LA-2A, The Love Triangle

[soupking]

Okay, I've heard from industry professionals that:

a) nothing sounds as good as the original, believe it

b) the UA re-issue is made from the same parts with the same design, the mystic is fan-fare

c) making a clone of the original (or the re-issue for that matter) is more labor intensive than it is difficult to build if you are savvy with electrical wiring and soltering

So, I guess above all an opinion is an opinion, and if I want any solid answers I'd have to compare them myself. However, I find it odd that there can be such a wide spectrum of analysis over a machine. Then again, the act of compression can tend to be rather subjective on it's own anyway.

What a mysterious design.

[Led]

Plus there were a few revisions, the reissue is based on revision 2 I think? THe model after that changed to a UTC input transformer, and then in the midish to late 70's Urei brought it back briefly with the Urei badge on it, which I beleive was the same as revision 3 of the Teltronix one. Plus in the older ones the TB4 opto cell reacts differently in each one as the characteristics of the cell change with age. I ahve one of the Urei ones and have thought in the back of my mind maybe I should get one of the original input transformers an atx100 or something on ebay an try it out but I love the way mine sounds.
There is a site somewhere, maybe a Urei history site? that has a lot of info on them.

[soupking]

That would be cool.

I still haven't figured out in my mind which way to go. I've got to save for something like that first, but speculation is free.

[David Kulka]

Originally Posted by soupking

Okay, I've heard from industry professionals that:

a) nothing sounds as good as the original, believe it

b) the UA re-issue is made from the same parts with the same design, the mystic is fan-fare

c) making a clone of the original (or the re-issue for that matter) is more labor intensive than it is difficult to build if you are savvy with electrical wiring and soltering.

a) disagree, b) agree. Most of the original LA2A's in use haven't been serviced in ages and are nowhere near their original specs or sonics. In most cases whatever voodoo or tone people attribute them over the reissues is probably contributed by crusty old capacitors, off value resistors, and worn T4B's. Though the new ones lack the patina (and fingerprints of bygone audio engineers who wore white shirts and black ties) they are sonically closer to the real thing. Sorry folks.

As for making your own, tube gear is a very tricky for most DIY'ers. Rounding up the right parts is do-able, but a challenge. Layout is critical; taking liberties with the original metalwork and wire harness can open up some real cans of worms. If you do it and cut no corners, the results can be spectacular. But 1 or 2 little compromises can make the whole thing a big waste of time. If you do it, do it perfectly.

[filthyrich]

I've got an electronics guru that likes the idea of helping/teaching me to do this kind of stuff. Can't wait to try this and a few other projects.

Thanks.

[wwittman]

If you don't have tweaked up originals, how do you KNOW the new ones sound like "the real thing"?

if you DO have a tweaked up original, then I'd be surprised if you can't tell it from the reissues.


I can.

I don't have an an enourmous PREFERENCE for the old ones, but they do sound different.


Let's say there are two compressors in the rack, or two guitars, or whatever... you try both.
One sounds BETTER than the other to you.
Let's say you prefer the old one.
It then doesn't much matter if it's because it's "crusty" or because they built them better back then.
Either way, one sounds BETTER.

[soupking]

Ahhh yes, love sweet love.

But why, why...

why does the older one sounds different? Does it age like wine?

Material is material no?

[David Kulka]

In my opinion the main reason the old ones sound different is that they are no longer up to their original specs.

And yes, I do realize that I'm no fun at all.