[alohachris]

Aloha,

Owned both the Avalon M5 & SP737 (both one channel only). Turned them over pretty fast. To my ears, both sounded a bit sterile, lacking in warmth. As an acoustic soloist, I much prefer open-sounding, two-channel preamps. I really like the 2022, but.....

LOVE the A-Designs Pacifica, Great River MP-2NV & the Pendulum MDP-1 tube better. Own all three for different purposes & mic combo's. Tried out (rented) more than 25 high-end pre's before deciding on those gems.

Of the Avalon pre's, I'd choose the 2022.

If I had to get one preamp & had a limited budget, I'd get the two-channel Pacifica preamp.

With more budget, I'd get a couple of Pendulum Quartet's or Millenia STT channelstrips if I wanted more features like compressors.

Compression is so over-rated & soul killing on acoustic instruments & many voices as well, IMO. Though an unpopular statement, I'd skip the expense of outboard compressor hardware & use digital compressor plug-in's very lightly if you must at all.

Too many people in the music business are far too happy to quash their music to death these days in the interest of reving up the volume to insane levels, IMO. I've backed off of most compression.

A Hui Hou!
alohachris