Baby Animal, DAV BG1 or something else ?

[patilon]

Hallo,

at the moment i use an universal audio 6176 with a brauner phantom
and get an oktava mk-319 mod. the next days, maybe a ribbon
as well within the next weeks.
i need a second preamp in stereo for recording of acoustic guitar,
sometimes cello/piano and for main-vocals, as addition to the 6176 flavour,
for a male voice, very calm and intimate sounding, like the whole
music i am doing.
d.i. input would be great. Is it possible to put line-signals into
mic-inputs ?
the new amp should have less tube-flavour than the 6176,
a certain tendency to the smooth neve-sound would be nice,
but no neve-clone like the brant averill, which was way to nevish
for me.

my first considerations were one of these:

- diy project: JLM Baby Animal (which transformers?)
- D.A.V Electronic BG1 u
(so two very cheap ways to i hope a good sound)

or would it be sooo much better to spend much more money
to get for example a great river, presonus adl-600 for example
or an audio phoenix drs-2 ... ?

thanks for every advice

best regards
patilo.n

[patilon]

another try.. noone ?

[Mr. Landmark]

I've heard a couple of listening examples of both pres and I've read quite a bit about the BA and a some about the DAV. They are two different kinds of pres. The DAV is quite clean & neutral sounding compared to the BA, which sounds more neve-ish but without any low end mud. From what I could tell the BA (1:4 + JLM99) sounded BIG.

I think you can run a line level signal into DI when using a pad, at least an unbalanced signal should be ok.

[gevermil]

Ive built a pair BA's and they are great . The jlm Transformers are tighter sounding than the oep .

[Claude G.]

[quote=Mr. Landmark;1671696].... The DAV is quite clean & neutral sounding compared to the BA, which sounds more neve-ish but without any low end mud. From what I could tell the BA (1:4 + JLM99) sounded BIG.

I had a DAV, sold it real quick....I thought it was "lifeless and bland!" Just like the Grace Design 101...another limp mic pre. I bought a Great River about 3 years ago and will never sell it!

[patilon]

thanks for replying!!

in the meantime i read a lot more about b.a. and dav and found
some samples of different preamps. (for example great river and dav)
after that i would absolutely agree, that in special the great river has
a very nice great character, the dav was too clean for my taste.

so it will be the baby animal with four channels.
the first two with jlm 14 -> jlm 99 (for stereo-recording) and
channel 3-4 perhaps cinemag-yamaha and oep-jlm99, for another
two flavours. or which one can you also recommend in addition
to the jlm14/99 transformers ?
which one in special for the second d.i. channel ?

i read that i´d need something to pad the line-signals to
put them into the mic-inputs ..

regards
patilon

[Plush]

"The d.a.v. electronics Broadhurst Gardens No. 1 is the best mic amp in the world." (sm)

[deuce42]

Originally Posted by gevermil

Ive built a pair BA's and they are great . The jlm Transformers are tighter sounding than the oep .

Gevermil, a bit off the topic, but - have you at all any samples of the difference between the OEP and JLM input tranny?

For what its worth, the BA is the best pre I have ever owned and I seemed to turnover a few. I've got the BA with OEP tranny and 99v op amp. Am considering building another channel with the JLM 1.4 tranny.

[PT6.7UZR]

Originally Posted by patilon

. . . the dav was too clean for my taste.

Huh?

How can a mic pre be *too* clean?

Isn't calling a pre too clean like saying you have too much money.

[gevermil]

[QUOTE=deuce42;1710413]Gevermil, a bit off the topic, but - have you at all any samples of the difference between the OEP and JLM input tranny?

I dont have any audio samples

I spent one night swaping out transformers in the BA so these are only my initial thoughts . The JLM 1:4 seemed to hold together at higher gain where the oep and the little beyer input xfmr would slightly begin to distort a little ( In a cool way) . I believe the ratio on the beyer was 1:7 or 8 So that may have contributed . If I could have a pair of each I would . I think the oeps are really good so dont take my opinion to seriously . I use them currently in ansome api clones . thats about all I can tell ya
None of these had the JLM output xfrm going so that would change the sound as well

[gevermil]

By the way , switching op amps will change the sound dramatically
2520 / 990c / ect

[matta]

The jlm Transformers are tighter sounding than the oep.

I spent one night swaping out transformers in the BA so these are only my initial thoughts. The JLM 1:4 seemed to hold together at higher gain where the oep and the little beyer input xfmr would slightly begin to distort a little.

Out of interest did you adjust the Zobel network (RL+CP) accordingly or just the transformers?

I have the opposite opinion in that I find the OEP's 'tighter' with a tighter low end and more of a midrange punch when compared with the JLM 1:4 (used with the same opamp). Which OEP did you use? If it was the 262A3C at a min you are looking at just under 1:7 and at HIGH over 1:12 vs the JLM 1:4 in step-up.

The JLM 1:4 and 99V opamp do indeed have a Neve-ish flavour to them, a bit more 'hi-fi' sounding than the 1272/1290 Neve's. I use them as my 'go to' for Overheads, I prefer my 1290's for Vocals/Guitars etc, a bit more 'spongy'.

Cheers

Matt