How hard are these to build for someone who has only built cables ?
If you're handy, patient and methodical you should be fine. Read thru the build manual a couple of times. www.thedonclassics.com/nv73/manual/nv73-diy-manual.pdf You could also read Chunger's build manuals for CAPI kits at GDIY. They are very detailed and educational. A good bench with proper lighting. Some kind of visor or glasses with magnifying glass is one of my best tips. Then the proper tools of course realgearonline.com/thread/419/started-diy-master-tools-list
How hard are these to build for someone who has only built cables ?
If you're handy, patient and methodical you should be fine. Read thru the build manual a couple of times. www.thedonclassics.com/nv73/manual/nv73-diy-manual.pdf You could also read Chunger's build manuals for CAPI kits at GDIY. They are very detailed and educational. A good bench with proper lighting. Some kind of visor or glasses with magnifying glass is one of my best tips. Then the proper tools of course realgearonline.com/thread/419/started-diy-master-tools-list
Thank you for the links... Do you know the price of 2 nv73+eq complete diy kits vs already built? I would also need to build a power supply or purchase one and don't know if I should do that or stick with 19 " gear... Your rack of don classics has me drooling on myself.... Thanks
If you're handy, patient and methodical you should be fine. Read thru the build manual a couple of times. www.thedonclassics.com/nv73/manual/nv73-diy-manual.pdf You could also read Chunger's build manuals for CAPI kits at GDIY. They are very detailed and educational. A good bench with proper lighting. Some kind of visor or glasses with magnifying glass is one of my best tips. Then the proper tools of course realgearonline.com/thread/419/started-diy-master-tools-list
Thank you for the links... Do you know the price of 2 nv73+eq complete diy kits vs already built? I would also need to build a power supply or purchase one and don't know if I should do that or stick with 19 " gear... Your rack of don classics has me drooling on myself.... Thanks
Thank you for the links... Do you know the price of 2 nv73+eq complete diy kits vs already built? I would also need to build a power supply or purchase one and don't know if I should do that or stick with 19 " gear... Your rack of don classics has me drooling on myself.... Thanks
No, I don't know prices for assembled 73s with eq
Ok thank you... last but not least lol, how do they sound compared to other neve pres or preamps in general?
jcoutu1 do you diy? I'm thinking bout grabbing two pre + eq...
I don't have any soldering tools or an oscilloscope ( even use this? Shows my noob ness) or whatever tools are needed to actually test if the unit works properly etc. I know there are follow along threads and people to reach out too for help which is cool! Lastly what type of 500 series rack for these ? Are the AML ez1073 50% better? Is a bae or real neve 6 times better ( cost / sound wise )
Ok thank you... last but not least lol, how do they sound compared to other neve pres or preamps in general?
Did you see the shootout I did a couple of years ago? That was on drums. For drums with a bit of attitude I slightly prefer the AMS/Neves. But for like everything else I slightly prefer the NV73s. Still.. at my place the AMS/Neves are hooked up to my patchbay and always ready to go, so I'm using them only. NV73s are in portable racks for on location recordings. I'm too lazy to set them up for the everyday recording. As mentioned earlier in this thread I wasn't impressed by the NV73 eq. It's ok, and for moderate stuff or just some HPF perfectly fine. Your mileage may and will probably vary.
jcoutu1 do you diy? I'm thinking bout grabbing two pre + eq...
I don't have any soldering tools or an oscilloscope ( even use this? Shows my noob ness) or whatever tools are needed to actually test if the unit works properly etc. I know there are follow along threads and people to reach out too for help which is cool! Lastly what type of 500 series rack for these ? Are the AML ez1073 50% better? Is a bae or real neve 6 times better ( cost / sound wise )
I trimmed all mine with a DMM only. David @ Don Classics said I'd be fine. i know that they are probably a few mV off from optimal performance (max headroom) but I don't care. They sound great. There should be a tool list at the DON site. Can't advice what racks/PSU to put them in. They can be made both standard 16V or 51X 24V, but I guess you know that by now.
jcoutu1 do you diy? I'm thinking bout grabbing two pre + eq...
