What's the best 1073 or 1081 kit?

Welllllll...
The AML ez1073 is just awesome and pretty easy to put together. Comparable to the real McCoy
The 1081 is a reverse engineered and direct clone of the 1081 but is a damn hard build with a lot pretty expensive parts. The ez1073 can be done rather quickly while the 1081 can take up to a year or more.

The AML ez1073 kit is an easy build, comparable to most of the CAPI kits (except there's a lot more parts). However, it becomes a little tricky once you try to fit it into a case. Dan's case fits well enough, but I had to drill out some of the holes on the front because the pots and LED wouldn't quite fit through, probably because of the thickness of the powder coat. You also have to be careful to align the switches perfectly square, or they'll have trouble fitting through the front panel as well.

You also have to come up with a way to mount the PCB to the bottom of the case.... the easiest thing is using plastic standoffs with 3m adhesive on the bottom, but you'll need a couple different sizes because you'll need the back of the PCB to sit up a little higher than the front. Lastly, the AML Kit doesn't have a power switch, so if you want one you'll have to enlarge the IEC cutout on the back to accommodate a larger IEC with an integrated switch. Or another option would be to use the existing cutout with a switch, but no fuse drawer, and then use an inline fuse inside the case. It probably sounds more complicated than it really is.... once you having it sitting in front of you, it's pretty clear what needs to be done. I didn't bother with a switch on the one I built, because I turn it on/off with a power conditioner.

Lastly, you'll have to source your knobs.... you can get them from Jeff (nice metal ones), or from AML (original marconi plastic), or from Don Audio (cheaper knockoff plastic). Just make sure you get knobs with 1/4" shaft size... a couple of the ones from CAPI are for concentric pots, so they won't fit unless you drill them out.

Here's a link to the standoffs I used... you'll need both sizes:

www.amazon.com/Adhesive-Standoffs-Height-Offset-0-6x0-6/dp/B00QW1QMSU/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484672735&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=plastic+standoffs+pcb+adhesive

www.amazon.com/Adhesive-Standoffs-Height-Offset-0-6x0-6/dp/B00R4ZT1FY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484672766&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=plastic+standoffs+pcb+adhesive


I haven't tried the Don Classics version, but it's probably a little easier being 500 series, but I haven't seen anyone compare it directly to the AML. I'm sure it's really good though, based on the positive feedback it gets.

Also, as opposed to some of the other 1073/1081 clones, the AML version includes both EQ AND preamp and features a separate line input if you want to skip the preamp. We shot out the AML at a local studio and compared it to several other neve style pres.... it wasn't even close IMO. The AML was jaw droppingly good, and the deficiencies of the other clones were immediately apparent to everyone in the room.

AML also has a fully built 500 series version if you want to skip the building part... I believe it sounds the same... it just doesn't look as cool Total cost is not much more than building the rack version.

Look at Sound Skulptor also.

It's mind blowingly fast ......... I'm on the east coast, and got one of my orders the next day. I'm not sure how that's even possible.... The other orders I've placed from AML have all been quick except when Colin was out of some parts on one occasion.

Note, my credit card wouldn't go through on the AML site because I guess there was some fraud protection setup, which had to be disabled before I could place an order.

Thanks gang.
I just don't have any neve style eqs in the studio and I miss those neve frequency points. Every time I work in a neve room I'm reminded how familiar and perfect those eqs are for some sources.
I'm sure as hell not gonna pay neve prices for them though.

Seriously??
Everything!!!!!
Acoustic and electric guitar, lead and back vox, bass, violin, rubbing analog goo into synths, taking the brightness out of piano, etc... *I feel like you already know this though.
By default during mixing lead and/or rhythm acoustic guitars get either 1084 into 1176 or 1073 into 1176. Lead is a Hpf with 110hz cut and 10k and 16k boost. Adjust to taste.
If i had 10 I'd use all 10.
Ive only used a 1081 eq twice but it was an eye opening session for me both times and made me really get why the eq is one of the most critical pieces of hardware in a mix. I have a vintage design m581 which is my go-to vox acoustic guitar preamp. Its warm and colored as all hell.
Fwiw I'm working on building a 1081 preamp with another dude.

Someone posted a very cool preamp shootout around here. It had the VP28's AMS neve the Don Audio NV73's. The AMS neve came out on top as sounding perfect for my tastes. There was also this amazing compression going on when cranked up. The fellow did numerous takes of each preamp and increased the mic pre gain as he went along. The DON Audio sounded alright but the AMS neves were way ahead tonally. I was thinking of the NV73's but will pass after hearing that shootout, they seemed to lack something in them. Now from all the rave reviews that I have read on the AML's I am very curious as to the AML vs neve. I wish Colin would revamp the look of his 500 series modules or even bring out a DIY 10 series unit !