DAKING 52270B vs MTA A-range

[lowswing]

both try to copy a channel of vintage trident A-range.
I can get a second hand daking (one channel) or a MTA (2 channel) for the same price, with what should i go?

[ziegenh5]

Get the Daking.

Sean

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by ziegenh5

Get the Daking.

Ditto.

[wwittman]

I hear that Malcolm Toft may have another go at a "faithful"
A-Range...
but this roduct is NOT.
Except for the name.

whereas a Daking , mostly is.

[raal]

Originally Posted by wwittman

I hear that Malcolm Toft may have another go at a "faithful"
A-Range...
but this roduct is NOT.
Except for the name.

whereas a Daking , mostly is.

wow... haven't heard daking, but i actually bought 2 MTAs (the 2nd after hearing the 1st), and though it's been some years since i recorded on real A Ranges, these things really remind me of when i was at cherokee. the pre itself doesn't give me goosebumps, but as soon as you start fiddling with the EQ... yes. haven't compared against daking - if you can do that i suggest you do - daking has a stellar reputation - and tell us what you find!

[wwittman]

Is the Toft even a discrete preamp?
I thought not.

Both SHOULD have the same A Range EQ curves.. but does the MTA achieve them with inductors?

[raal]

Originally Posted by wwittman

Is the Toft even a discrete preamp?
I thought not.

Both SHOULD have the same A Range EQ curves.. but does the MTA achieve them with inductors?

i recall opening one up once awhile back (i'm far from where the studio is at the moment), and i think there are PC boards in there... but just like an A Range, it's pretty impossible to get them to sound bad. real sweet on the high end. never A/Bd with the real thing though.

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

This may help...

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul0...tridentmta.asp

from memmory they went with an IC front end instead of the original Zutt transformers, but they all think that the magic is still in the EQ section rather than the preamp.

Cheers
Wiggy

[wwittman]

exactly.
It's another bog standard IC mic amp.

the "magic" in the A Range module was in its discrete class-A amps and its transformers.
Matching EQ curves is nowhere NEAR all there is to it.

if it were then a Waves EQ clone would sound "like an A Range"... it doesn't.

all the ins and outs here are on IC opamps...

from the sound on sound review:
"Although the controls of the new 'A'-range unit are similarly arranged and specified, the underlying electronics have been thoroughly updated, as already mentioned -- after all, analogue electronics and performance expectations have come a long way in a quarter of a century..."

yes.... they've come "a long way"... they've come from great sounding to poopy.
If you want a NEW design there are many to choose from.
but anyone who wants an A Range wants an OLD design.

buy the Daking.

[raal]

Originally Posted by wwittman

exactly.
It's another bog standard IC mic amp.

the "magic" in the A Range module was in its discrete class-A amps and its transformers.
Matching EQ curves is nowhere NEAR all there is to it.

if it were then a Waves EQ clone would sound "like an A Range"... it doesn't.

all the ins and outs here are on IC opamps...

from the sound on sound review:
"Although the controls of the new 'A'-range unit are similarly arranged and specified, the underlying electronics have been thoroughly updated, as already mentioned -- after all, analogue electronics and performance expectations have come a long way in a quarter of a century..."

yes.... they've come "a long way"... they've come from great sounding to poopy.
If you want a NEW design there are many to choose from.
but anyone who wants an A Range wants an OLD design.

buy the Daking.

if you by chance hear the two, please let us know what you find.

[Lynn Fuston]

Originally Posted by wwittman

exactly.
the "magic" in the A Range module was in its discrete class-A amps and its transformers.
Matching EQ curves is nowhere NEAR all there is to it.

I've heard that rumor before too, Williamm about the "best thing on an A-Range was the EQ." I never bought it either. For me, the preamp and transformers were the entire reason to use one of those consoles. It sure wasn't the noise floor or the buses. Not the switches or the flexibility of the EQ.

BTW, I've spoken with the designer of that MTA box and I have copies of correspondence concerning how the preamp in that box came to be. It has very little to do with the original A-Range at all. It may sound good to you, but don't think you're hearing anything that sounds remotely similar to a real A-Range.

And, just so you know that I'm not blowing smoke, I've worked on three of the 13 or so A-Ranges that were ever made. I've probably done 10-15 complete albums on them. One of my favorites.

[RoundBadge]

I've got some vertical Dakings here,Everybody loves /wants to borrow them

[raal]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

I've heard that rumor before too, Williamm about the "best thing on an A-Range was the EQ." I never bought it either. For me, the preamp and transformers were the entire reason to use one of those consoles. It sure wasn't the noise floor or the buses. Not the switches or the flexibility of the EQ.

BTW, I've spoken with the designer of that MTA box and I have copies of correspondence concerning how the preamp in that box came to be. It has very little to do with the original A-Range at all. It may sound good to you, but don't think you're hearing anything that sounds remotely similar to a real A-Range.

And, just so you know that I'm not blowing smoke, I've worked on three of the 13 or so A-Ranges that were ever made. I've probably done 10-15 complete albums on them. One of my favorites.

have to agree that the A Range is the best sounding thing i've ever worked on. maybe not 10-15 complete albums, but i've spent a considerable amount of time in front of those boards, and love the sound. this is why i bought one of these units 'blind' - had never heard one, and couldn't find original A Range modules anywhere at any price. after hearing the 1st one, i bought another - that's all i'm saying - the EQ section was reminiscent to me of what i'd heard several years earlier. good enough to buy 2 units. they weren't cheap. no, opamps aren't equivalent to class A discreet amps. no, i haven't done an A/B comparison. yes, i bought 2 units and use them alongside my API, Neve, Telefunken pres, etc.-- definitely like the color... would like to hear from someone who's actually heard them alongside Dakings or real A Range pres to see how close or far they are. whether they sound very similar or very different, i will still like the EQ on those units... alot.

[Jerich]

Daking what else..How can you go wrong with the reputation they have and excellent sound productions.

[Ruudman]

RoundBadge, are the vertical Da'king identical to the 19"?

ruudman

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Ruudman

RoundBadge, are the vertical Da'king identical to the 19"?

ruudman

I don't know ..I got em like ten years ago ...never used the horizontals.
they probably sound the same, give or take some added eq points/filters