Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad McGowan  However, I still prefer the more forward presentation that the Pacifica delivers. It's less "soft" sounding than the Great River...
The Pacifica has a top end that is like no other preamp I've heard. It will consistently give you the most effortless vocal tracks you've ever captured. I find that I never boost the high end on vocals tracked with condensers through the Pacifica...
The Great River is versatile. It will give you a few different tones. The Pacifica will give you one tone, but it such an incredibly good tone that does wrong to nothing, so in that sense I find it to be more versatile...
For solid state preamps I like to think of the sonic spectrum being capped off by softer Neve flavors on one side and harder, more aggressive API flavors on the other. The Pacifica falls somewhere in between, whereas the Great River tends to lean toward the Neve side, to my ears. |
Interesting. This was my opinion as well based on my brief encounters with both pres in question. And I agree with your API vs. Neve assessment; I sort of categorize them the same way.
For what it's worth, for my needs, I'd been leaning more toward the Pacifica prior to posting. But, since I'm not a by-trade-engineer with my ear to gear every day, I've sought some opinion support here. Good to know my impressions aren't too out of step.
Thanks all for the input. Any other opinions, keep 'em coming.