Quote:
Originally Posted by jslevin  With all due respect to the frenzied 500 series crowd, you really have to twist things around to find situations where the dollars come out better. I'm glad you like the format, but these products have no place in a discussion about price points, because you can almost always do better by not paying for and tying yourself to a lunchbox. The math simply does not work. |
Not necessarily - I bought 4 512c preamps and the Lunchbox came free, which is a commonly offered deal. The 512cs cost $650 each, so four channels cost me $2600, plus I have the option off adding two more channels for another $1300 or so (depending on which modules are purchased).
If you were to purchase a new Great River MP-2NV, you'd pay over $2K for 2 channels, compared with $2600 for 4 channels of API plus the option of adding additional preamps for about $650 a pop. I've got a Lunchbox and a Great River, and they're both great, but you certainly get more channels for the same money with the Lunchbox.
Obviously you can stick whatever 500-series modules you want in an API Lunchbox, but I've chosen to go with all 512cs. I did purchase a 2-channel power chassis from A-Designs, but that was so I could keep my two 550Bs in the same rack as my other EQs.
Regarding the Sytek, I actually have one that I'm going to put up on eBay either this week or next. It's a good deal for the money, but I don't put them in the same league as the other preamps I own.