Purple Audio Action FET 500 compared to the Urei FET compressors

[andrewj]

Any suggestions? I am thinking of buying some of these units, if they are hot!!!???

Was thinking of the 1172 of UAudio, but I heard that the MC77 sounds better than these Urei clones. So I am wondering if the new 500 versions are as hot as the MC77???

What are the differences between the units???

[mus1k_freak]

bump bump wondering the same thing

i read somewhere that it is reminiscent of the mc77 (tapeop review maybe?) if it sounds anything like the mc77/1176 and i can fit it in my 500 rack that would be stellar

so....anyone use one yet?

[NathanEldred]

It hasn't shipped yet so no one other than Andrew @ Purple can answer that question. Put back to Jan 30 or so now.

[andrewj]

so we are waiting and hoping for the best!!!

[Fletcher]

Well I heard it at AES and thought it was pretty f'in cool... but haven't had it in the room yet to play with next to the MC-77 so any "compare and contrast" would have to be done from memory... which ain't the best way to do something like that.

Peace.

[herecomesyourman]

I have a feeling it will be different and just as useful as the MC77. We're probably talking different shades of grey since the output tranny is the only real design / internal compenent difference right?

I definately want to audition a pair of these in the future.

[edanderson]

action vs mc77

what is the same:

constant impedance input attenuator
input transformer
shunt FET gain reduction element
four ratios plus "all buttons in" crazyness
threshold goes up as ratio goes up
attack and release times
buffered stereo linking


differences::

action:
class A and AB discrete opamps (as used in BIZ)
nickel + steel output transformer (as used in BIZ)

mc77:
class A discrete circuit that only works with...
unique all steel output transformer


as for how they sound... well they both sound really good. if you like the mc77, there is a lot to like about the action!

ed

[herecomesyourman]

Thanks Ed!

I do have a question though...

See if it's a sister design with similiar functionality like you say, and it's portable. I'm leaning heavily towards them...I can't justify the MC77 because I can't afford to have multiple racks and 2U of space is a precious commodity in my 20U space with casters, but I'm very interested in the Purple Audio 500 series rack space when it becomes available since the PSU is mounted inside of it, and a pair of Actions becomes space efficient for me at that point.

I guess my question is, when are the rack spaces becoming available to purchase? 'Cuz I'd be more likely to save towards getting them together.

[edanderson]

Originally Posted by herecomesyourman

I guess my question is, when are the rack spaces becoming available to purchase? 'Cuz I'd be more likely to save towards getting them together.

the racks are in assembly right now. there may be one or two parts that have not yet arrived, but andrew is shooting for the end of the month.

ed

[ptbarnum]

any news on a release date for the actions?

[Joram]

The action is on my list as well! It might be a good combination with the Adesign P1. (I'm still looking for a decent eq in my 500-rack)

[NathanEldred]

Andrew updated us and said around Jan 30th. But if it takes a month later (I'm not saying it is...) for it to be exactly how he wants it, I'm happy with that.

[ptbarnum]

sounds good to me

[beechstudio]

And I'll bet these things sell fast!! I hope it's a large first run!! I just hate waiting!!

[Dubious]

considering my birthday is on the 29th and i've already ordered 2 of these i really hope they ship at the end of the month!!

[Recycled_Brains]

Originally Posted by andrewj

So I am wondering if the new 500 versions are as hot as the MC77???

hot like stolen? temperature? paris hilton?

[severe]

Originally Posted by beechstudio

And I'll bet these things sell fast!! I hope it's a large first run!! I just hate waiting!!

Me too. I've yet to throw down the cash, but I plan on it soon after it's release.

Originally Posted by superwack

I'm starting to worry the $675 might only be a first-run, pre-order price...

Hope not.

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by superwack

Obviously there are mechanical differences in the two (action vs. mc77) as listed above (plus power supply, housing, vu meter, etc) but am I the only one wondering why the MC77 is (now/still?) $1,000.00 more... obviously there are price differences between opamps and transformers and having an internal power supply instead of using the 500 series racks BUT $1,000.00 different?

You figure the 10-space Purple Rack is going to be around $750 so that adds $75/ch. for power and racking, the purple opamps are $45-$65 (on their site) so let's assume that's another $20 diff.... subtract around $100 bucks for the difference in transformer on the MC77 and you are still looking at the actual cost of the ACTION is still something like $750-$800 less than the MC77 (ok, my math is fuzzy -supect?- but I'm trying to make a point)

The long and short of it is - I was about to buy an MC77 (which I've used and love and probably will still buy) right when the Actions were announced but I am now waiting for the release to compare before buying. The idea of two channels of Purple Comps for less than 1 MC77 is too tempting (I can't afford both right now) I'm starting to worry the $675 might only be a first-run, pre-order price... anyone have the inside track on that? If it is I'll buy two today!

Thanks.

Have you ever brought a product to market? There's a lot involved and to just speculate on a few component prices and then question the price difference between 2 different pieces is a bit uninformed and a little rude.

[edanderson]

when i posted the differences before, those were really only the main differences in the audio circuit. from a parts cost perspective alone, the mc77 adds not just the case and power supply (which cost considerably more than $75), but also a VU meter, interlocked switches, surprisingly expensive knobs, and many other parts. another very significant difference is that a large portion of the mc77 is HAND WIRED on the inside, which pushes the assembly costs up quite a bit. if you've never had to source all the parts that go into a product, and then put it together, it is hard to understand how all the little costs pile up so quickly, but indeed they do.

all of that, however, is irrelevant. if you want the mc77, it costs $1650. if you want the action, it is $675. one is not the same as the other. if you like one, you're likely to appreciate the other, but maybe not. so don't think of it as, "can i get the same thing for $1000 cheaper" because they aren't the same thing.

as far as price increases, if they ever were to happen, it would be because of increasing costs of manufacture, not because some introductory period ran out.

ed

[superwack]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

Have you ever brought a product to market? There's a lot involved and to just speculate on a few component prices and then question the price difference between 2 different pieces is a bit uninformed and a little rude.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be rude, in fact, I pointed out that there were MORE differences than most people were saying.

It would be rude to suggest the Action was OVERPRICED as it is a new product with some R&D (although obviously one can assume it benifited from the money and time spent on both the MC77 and BIZ as it uses similar proccesses and components)

the crux of my post was whether, or not, this nearly-unbelievable deal on the Action was a first-run/pre-order price or the price for the forseeable future - I'm just having a hard time believing that Purple Audio can manufacture something as similarlly-great as an MC77 (which I'm assuming the action is) for so much less because I DO understand how hard/expensive it is to bring a product to market and how high-quality the purple gear is!

Sorry if i ruffled any feathers - not my intention!