I don't have any soldering tools or an oscilloscope ( even use this? Shows my noob ness) or whatever tools are needed to actually test if the unit works properly etc. I know there are follow along threads and people to reach out too for help which is cool! Lastly what type of 500 series rack for these ? Are the AML ez1073 50% better? Is a bae or real neve 6 times better ( cost / sound wise )
I trimmed all mine with a DMM only. David @ Don Classics said I'd be fine. i know that they are probably a few mV off from optimal performance (max headroom) but I don't care. They sound great. There should be a tool list at the DON site. Can't advice what racks/PSU to put them in. They can be made both standard 16V or 51X 24V, but I guess you know that by now.
Yes thanks for all your help! After reading thru the thread, I saw that your AMS Neve are still king of the hill in regards to sonic texture and Yes I read they the big thread with the drums which was awesome by the way thank you for doing that. I don't have any AMS Neve eq's and not having any other HW eq to a/b I figured I would be more than happy with the eq's sound. Prob better than my UAD right 🤣🤓 ( I know, context is a everything ). I have a dmm or two as well.
Which racks are 16V the API and Lindell style? Which are 24V? I understand how they work just dont know which is which, I'm a 500 series noob lol 😀
They're all 16 volt except the 51x which can handle 24v, which is only available for DIY. I would skip the Lindell and the other super low budget ones, and go for radial, purple, API, CAPI, etc.
There's a few DIY modules out there that only work on the 51x, but everything else is 16v compatible. IMO, don't bother with the 51x unless there's something specific you want that only works with 24v. Nowadays almost all the DIY kits have been designed to work with either.
Post by shiftingdullness on Mar 13, 2018 23:52:19 GMT -6
Well, just thought I'd show how vintage components could fit - David built these for me so not really DIY, but maybe helpful pics anyway.
Vintage LO1166s can be trimmed to fit in a single space NV73, and NOS Mullard Mustard caps can be fit into most all spaces.
The last pic shows 4 NV73EQs with LO1166s, Mustard Caps, and 3 Marinair T1444/10468 input transformers and 1 St Ives 10468 (far right).
The NV73EQs compared to the NV73 like for like - all with Marinair T1444/LO1166 combo - reveals to me a more polished sound coming from the NV73EQ, and a slightly more raucous sound from the NV73, presumably due to the lack of loading.
Well, just thought I'd show how vintage components could fit - David built these for me so not really DIY, but maybe helpful pics anyway.
Vintage LO1166s can be trimmed to fit in a single space NV73, and NOS Mullard Mustard caps can be fit into most all spaces.
The last pic shows 4 NV73EQs with LO1166s, Mustard Caps, and 3 Marinair T1444/10468 input transformers and 1 St Ives 10468 (far right).
The NV73EQs compared to the NV73 like for like - all with Marinair T1444/LO1166 combo - reveals to me a more polished sound coming from the NV73EQ, and a slightly more raucous sound from the NV73, presumably due to the lack of loading.
Post by shiftingdullness on Mar 14, 2018 12:25:38 GMT -6
Thank you John. Happy to be here in this epic thread. I see it was mentioned earlier, but I agree these units are much lower noise than I expected. Recently recorded a whisper quiet source, had to really crank it, and didn't have any issues.
Also, another pic - the navy blue/gray color scheme of the Don Classics NV73 matches some late 60s Neve 1272s I had. AMS Neve can't seem to get it this close.
If you look at the manual, the EQ board is a sort of piggyback to the pre, with no 500 series edge connector. Which would mean the unit is double width, but does not have a double connector.
Besides, the pre side does not – unlike the AML – have a mic / line switch, or a line gain rotary (I can't recall right now if the AML also has a dedicated line transformer as well), so you'd have a hard time selecting your input.
But still – it sounds fantastic and is a fun build. Best of luck!
(I have two NV-73s, but didn't add the Eq. I also have a pair of AMLs. They're all great, and fairly similar soundwise)
If you look at the manual, the EQ board is a sort of piggyback to the pre, with no 500 series edge connector. Which would mean the unit is double width, but does not have a double connector.
Besides, the pre side does not – unlike the AML – have a mic / line switch, or a line gain rotary (I can't recall right now if the AML also has a dedicated line transformer as well), so you'd have a hard time selecting your input.
But still – it sounds fantastic and is a fun build. Best of luck!
(I have two NV-73s, but didn't add the Eq. I also have a pair of AMLs. They're all great, and fairly similar soundwise)
Ahh, this clarifies a lot. I read the manual, but I unfortunately don't really understand it, haha.
But thanks for the information. This pretty much confirms that I probably will have to grab the AML.
