Aurora GTQ2

[Axelrod]

Originally Posted by 800G

I can't keep it secret to you about that I did blind test between GTQ2 and Neve1084.
Both audio files were provided by Aurora Audio.

The result was, all guys at the test liked 1084 way better.
Most told opinion was that 1084 is well balanced, wet and good, open high-end, fat and punchy in a good way, focal gravitation is lower and good.
GTQ2 didn't gather so much comments, but some said that GTQ2 is harsh, too light.
GTQ2 didn't gather comments so much because everybody loved and got interested in the sound of 1084 so much.

I was soooo close to buy GTQ2, but after the blind test I did, I'm considering carefully now.
I still want to have GTQ2. I really do planning to buy one.
However I'm waiting because support of Aurora was un-helpful(or easy to ignore customer's questions) for me to decide, so I have to look carefully by myself.

BS.

[drew]

Originally Posted by 800G

I can't keep it secret to you about that I did blind test between GTQ2 and Neve1084.
Both audio files were provided by Aurora Audio.

The result was, all guys at the test liked 1084 way better.
Most told opinion was that 1084 is well balanced, wet and good, open high-end, fat and punchy in a good way, focal gravitation is lower and good.
GTQ2 didn't gather so much comments, but some said that GTQ2 is harsh, too light.
GTQ2 didn't gather comments so much because everybody loved and got interested in the sound of 1084 so much.

I was soooo close to buy GTQ2, but after the blind test I did, I'm considering carefully now.
I still want to have GTQ2. I really do planning to buy one.
However I'm waiting because support of Aurora was un-helpful(or easy to ignore customer's questions) for me to decide, so I have to look carefully by myself.

P.S.
After the test, I left them a lie that "one is Aurora GTQ2, and the other is GRACE DESIGN m101" .
I didn't tell them which was which at all.
I don't care what they think which sound was of which pre.
It was enough for me knowing which sound was more favorable to listeners.
I don't care about mechanical or technical improvements, because I don't know about it,
but I do care about the Sound.

I'll let you know if I got information about the sound improvements that is likely to be done by Aurora.

troll. 2nd post? Didn't happen.

[UncleBubba]

Originally Posted by cowboycoalminer

I don't know about that. Send Geoff T a private message on here. I'm sure he will help you with your questions. By the way, I cringe whenever I read about folks making purchasing decisions based on tests they have no part in. In my experience, you to have get something in your hands and use it with your other gear to make a good choice. My opinion.

yes, but it does'nt seem like you are able to with this piece...and when you mention that...people just blurt out..."oh just buy it already...you won't regret it"

not my idea of good advice...Ive bought lots of gear over the years...and one thing I can say is that...if you are getting advice to "don't worry, just buy it"...worry.

please don't misinterpret that though...I personally think Goeff makes great gear...had lots of positive feedback...no negative actually...


....but..."just buy it...don't worry" ...no way...don't ever do that

....so + 1 million on cowboy advice

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by 800G

Hi Cowboy, I like your songs.
I heard the other one on TLM49 thread I think.
I liked that too.

Anyway, I posted former one just after checking email from Geoff.
Please don't let me tell you that ....that..... you know.
(I have to pretend nicest ever otherwise we get called troll or something. Don't matter your honest or what's truth or anything.)
Anyway I have to get password to look in the Aurora Audio Forum first.
And it's not sent to me yet, I have to wait for it.


And, I want you to know that the reason I did blind test was that
I wanted to see if there are guys who prefer GTQ2 to Neve(which my ears felt way better than GTQ2).
Because there I can't find good condition Neves avail, I thought that buying GTQ2 is the best choice as long as there are so many guys who prefer GTQ2 to Neve.
Comprehensible, right?


I'm sorry but I don't understand the English sentence.
I want to know what is written though...


Thank you guys replying me.
Very interesting and I feel good!

Hi

800G, you have been pm'ing me about this and I did my best to explain.

There is no telling for human tastes and preferences... if you read Gearslutz posts you will read some folk prefer API over Neve, Neve is too cloudy, Neve builds up mush in the mix, etc., whatever. That's life, it's people's preferences.

I would caution a little comparing any A versus B on a sampled download as it depends on the quality of your sound reproducton system.

But if you don't like the GTQ2 sound, that's not a problem.

Buy what rings your bell... it's all a matter of taste. Nobody is right, nobody is wrong...



PS "However I'm waiting because support of Aurora was un-helpful(or easy to ignore customer's questions) for me to decide, so I have to look carefully by myself."

