What does the Avedis MA5 sound like?

[bobwarren]

I know it's supposed to be (I almost hate saying it!) Neve-esque, but which one: 1073, 1272, 1081? Or is it designed base on the circuitry and have a new sound on its own merit? Has anyone heard it or doing a review?

[thephatboi]

I have heard it next to a vintage 1272, properly set up and it is pretty similar if not nicer in some respects, which is quite a feat of engineering to get all that stuff coming out of a 500 series box (other neveish 500s have fallen short IMO).

I will let Avedis take it further if he wants to....

One thing for sure is that Avedis cuts no corners and doesn't release something until it meets his very high expectations.

[Isle of Weight]

any other user feedback?

AA

[prismtheory]

1272, 1073, 1081....aren't those the same mic pre circuits? The 1272 is a modded line amp. The 1073 and 1081 are the same except for the extra EQ features on the 1081....right?

I'm sure the MA5 is essentially similar to a neve in terms of tone but using Avedis custom stuff.

I'm interested in hearing it for sure. The avedis and averill stuff is really high quality.

[TRW]

1081s have a Class-AB push-pull output amp - can be discrete or IC hybrid or replaced with a Phoenix Audio TF1 Class-A output stage/transformer.

For this reason the 1081s also have a different output transformer as far as I can remember its ungapped - due to the lower offset of the AB amp.

The Avedis pre looks good - I'm interested in that Jensen output transformer.

-T

[thephatboi]

Yeah Avedis took alot of time auditioning transformers, and having Jensen custom make one to match what he wanted to hear and to meet size and specs which was pretty challenging I think. I heard it next to a vintage 1272 and it sounded very close, in fact perhaps a bit (subtle) bigger in the bottom. I actually prefered the MA5 on my voice. I am not a technical expert on Neves but I think the 1272 pre is the same as a 1073 pre without the eq.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by thephatboi

I am not a technical expert on Neves but I think the 1272 pre is the same as a 1073 pre without the eq.

Close.....but no cigar. A quick search will reveal the differences. It's been covered countless times.

bp

[avedis]

hey all I want to touch on all the questions but please let me know if I leave something out.

Without getting too off topic, the 1073 (and the 1064, 1066, 1070, 1076, 1084, 1086, 1089) is designed to have up to 80 db's of gain, mostly because a lot of the great older ribbon mics at the time were still being used. The 1272 has a mic input transformer (the line input is the 1271) and is capable of 70 db's of gain, as per the tech sheets Neve circulated for almost 10 years. The debate rightfully occurs as to how to properly make that happen.. and I have my own way and don't follow anyone else's. If you are in LA, bring me yours and let's compare if you like.

yes, as TRW wrote, the 1081 is class AB amp using an ungapped xfrm, and not designed for DC running through the primary, and has a capacitor coupling the output of the amp. In the past, I have done class A mods to that amp family of modules (1081,1090, 31105). There's a pic of one on my site somewhere.

back to topic...

The MA5 did not take after any of the model numbers, like the 1073, 1272, 1081, etc, and I will never claim that it will. I realize that the way many of these modules are heard by engineers are from rackmount jobs (and consoles) which may or may not have been set up correctly with many variations in between... and it seems as though I've seen and worked on all of them, but they keep a comin'.

So maybe people have a past experience attached to these model numbers in what they think they sound like, and it would be untrue and a disservice for me to say the MA5 is modeled after any one of them.

The handful of engineers/friends who have heard it don't post much on GS, so you may not get any reports yet. In well set-up blind A/B tests, it was interesting to learn that sound evaluation opinions with engineers were in agreement and almost exactly the way that I would describe what I heard. When you do some real-world tests with great ears and honesty - and you get consistency in opinion, it is a good thing.

There will be some testing we will do at James Lugo's place in Hollywood on Nov 10th, so maybe there will be some reports then from GS members. I will be bringing an A/B XLR switchbox for comparing to other pre's, old or new. I have also made a simple, but effective, attenuator for making the line output of PT's or a pro CD player look like a microphone so that we can run music through the pre's. If you will attend, you are welcome to bring any pre you want to compare.

Avedis

[s.d.finley]

Nice to hear from the Man himself...I wish I could be in LA for that shootout!!!

[jefflaur1]

We just purchased two of these pres in separate racks from Tony Belmont's High Profile Audio..one for the main voice studio here in the Smoky Mts of NC, and one for our location near Atlanta. We use the SCA Jenson preamp here currently and will move it to the second room here in NC. It is really goos, but I have heard NOTHING but great things about this Arvedis system and will be happy to post sound bites, and thoughts after they arrrive. We do voiceovers and audio tracks for retail TV and Radio as well as station imaging and promotion for radio and television.

Jeff Laurence.Com

[pan60]

as well, i hope to be getting one in for review very soon:)

[pan60]

i think Avedis told me sometime in november.

[DanGo]

I've never had the pleasure of using actual Neve gear, but I did recently get 2 of Avedis's MA5's and I can definitely say that I've never enjoyed the sound of a preamp as much as these! Just pheomenal on everything. I have not done any comparisons that would be useful to post, or I'd do so. My previous go-to preamp was the Avalon vt737. I may end up using it on something again in the future, but right now, I can't imagine why

I'm sorry I missed that shootout you did at James Lugo's, Avedis! I'm actually in LA... I'll search around here at the forum to find out what the results were...

[analogjeff]

Anymore info, feedback, opinion out there on the MA5 at this point??

Currently looking for a great pre that will be good especially for at least some vocals -- trying to find the right balance of big and punchy -- indie rock -- looking for something that will fatten tenor male voices and others without losing grit/grain (i.e., don't want it too creamy...). Considering a number of usual suspects (1073, Mercury M76, Chandler LTD-1, Presonus ADL600...). Primary mic is an older 87. Anybody know how the MA5 might compare, etc.?? If it works, the attractive option is a lunchbox and some other 500 series pres on down the line.

I will, of course, try things... just trying to narrow the field some, if possible...

Thanks a lot!

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by analogjeff

Anymore info, feedback, opinion out there on the MA5 at this point??

Currently looking for a great pre that will be good especially for at least some vocals -- trying to find the right balance of big and punchy -- indie rock -- looking for something that will fatten tenor male voices and others without losing grit/grain (i.e., don't want it too creamy...). Considering a number of usual suspects (1073, Mercury M76, Chandler LTD-1, Presonus ADL600...). Primary mic is an older 87. Anybody know how the MA5 might compare, etc.?? If it works, the attractive option is a lunchbox and some other 500 series pres on down the line.

I will, of course, try things... just trying to narrow the field some, if possible...

Thanks a lot!

It works great with a U87....

There are a lot of sound examples with the MA5 and various mics here (including the U87):

Lugo Shootout closed storage thread.

Lugo Shootout closed storage thread 2.