Neve Portico 5012 or AMS Neve 1073DPA for Electronic Music

[alphadore]

Hey Everybody!

I really want to have a pair of Neve Preamp's to add to my arsenal. I want that "colored" sound because most keyboards have a very boring digital sound that I believe is in need of some Analog magic.

Is the New Neve Portico too clean? Does the "SILK" button really make it sound like a 1073? Or should i save up them bones for the AMS Neve 1073DPA....


There's more than $1000 between these two units so i want to make sure I make the right decision.

I would love to hear opinions from folks that have Actually Heard both units and can give the appropriate feedback! Thanks so Much!!!

[allencollins]

They are both great. The portico is more sweet sounding and the dpa is thicker maybe darker. Two different sounds. The bottom end on the neve is huge, but I think it's tighter on the portico. Overall the portico is clean where the dpa is 'older' sounding to me.

The cool thing about the portico is you can get a dual mic pre for $900 - 1100 on ebay. The DPA is expensive new and good luck finding a used one.

They can both make a good sounding record. For me I would think the DPA would sound better for Electronica since It has thicker quality to it.

But you'd have to try both to make up your own mind. Check out the Amek stuff 9098 or CIB.
Somewhere in the middle of the DPA and the Portico

[Barron43]

The portico's sound good. The 1073dpa seems to have more "mojo" to it. I don't own the portico box, but have demo'ed it a few times. If price is no object, (and when is it not? ) go 1073dpa in a heartbeat. I personally own a pair and I love cramming mixes back through them. The portico just doesn't seem to have as much "color" to it, even with the Silk button.

[kingofswing]

I have tried them both, but the DPD version and a Portico 5032.

The DPD and Portico both sound nice to me and having listened to both pre's through my headphones and monitors with spoken words, the Portico has a rounder bottom to me over the DPD. To me, the DPD has a more tighter bottom end, and both units have a difference in the top end. Dark vs Open. The Portico 'Silk' mode is very subtle, and it depends on the source that you may find it makes a pleasing difference or not. I could live with either unit though. It all comes down to what you can afford, and you should try them out for yourself. You may find that you don't like them...

I just picked up an Amek Purepath CIB as mentioned above, and found it's preamp to be very similar to the Portico i tried out (so similar with out Silk), a big open sound. This channel strip is amazing though, the 4 band eq and compressor works great. Another channel would help.

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by kingofswing

having listened to both pre's through my headphones and monitors with spoken words

Yeah spoken word is the best source when trying to evaluate the bottom end of the spectrum. I think I was talking like 40hz.
through an 12inch tannoy sub

Unless the spoken word was from t-rex...................
unbelievable

[alphadore]

Thats disappointing to hear that the silk button is so subtle.... I guess that would make the DPA the winner then. As i do want a BIG COLORED sound to bring down the house.

I guess my next question would be how about the other clone stuff. Such as Great River, Vintech, and Brent Averill stuff.... Is there any that you think are BETTER than the 1073dpa and why?

[kingofswing]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Yeah spoken word is the best source when trying to evaluate the bottom end of the spectrum. I think I was talking like 40hz.
through an 12inch tannoy sub

Unless the spoken word was from t-rex...................
unbelievable

To me the DPD was definately tighter in the bottom end, whilst the Portico was more extended (in a hi fi way). I was using Genelec 8050s, HD600 and 7509 cans for monitoring.

As for the voice / spoken word thing, i would say it should give plenty of idea how deep something like a preamp can go. If you cannot hear clear differences with good monitoring like above, maybe something else is lacking.

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by kingofswing

To me the DPD was definately tighter in the bottom end, whilst the Portico was more extended (in a hi fi way). I was using Genelec 8050s, HD600 and 7509 cans for monitoring.

As for the voice / spoken word thing, i would say it should give plenty of idea how deep something like a preamp can go. If you cannot hear clear differences with good monitoring like above, maybe something else is lacking.

By all means the dpd could be considered tighter. But how would
you know from evaluating it with spoken word? You would be able to evaluate
just not evaluate it properly. Run a bass gtr or kick drum though it, this way
you could actually evaluate something with 'bottom' end.

The spoken human voice, we are talking HUMAN right? could be between 200 - 5000 hz ? Singing voice maybe 200 to 10000 if you are some saprano or a 10 year old Michael Jackson. I dunno about you but when I think of bottom end I think of 250 or under but more like 100hz or under. So what are you evaluating your 'low' end on? the rumble from the mic stand as the 'word is being spoken' ???. Give me a break I do voiceovers once a week I always use a high pass
nothing below 200 makes it to tape.


Also drop the whole 'maybe something else is lacking' it's getting old , Like REALLY old.

[Plush]

We have both here. 1073 DPD (same mic amp as the DPA) is thicker and darker than the Portico. The Portico is not really very colored whereas the AMS-Neve unit is colored as the original.

I would say that the sound of the Portico with the silk switch in is not in any way similar to the DPD.

One benefit is that the Portico has higher headroom than the DPD.
When using line in on the DPD, there is no transformer in the circuit. Thus "line in" is not be as thick as the mic input sound.

Different sounds, both good. If you're looking for dark and characterful, then choose AMS-Neve.