Then the two long PM's I sent you and the request that you email me rather than PM was unhelpful? Also Alan and our engineer Andrew tried to help you in multiple emails.
There's no pleasing some folk!

"I can't keep it secret to you about that I did blind test on 5 guys between GTQ2 and Neve1084.
Both audio files were provided by Aurora Audio."

PPS We don't have a sound file of a Neve 1084 to send anyone..... you are probably confusing the link we have of a GTP8 taken in our control room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iJQp...ayer_embedded#!

[seanmccoy]

All this "better than a 1073" stuff or whatever is pure silliness. I've never used a real Neve, and I have no doubt they deserve their reputation and are killer units. The multitude of posts (not to mention my personal experience with the GTQC) about the GT stuff proves that it too is killer, and if you buy a GTQ2 sight unseen odds are good you'll like it. But if you get the two side by side you may like one better than the other based on subtleties and personal taste. When comparing two excellent pieces, it's a waste of time looking for an unequivocal "better."

[cowboycoalminer]

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

There's no pleasing some folk!

We knew you would help, Geoff. You have a stellar reputation. No need to defend. As mentioned in an earlier post, my friend has one to loan me and I'm very excited about getting one in my studio to try. Best, C

[Johnkenn]

Hey Geoff -
What's your opinion of the 500 series? No interest in doing 500 GTQ? It would certainly be easier on my pocketbook... Heh

[drew]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

Hey Geoff -
What's your opinion of the 500 series? No interest in doing 500 GTQ? It would certainly be easier on my pocketbook... Heh

uh oh. You did it now!!!


3....2.....1.....

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Maybe bad isn't the right word.

Things in those racks sound small.

Tiny...like putting audio through the eye of a needle. Part of the reason I
dumped everything "500 series" from my arsenal.

And yeah it sounds different in the console. It sounds musical.

Here is a quote by thethrillfactor from another thread.
Maybe a little harsh, but it accurately reflects my experience, also. I also sold all my 500 gear.
Just one opinion (well, two opinions).

[Johnkenn]

Originally Posted by drew

uh oh. You did it now!!!


3....2.....1.....

Ha - seems like I've seen him rail against this before...Can, meet worms...

[Johnkenn]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Here is a quote by thethrillfactor from another thread.
Maybe a little harsh, but it accurately reflects my experience, also. I also sold all my 500 gear.
Just one opinion (well, two opinions).

I really think it depends on what you get. The only compressor that really reacts the same -IMHO- is the Anamod, (another can of worms) but I think the MA5 and Helios Type 69 sound very good. Maybe lacking some headroom the 19inchers do. I've had the 19inch Helios before in a rack and the 500, but not at the same time...but I swear I don't remember much difference. Please don't make me sell my 500 rack!

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

I really think it depends on what you get. The only compressor that really reacts the same -IMHO- is the Anamod, (another can of worms) but I think the MA5 and Helios Type 69 sound very good. Maybe lacking some headroom the 19inchers do. I've had the 19inch Helios before in a rack and the 500, but not at the same time...but I swear I don't remember much difference. Please don't make me sell my 500 rack!

That's funny.
I used some 800 units for several years, but slowly they didn't seem to be the go-to units. I had the MA5, and it was one that the Aurora kicked out.......that direct comparison is a easy call, IMHO..........this was mainly on electric guitar. I also used numerous E27 units, but I then went over to SSL X-Racks for my individual tracks......I just like the quick-and-tight, edgy SSL's EQ's.

Anyway, I'm sure you make great music with the 800 units. Ignore us.

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by drew

uh oh. You did it now!!!


3....2.....1.....

Hi

No not really... It's the weekend and no need to get all worked up!

I kind of align with API and their standards for third party units to meet before acceptance into the compatibility alliance.

The racks and their power supplies are designed to cope with a rack full of modules drawing a defined maximum current each.

The problem is that there are scores of units available, no doubt excellent sounding, that draw more current than the defined API value. This, in itself, is not an issue until you have a dominant number of these modules and it encroaches into the headroom of the power supply of the rack.

Then the rack manufacturer gets flack and posts appear on these forums about power rail lights going out, etc.

On top of that, some units (beats me why with 32 volts to play with) use dc to dc converters whose oscillations can generate an EMF field that adjacent modules might pick up.

So it's a bit of a minefield really and the obvious, but neglected, solution was to make the third party units meet the API specs.

Otherwise, what's the point of making them if it causes problems down the road?

Go to the API site and see how many 500 series modules meet their specs... It's surprisingly few.

