Martin Sound vs Fern

alk · 8th May 2005

Having used the MSS-10 and loving it I am wondering how does it compare to the Fern preamp. Based on what I read on this forum it sounds like they are very similar.
Is this right? any preferences? Fletcher...

thanks

alk

claudemorrow · 8th May 2005

I'm interested too. I just bought a used MSS-10 from Dreamhire and havent had a chance to even plug it in yet cause I'm in the middle of moving. Can't wait!!

Tetness · 9th May 2005

I owned four MSS-10's and absolutely loved them!!! They were sold with with my old studio. I would describe them as an Avalon M5, but richer, more detailed and open; airy. All class A. The Fearn stuff is based on vacuum tube design. Warm, smooth, huge and rich, somwehat gluey. Both are excellent pres and have their uses. I don't have much experience with Fearn so I'm sure there will be others that will offer more info.

jbuntz · 9th May 2005

I'm kinda interested in the MSS-10 too... Never used one.

lucey · 9th May 2005

The Mss10 is a clean, detailed yet 100% musical clean sound, not harsh or strident in any way. Transformer in only, and no low end distortion to speak of.

The Fearn is a clean tube sound, but it's a tube sound, so it's different in many ways.

Everything is unique so ... try them out.

Fletcher · 9th May 2005

As far as I'm concerned they're interchangable... sorta like a Ferrari and a Lamborghini.

thethrillfactor · 9th May 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by claudemorrow

I'm interested too. I just bought a used MSS-10 from Dreamhire and havent had a chance to even plug it in yet cause I'm in the middle of moving. Can't wait!!

Dammit that was you?

I wanted that and i went to pick it up it was gone.

I'll trade you a Digi 002R for it if you are still looking.

thethrillfactor · 9th May 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by alk

Having used the MSS-10 and loving it I am wondering how does it compare to the Fern preamp. Based on what I read on this forum it sounds like they are very similar.
Is this right? any preferences? Fletcher...

thanks

alk

The answer is they don't.

2 different sounding animals.

brownmouse · 9th May 2005

i just had the mss-1 and the fearn vt-1 on loan/demo from mercenary and they both sounded *huge*. the martech seemed a bit cleaner and faster (i guess thats the word i'm looking for) while the fearn was a bit more 'sexy' sounding (imho). i went with the d.w. fearn, but the martech was extremely cool as well.
joshua

MIKEHARRIS · 9th May 2005

wow fletch...my 360 is nuthin like my buddys' Murcialago..

jbuntz · 10th May 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIKEHARRIS

wow fletch...my 360 is nuthin like my buddys' Murcialago..

Show off

8th May 2005	#1
alk Gear nut Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 99 Thread Starter	Martin Sound vs Fern Having used the MSS-10 and loving it I am wondering how does it compare to the Fern preamp. Based on what I read on this forum it sounds like they are very similar. Is this right? any preferences? Fletcher... thanks alk

8th May 2005	#2
claudemorrow Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2004 Location: st.louis Posts: 675	I wanna know too I'm interested too. I just bought a used MSS-10 from Dreamhire and havent had a chance to even plug it in yet cause I'm in the middle of moving. Can't wait!!

9th May 2005	#5
lucey Gear Guru Joined: Dec 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 12,407	The Mss10 is a clean, detailed yet 100% musical clean sound, not harsh or strident in any way. Transformer in only, and no low end distortion to speak of. The Fearn is a clean tube sound, but it's a tube sound, so it's different in many ways. Everything is unique so ... try them out. __________________ Brian Lucey Magic Garden Mastering Dr. John, The Shins, The Black Keys, OAR, David Lynch, Sami Yusuf, moe., Sigur Ros Spiral Groove Studio One - mixing monitors

9th May 2005	#6
Fletcher member no 666 Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 10,108	As far as I'm concerned they're interchangable... sorta like a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. __________________ CN Fletcher Professional Affiliations: R/E/P Professional Recording Engineer and Producer forums - serious hobbyists welcome SoundPure.com mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33 We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid Roscoe Ambel once said: Pro-Tools is to audio what fluorescent is to light

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

9th May 2005	#3
Tetness Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 1,573	I owned four MSS-10's and absolutely loved them!!! They were sold with with my old studio. I would describe them as an Avalon M5, but richer, more detailed and open; airy. All class A. The Fearn stuff is based on vacuum tube design. Warm, smooth, huge and rich, somwehat gluey. Both are excellent pres and have their uses. I don't have much experience with Fearn so I'm sure there will be others that will offer more info.

9th May 2005	#4
jbuntz Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,716	I'm kinda interested in the MSS-10 too... Never used one.

9th May 2005	#9
brownmouse Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,399	i just had the mss-1 and the fearn vt-1 on loan/demo from mercenary and they both sounded huge. the martech seemed a bit cleaner and faster (i guess thats the word i'm looking for) while the fearn was a bit more 'sexy' sounding (imho). i went with the d.w. fearn, but the martech was extremely cool as well. joshua

9th May 2005	#10
MIKEHARRIS Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: MIAMI FLA Posts: 1,685	wow fletch...my 360 is nuthin like my buddys' Murcialago..

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Max Martin	lyricstree	So much gear, so little time!	456	3 Weeks Ago 07:52 PM
martin d-15, martin 000-15, martin 000-15s or better alternatives	christianel	So much gear, so little time!	13	21st August 2006 01:14 PM
Fern EQ, closer to the Massive or Vipre	Revelation	High end	6	25th August 2005 03:43 PM
DW FERN 2 CHANNEL VS TUBE TECH 2CHANNEL	brucegel	High end	2	26th May 2005 04:15 PM
Martin D-35	lhaile	So much gear, so little time!	3	21st March 2005 03:18 PM