28:17 GMT -6
I'm curious if anyone's used both of these. If I was starting over, I'd consider the Manley, as it seems like a great one box solution for the home recordist, but I just read about the Retro Power Strip being used on Little Bg Town's "Pontoon". Not discussing the music here, but that was a major record, and the producer could likely have used anything he wanted.
I know the Retro is around $800-$900 more expensive, and that can buy a few good mics second hand, but when considering the sound quality only, which is better?
I know, "better" is subjective, subjective's fine with me.
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Post by wiz on Oct 23, 2014 15:51:37 GMT -6
I know someone who bought it, and sold it and then bought a portico channel strip hadaja |
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 23, 2014 15:59:04 GMT -6
Are you referring to the Core or the Retro wiz?
I see that it's a little less expense than both of these, but doesn't have EQ. I guess EQ doesn't matter if it sounds right in the first place ;-)
I've loved what I've heard from the Heritage Audio 1073, but that has no compression, and the Core costs $200 less.
Still would like to know which would give me the best sound. I realize at this level, it's all good. Somically, I like Lyle Lovette's "Road to Ensenada", some of the Alison Krauss and Union Station material, Lucinda William's "Righeously", Emmylou Harris' "Red Dirt Girl", and the vocal sound on Dierks Bentley's "Home" too.
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Post by wiz on Oct 23, 2014 17:14:04 GMT -6
the core
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 23, 2014 17:44:36 GMT -6
I'd love to try that Portico out...and the Powerstrip...
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Post by jcoutu1 on Oct 23, 2014 17:50:26 GMT -6
The Core is supposed to be like a VoxBox right? I've heard some mixed reviews about the VB.
If it were me, I'd take the Retro even though I haven't used either. I dig my Doublewide and love Pultec style eq...seems like a cool piece.
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Post by hadaja on Oct 25, 2014 1:48:37 GMT -6
From lengthy discussions with Eva and other happy and not so happy Manley Core owners (and some now previous owners), I would strongly recommend trying the unit before buying the unit. I will leave it at that.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 25, 2014 9:01:02 GMT -6
Thanks hadaja,. I like to look at things a long time before I actually buy something, so by the time I get something, I know I really want it. I don't always succeed, but I do try. Right now, I have the Warm Audio ToneBeast and the Warm Audio WA76, an 1176 rev D clone. In the ToneBeast, I switched one of the the opamps to the John Hardy 990+. The WA76 is killer.
From what I've heard so far, the Heritage Audio 1073 sounds great. The Retro Power Strip looks interesting too. It's about $1000 more than the Heritage though. By the time I'm sure want I want, I'll probably find one second hand and save some money. The ToneBeast does sound good, but mainly for vocals, I'm looking for the next level of quality. I love the vocal sound on Lyle Lovette's "Road to Ensenada"(U67) and Dierks Bentley's "Home", probably a (U47 or C12), even though he's not necessarily a favorite artist.
One thing I try not to do is what I call "throw good money after bad". I think there's no sense spending say.. $1600 (good money) if $2,200 gets you what you went. $1,600 too much money to not be truly happy with what you bought.
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Post by Johnkenn on Oct 25, 2014 10:12:51 GMT -6
From lengthy discussions with Eva and other happy and not so happy Manley Core owners (and some now previous owners), I would strongly recommend trying the unit before buying the unit. I will leave it at that. Was she rude to you? I had an email exchange with her years ago that was kind of shocking. I wouldn't own anything Manley to save my life. |
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Post by hadaja on Oct 25, 2014 13:27:20 GMT -6
Funnily enough Martin, I too bought the WA76. I sold my original rev F 1176 as I thought the wa76 suited my needs more and I could not be happier with that decision. I also enjoyed using the WA12 so much that I upgraded to the TB12. I am yet to try out a 990 swap out though..
My dealings with Eva were very pleasant, and yes I would be happy to own another Manley product if it fitted my needs.
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,978 
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Post by ericn on Oct 25, 2014 14:20:12 GMT -6
Eva Ann can rub people the wrong way , but I have always found her to be agreeable and down right hilarious if you get to know her, she can seam like she has a bit of an attitude but over time you realize she's funny as hell.
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Post by Martin John Butler on Oct 25, 2014 15:46:29 GMT -6
I'd likely compare the Heritage Audio 1073 too. Since I have the WA76, and it real does what it does beautifully, I can do without a compressor in the channel strip, but it could be fun to have a tube style compressor available as well.
Kcatthedog posted a shootout with the WA76 and a tube compressor he has, ( I forget the model), and every single listener preferred the tube compress, so there must be something to it..
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Oct 26, 2014 8:34:05 GMT -6
Two things here, MJB... 1 I know what you mean when someone reads "they used this or that on so and so record" but I guarantee on that Little Big Town record you like your hearing more of everything EXCEPT the channel strip, namely the room first, then the mic. Not being discouraging here at all because great channels strips will get you inches closer. 2 I'm going to make a silly recommendation here but a tried and true good one non the less... you live in Manhhaton so there's got to be 100 rappers in NYC with their Avalon 737's on craiglist for around 12 to 14k. Snag one of those up on the cheap and your set. Run that Warm WA 12 line in to it and use the eq, compressor and line driver. You won't find anything else you'll like better (I don't think, but could be wrong of coarse). Hey, and if you DONT like it, sell it to rapper  You won't lose any money on it. |
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You won't lose any money on it.