Just my 2c, I appreciate others will have a different viewpoint.

Posted via my iPhone on the Gearslutz app that still doesn't have favorites at the foot of the screen!

[UncleBubba]

Thank you for that Goeff...great stuff!...

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by UncleBubba

Thank you for that Goeff...great stuff!...

Hi UncleBubba

You are very welcome....

Just to clarify this comment...

"On top of that, some units (beats me why with 32 volts to play with) use dc to dc converters whose oscillations can generate an EMF field that adjacent modules might pick up."

I have nothing against dc to dc converters if you need a higher voltage, like 250v for a tube stage, and precautions and filtering put in place to minimize the consequences of that conversion.

But to bring 32v down to 24v for a Neve clone? If cloning be the order of things then clone the system Neve used, quite effectively, 30 years ago with the 33609 running on +/- 22v rails in an 8108/8128 and use a positive and negative 12v regulator to give you the 24 volts the module needs.

Alternatively, look into the implications of just running the circuit at 32v and adjust component values and bias currents to suit.

dc to dc converters are not 100% efficient so you lose current in losses in the system. They use an oscillator driving a transformer at a high frequency and then rectify and decouple that output. Would the noise on that output be better than the filtering from the rack rails? What about radiation from the core of the transformer?

If you want to make the best product you can possibly make, you have to consider all the implications on build price (converters ain't cheap), performance and effect on adjacent units.

As I said above... it's a minefield.

[Johnkenn]

Originally Posted by Mike H

That's funny.
I used some 800 units for several years, but slowly they didn't seem to be the go-to units. I had the MA5, and it was one that the Aurora kicked out.......that direct comparison is a easy call, IMHO..........this was mainly on electric guitar. I also used numerous E27 units, but I then went over to SSL X-Racks for my individual tracks......I just like the quick-and-tight, edgy SSL's EQ's.

Anyway, I'm sure you make great music with the 800 units. Ignore us.

Wow...hostile...In fact, I DO make great music with these units. If you go to my reverbnation page, you can even buy one of my albums...Thanks for buying!

[cowboycoalminer]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

Wow...hostile...In fact, I DO make great music with these units. If you go to my reverbnation page, you can even buy one of my albums...Thanks for buying!

Nice work, John. Are you writer? Had any cuts?

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

Wow...hostile...In fact, I DO make great music with these units. If you go to my reverbnation page, you can even buy one of my albums...Thanks for buying!

Hey man, if I sounded like a wise ass or a smart aleck, or hostile or anything else, I apologize. Please forgive me. I just thought your last sentence was funny. And my last sentence was not meant to be condescending or hostile in any way...........You have a super track record and I am just a small time guy. I have posted here a lot over the years and I don't think I've acted like a wise ass a single time, at least not intentionally.

I guess I just wasn't thinking as I wrote.
So I'm sorry, I'll try to be more careful in what I say in the future.
My turn to

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

Wow...hostile...In fact, I DO make great music with these units. If you go to my reverbnation page, you can even buy one of my albums...Thanks for buying!

Let me say one more thing, and then I'll go away.
My intent in the last sentence was to try to back away from what I saw on reflection as a dogmatic statement condemning 500 units. So, I meant to say I slammed 500 units, but lots of people make great music with them and I am just one opinion.

I did a terribly poor job of saying that.......I should have said just that.
I can clearly see how what I said was stupid, and sounded condescending. I am the last guy who should be saying something like that.

I don't know what else to say, except it honestly wasn't meant like it sounded, and it sounded pretty bad. I again apologize.

[Johnkenn]

No problem, I thought you were saying that you couldn't make good recordings with the 500 stuff...I've kind of come to the conclusion that you can make good recordings with anything with enough knowledge of gain staging and mic placement. Sorry if I jumped the gun too - it just annoys me when I hear some people on gearslutz talk about the difference between "professional" and "amateur"...

[UncleBubba]

...but...I generally stay away from anything 500...my experience is similar in that at first I was stoked, then some stuff just sat there...then I got rid of it...the A Designs stuff was especially good though.

[fmsoloist]

Just thought I'd share my Aurora GTQ2 experience.

After searching for the best Neve 1073 clone/solution and weighing all the options and tradeoffs you'd make to get a real vintage Neve, Heritage, Brent Averill/BAE, AMS Neve or even a Chandler, it was really difficult to ignore the Aurora stuff. The value you get - 2 channels with EQ for a little more than the price of some of these single channels is astounding. Everything I tried it on made me just want more. So I got another one and here's the story:

Ebay - