Avedis MA5 Who Has Them

[avedis]

Hey everyone. I sincerely THANK YOU ALL for your input here.

And thank you Geoff, who is right in saying that it is better to add up current draw per rail instead of adding up both rails, which has been a confusing topic with 500 series modules.

I don't want to add more confusion or scare anyone, but it's important to cover all aspects with regard to power supplies. On rare occasion, a rackmount/lunchbox power supply may go into current limit mode when it's full of modules. The power supply regulators inside sense an inrush of current feeding all the modules when first powered up, and because it's designed to protect the circuit, it shut off one or both of the rails if the limit passes a certain threshold. This may be adjusted if necessary, but must be done right above this threshold to maintain safety, so I highly recommend the manufacturer get involved if it's ever an issue. I have written some more about this and added it to the FAQ part of my website - you'll see it under "additional info".

Don't worry about it unless you notice that your power supply (DC rails) is shutting off when you power it on when it's full of modules.

I also got an API 500-6B lunchbox. Like rr1073 said, it works fine but I'll put it through some rigorous testing when I get a chance to better understand its limits as any power supply will have.

Avedis

[eddierodriguez]

audio samples! pleeeeaaase!!!!

[shakermaker3]

Thanks alot john! that was great, so practical ... a lunch box seems like a nice way to start my pre collection and expand it as i can.
this place rules! thanks again

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by avedis

Hey everyone. I sincerely THANK YOU ALL for you input here.

Thank you for making such an incredible pre amp! I've never been happier with a gear purchase. Believe it or not, these pre amps inspire me to create music, and that kind of gear I never let go of.

[reflixtinian]

Geoff: Do you have plans to make any 500 series stuff ?? I'm shure everybody will love the idea ..

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by reflixtinian

Geoff: Do you have plans to make any 500 series stuff ?? I'm shure everybody will love the idea ..

Hi

It's certainly a feasibility and well within my technical expertise.... it's just that I already have four new products coming out this year (to be revealed at the AES) and getting them up and into production is my first priority.

As for what I do after that......

[jeep]

Originally Posted by AllAboutTone

Does the MA5 sound anything like the BAE ?

sounds nothing like it

[Aearth]

Originally Posted by jeep

sounds nothing like it

Hey Jeep how you going, are you diggin the MA5?. I've got all those Purple comps if you want to have a listen.......Actions and the MC77.

nIC

[reflixtinian]

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

Hi

It's certainly a feasibility and well within my technical expertise.... it's just that I already have four new products coming out this year (to be revealed at the AES) and getting them up and into production is my first priority.

As for what I do after that......

Cool, thanks

[Brent]

I asked API about sticking 6 of these in a lunch box. This was there response.

Hi Brent,

The only 6B’s on the market now have the new style power supplies. You shouldn’t have any problems there. As for your second question, the unit puts out 800mA per rail.

Thanks,



Ray Blevins

API Service Manager
(p) 1.301.776.7879 ext 252
(e) service AT apiaudio DOT com
API
8301 Patuxent Range Rd
Jessup, MD 20794

API Audio Products



Please note: For all international RA's, contact a customs broker and have your unit(s) shipped "Temporary Export For Repair" This will help your repair move more quickly through customs and save you in importation fees.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Brent
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 2:31 PM
To: service AT apiaudio DOT com
Subject: 500-6b and the VPR alliance



Hello,

I'm trying to clarify something regarding your 500-6b lunch box that I'm looking to purchase.

1) My understanding was the design was changed from 350mA to 800mA for the VPR alliance. Can you tell me if this is true, and if so, how do I confirm the lunchbox I'm going to purchase is the 800mA version?

2) Where do I find the current per rail specs etc. I want to add 6 Avedis MA5's to a lunchbox, but even though they are part of the VPR alliance, the current draw specs per rail have me concerned that the lunch box can handle it.

All the best,

Brent

[soundsgood]

I recently decided to make the jump into the world of 500 form gear. I got a Purlple Sweet 10 (which is great), 2 Purple Biz and 2 Avedis MA5. I sold a couple of rack pieces to finance the process and had more than a few doubts about life without my beloved Phoenix GTQ-2. However, I really wanted the flexibility of the 500 series stuff. The Avedis is one of the finest sounding pres I have ever heard. The sound is huge, but it's not as simple as being "fat" or "warm". It has amazing depth that allows the very present bottom end to expand in a 3 dimensional way that doesn't get muffled or overly dense. The 28k button gives a diversity to the 1073 type sound that hasn't existed before. All of the things you count on out of a Neve type product are there too. The pleasing harmonic distortion and aggressive in your face midrange, the MA5 has it. Not to be outdone, the Purple Biz was a great surprise as well. Although never as breathtaking as the MA5, the Biz is super flexible and extremely capable. The wide array of sounds the Biz can produce are a perfect compliment to the Avedis. Seeing that this thread is about the MA5 I won't dig into the Purple other than to say it's a great neighbor for the MA5. I have a session with a great band this next week and am so excited to get this stuff dirty. I also picked up an OSA MP-1a on ebay for a song, we'll see about that too!

[ToneRanger]

I'm very interested in the MA5 as well, based on two things...

Firstly I just got the E27 eq and I'm just so so so super enthusiastic about the sound. Even without any eq applied the character of the unit was exactly how I think music should sound. Can't wait to make some more recording with it.

Second, there's been many rave reviews about the unit and I've come to trust some guys with their opinions here...

Plus the third thing (maybe the most important one in fact!!), how could you not love gear designed by a bloke who has this ultra cool Jimi/Band Of Gypsys avatar!

[musikwerks]

Regarding the posts about power draw....

My 500-6B has 2 x Purple Biz, 2x Purple Action and 2 x MA-5's.

No go. Not with all 6.

[roger]

oh dear!

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by musikwerks

Regarding the posts about power draw....

My 500-6B has 2 x Purple Biz, 2x Purple Action and 2 x MA-5's.

No go. Not with all 6.

Hi

It's not for me to pass negative comment on another company's product but I must confess my eyebrows raised a little when I read that the power supply provides only 800mA per rail.

As Avedis noted at the top of the page, there is the issue of a current surge at switch on as all the capacitors charge up. It makes me wonder whether the power supply has not the capacity to handle this surge... but then, what motivation is there for a company to provide adequate power for competing products?

T'is a quandary.

All I know is that the power supply in the 2 channel GTQ2 can provide over one amp at 24v even though the most current drawn with all the LEDS and relays on is around 300mA.

[TonyBelmont]

Tested last night.....

6 x MA5's work perfectly in the API 6 space lunchbox (no issues whatsoever).

[chickencoop]

man... nice pic. i'll be thrilled to get my one

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Tested last night.....

6 x MA5's work perfectly in the API 6 space lunchbox (no issues whatsoever).

Hi

As they ought to because 6 x 75mA = 450mA which is 56% of the maximum 800mA current of the rack power supply.

But the other units posted about may be a little thirsty and hog more power...

[Brent]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Tested last night.....

6 x MA5's work perfectly in the API 6 space lunchbox (no issues whatsoever).

Thanks for testing that Tony.

[Aearth]

Oh but what type of mic did u run through it.....was it a U47 or a clone......what type of converters did you use......did you record it to a DAW and if you did was it summed ITB or OTB. What about a power conditioner....did you use one and what type.........also cables should make a huge difference, so what cables did you use, Apogee I should think.
Did you do the testing at night or day time......gee I hope not first thing in the morning before your COFFEE

nIC

[TonyBelmont]

You guys are funny.

[drmmrboy]

Originally Posted by musikwerks

My 500-6B has 2 x Purple Biz, 2x Purple Action and 2 x MA-5's.
No go. Not with all 6.

Hmm.. I had 4 512c's & 2 ma5's on drums/bass all weekend. No problem here..

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Tested last night.....
6 x MA5's work perfectly in the API 6 space lunchbox (no issues whatsoever).

That's purty!!

[johnnyjellybean]

Originally Posted by musikwerks

Regarding the posts about power draw....

My 500-6B has 2 x Purple Biz, 2x Purple Action and 2 x MA-5's.

No go. Not with all 6.

Maybe you have a 500-6b made before API revised the PSU? If it is more than 1 year old, then that is probably why.

[musikwerks]

yep... faulty psu. no problems though, all under warranty. new one on it's way.

although my tech did find that the 2 x MA5's momentarily draw an additional 200ma on startup.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by musikwerks

yep... faulty psu. no problems though, all under warranty. new one on it's way.

although my tech did find that the 2 x MA5's momentarily draw an additional 200ma on startup.

Yes, many different preamp modules have a surge and settle time. It's because the capacitors are charging on startup. It's not limited to 500 series either... it happens with a LOT of gear like power amplifiers, and other pieces of electronic equipment.

But, this doesn't present a problem with the PSU's of these racks. It's typically not enough to trigger the current limiting regulators of the power supply.

This shouldn't present an issue for your API rack.

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by musikwerks

yep... faulty psu. no problems though, all under warranty. new one on it's way.

although my tech did find that the 2 x MA5's momentarily draw an additional 200ma on startup.

Hi

Yes, as Tony said, this is quite normal for an amplifier that has adequate power supply decoupling.

As an example, a 1073 draws a constant 110mA (it is class A after all!) so you'd expect a rack of eight of them to draw 880mA, just under one amp.

What sort of power supply could handle that? A two amp? Not a chance! The over-current protection would trip in at switch on.

To give an adequate amount of power to handle the switch on surge I used to make the racks with 5 amp power supplies.

So when I see multi-module rack power supplies with less than one amp per rail, I always shudder a little!

[drBill]

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

Hi

Yes, as Tony said, this is quite normal for an amplifier that has adequate power supply decoupling.

As an example, a 1073 draws a constant 110mA (it is class A after all!) so you'd expect a rack of eight of them to draw 880mA, just under one amp.

What sort of power supply could handle that? A two amp? Not a chance! The over-current protection would trip in at switch on.

To give an adequate amount of power to handle the switch on surge I used to make the racks with 5 amp power supplies.

So when I see multi-module rack power supplies with less than one amp per rail, I always shudder a little!

Thanks Geoff. I've been trying to say that for about a year, and somehow get panned every time I mention it with everyone saying the lunch boxes are overbuilt and sufficiently powered. There is definately something to be said for having an overbuilt supply with good power reserve in the PS. I'm not sure why more manufacturers don't take your position during design. It seems so easy.

In my experience with recording consoles (the equivalent of 20 or 30 lunchboxes! ) I've come to believe that the most IMPORTANT feature of any console is the power supply. Usually the last thing any potential buyer thinks about.

[Brent]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Tested last night.....

6 x MA5's work perfectly in the API 6 space lunchbox (no issues whatsoever).

ooooh Tony your photo skills made it onto the Avedis homepage! I hope you're getting royalties for that shot

Avedis Audio MA5

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Brent

ooooh Tony your photo skills made it onto the Avedis homepage! I hope you're getting royalties for that shot

Avedis Audio MA5

[futur2]

Originally Posted by Brent

ooooh Tony your photo skills made it onto the Avedis homepage! I hope you're getting royalties for that shot

Avedis Audio MA5

somebody please photoshop some screws on to the modules. doesn't look right like that