Gear shoot out

[Seti808]

Im getting a bunch of new gear to shoot out with a bunch of other gear, this might interest some gear sluts in here

Shoot out #1
dyna audio bm-15a's vs Adams s3 a's

Shootout #2
SSL XLogic G-Series Stereo Compressor vs Alan smart c2

im also testing a bunch of other slutty gear stuff,

to name a few things

Crane song spider
apogee ad-16x
apogee da-16x
lucid clk-6 distribution box
Folcrom
Aurora gtq-2 mark 3 stereo pre amp
universal audio 6176
universal audio m-2610 dual pre
groove tubes vipre


My studio is being treated with the real traps 12 pack treatment package from ethan.

Im having alot of fun already, most of everything is here and my shoot out has began.

Early report, the bm-15a's sound great from the get go.
I guess Adams need some time burning in(I have had booth pairs of speakers for 2 days now).

My 1st impression is that they both sound great although a totally different sound, i hope the adams sound better in 2 weeks cause the bm-15's sound great from the get go, but i feel they might be hyping the sound, it's too early to tell. I dont have the real traps up yet that will happen next week.

I will report more info as i get it.

A special thanks to everyone who has helped me out , Real traps, Mercenary , Pro Audio Design etc
Wouldn't dream of forgetting Michael Wagener

Aloha Seti808

[Mystr Tiger]

Aloha Seti808,

Wow, you have a lot of nice stuff to try out!

I eagerly await your report on the Aurora and the Vipre. I'll also be interested in your impression of the Apogee converters vs the Spider converters. Have fun!

[JohnnyTooLoud]

Aloha Seti,

For the speakers - mix a quick song on both sets and see how it translates to the 'real world' since that is what we are all after.

Have fun though.

--Giovanni

[wynsmth]

I have a set of the Dynaudio BM15As & while they sound great right off, they also get better after a break in period. I love 'em.

[Killahurts]

Aloha Seti

Just wanted to tell you- When I demo'd the S3A years ago, I was blown away immediately, but the demo had 3 100W amps in it, and the ones I had delivered had 3 150W amps. When I took delivery of my set, I didn't get that same sound right away (settings flat), but I eventually did get it by adjusting the controls. Specifically, I had to turn the "High Gain" down about 1.5 dB on all five S3As. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it made a HUGE difference in how they sounded. I left the High and Low EQ's flat (which works for my room).

You know you have it set right when the more dynamic elements of a mix seem to leap out of the speakers, ahead of everything else, poking out like a sore thumb. I have found that I can mix anything to that, and then go reference it on just about any system- the translation is amazing.

I've never heard the Dyn's so I can't comment, but A lot of pro's love them and say they translate extremely well also. Of coarse, in the end, you should go for what inspires you.

[Syki]

"Ehh Shaka Bra, Da kine where you stay ladat?"Bombi I gonna have to send my son ova to record some Jawaiian bra!!"

I hope my pigeon is not that bad

[Seti808]

You sound just like the locals lol

Shoot out Update

I have been testing the gear with hip hop, reggae and alternative music.

I had the Adams upside down like a idiot, so I flipped them to their correct position and things sound better. A few days in and the adams are
now starting to shine. They seem be flatter and more natural than the dyna audios but I guess I can't make the final call untill I get the real traps in next week. So far my mixes have translated better when mixing with the Adams.
They are both great speakers it is going to be a tough call.

The C2 vs SSL buss comp was interesting!
It seems that the C2 can do everything the ssl can do but sounds much better IMHO and crush mode is a very cool bonus.
I think the SSL is going back.

The Aurora Gtq-2 is amazing I love it love it love it!!!!
The Gtq-2 is the sound I have been waiting for!
Not that many bands on the EQ but the 16k high shelf is very sweet!!!!


I have been testing the folcrom with different stereo pres for make-up gain with 16 stemmed outs from my daw via
the apogee da-16x to folcrom. The aurora gtq sounds great with the folcrom + alan smart c1 combo or the folcrom, spider, c2 sounds geat too
but more transparent. I tried the folcrom, universal audio m2-610 but i didnt like that combo compared to the other two.

I got more tests report back later

[GPl]

It is....you're busted!!!tutt

J/K, sounds like your in heaven right now. Post up some pcs when you're completed(did you get the black realtraps?)

[Drumsound]

Sounds like fun man. Keep us posted.

Thanks for sharing.

[Seti808]

Ok the shoot final call

Here's what i sent back to give you a idea about what i liked.

Dyna audio bm-15a's went back
SSL XLogic G-Series Stereo Compressor went back


The adams made all the music i played through them sound much more natural. Worth the extra price for sure. Dyna audios sounded good intill i put the adams back up and it was clear that my music was back to sounding natural and normal. I did this test several times with alot of different material.

The SSL buss comp was not a versatile as the C2. The C2 seemed to do what the ssl comp did, but sounded better and had the dual mono option as well as crush mode.

The combination of real traps and the adams have made the translation from my studio to the real world night and day better.
My mixes have improved big time and i could not be happier.

I have tested wordclocks, and have determined that my setup sounds better clocked to the spider then out to the lucid distributed to the rest of my gear.

Aurora Gtq-2 is Awesome if there is a neve clone that sounds better i have got to hear it.

The viper vs the Aurora , two different animals for sure. Both are capable of alot of different sounds. I love both of them.
(2 of my secret weapons)

It has been alot of fun and i have learned 1st hand that doing
gear shoot outs for myself is the best way to find out what
work for me and my music.

P.s I got the Crane song Avocet and it got rid of my crappy dm24. This made the adams sound even better, another major improvement in sound.

This past year i have went into serious debt. I can barley make the payment but i dont care the new sound is out of this world.

here is a pic

Aloha

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally posted by Seti808
This past year i have went into serious debt. I can barley make the payment but i dont care the new sound is out of this world.

Wait a sec.

You can't be done yet. There's a whole rack there on the right side that's just beggin' for more gear.

Get yourself another credit card or two and get busy.

(Joking.)

[Jules]

Thanks for the report Seti808



How about some sand filled stands for the ADAM's and rolling the racks back 3 feet or so into the room to get some distance between you and the speakers?

[Seti808]

Thanks for the suggestions, I have heard about not having the monitors to close to the wall and have been planning on re-arranging
my setup for awhile now.

Monitor Stands and moving my gear away from the wall a few feet sounds like a good idea thanks Jules.

[C.Lambrechts]

and while doing that try to move back from that wall alltogether imho. Looks like those speakers are set up WAY too wide for your listening position.
Try to get them more in front of you. The sweetspot should be so that the distance between the speakers themselves is approx the same distance as from the speakers individually to your ears.... creating like a perfect triangle kinda shape.

I would consider moving one of those monitors maybe outside the stereo field ... maybe left or right ? .... do you need 3 monitors ?


placing your speakers ... speacially nearfields close to a wall might be tempting because it might give you more bass. but don't think for a second that's a good thing ... on the contrary... it'll only make it sound muddier.. No accuracy coming from nasty wall reflections what so ever.


oh ... and yea ... that rack looks kinda empty on the right ... fill it up will ya ...


(nice gear choice btw ... .. keep us posted ..)

[Mystr Tiger]

OooLaLa - nice looking setup Seti!

Thanks for the picture and the info. I'm thinking about the GTQ2 too and am happy to hear that you like it so well. I like the way you've racked your gear with space between the units. I do that too. I'm actually surprised how many other studios don't seem to do that. Well, I guess our stuff will suffer less heat damage, eh? Anyway, good luck to you - and have fun!

Aloha

[juniorhifikit]

Forget the gear - lets see the nearest surf break!

Which Island are you on?

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by djui5
BTW...Adam's are suppost to be a certain distance from your back wall..might wanna look into that

They are?

What distance might that be?

[JonCraig]

get a chair! standing 16 hours (even on carpet) is uncomfortable!




(yes... this was a joke)





[you do have a chair, right?]





... --jon

[msyno]

Love the Line 6 Delay Modeler on the edge of the screen. It was so awesome to get that when it came out, and years later theres so many sounds to discover from it still. I consider it essential for anyone wanting to modify the sound of ac/el guitars and other line level instruments. BTW, are you in 5-figure debt or less than that? - I'm kinda curious how much you gotta spend to get all that stuff!

Mick

[Bryce]

Originally posted by djui5
No idea.......read it somewhere....can't remember.....

Is this false? If so I appoligize...

According to ADAM Germany, ideal placement is about 40cm (16") from the back wall. I don't think that's meant to be a hard and fast rule, just a guideline/starting point. Everyone's room (and tastes) are different...

That being said, my S3As are about 6" from my back wall, and they sound great.

dB
ADAM Audio USA

[Seti808]

you got a shot of your studio your adams are as close to the back wall as mine.


Are you a Adam rep

[Bryce]

Originally posted by Seti808
Are you a Adam rep

I'm the US distributor. We've spoken on the phone, I believe.

dB
ADAM Audio USA

[Seti808]

thanks for all the replies everyone.

By the way I'm not right in front by the console when listening I would move back a few feet to try to get into the sweet spot.

Bryce can you contact me through email please.
setiorion@hotmail.com i need your # again

[Bryce]

Originally posted by Seti808
Bryce can you contact me through email please.
setiorion@hotmail.com i need your # again

It's on the ADAM web site:

(805) 413-1133

Yell if you need me.

dB

[matalus]

TAD 1601A $900 ea. two Available
TAD 4001A $350 ea eight available
Yamaha MG24/32 Mixer $700 like new original box.
EV SA250 15" powered momitor with Stand Mint used for wedding once like new $500 ea. Pair.
Paid of van Haff Dual 15" with horns $4500

[smk]

Another Hawaii gearslut! Cool setup - man, you're going all out. Mind if I come over?

[Seti808]

Email me

setiorion@islandvortex.com

It is always good to meet a fellow gearslutz in the islands

[Seti808]

ps other gear I have been testing that is kicking major ass!

Pendulum Audio quartet II = wow!!!!!!!!!!!!

the korby Kat 4 mic system = quadruple wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Crane song Avocett very nice!!!!

Equitech 5rq balanced power rack unit lowered my noise floor and solved some issues.


Adams have been broken in for a long time and it is offical I love them!

[gabler]

Originally Posted by Bryce

It's on the ADAM web site:

(805) 413-1133

Yell if you need me.

dB

The Adams are great! So is the support! Thanks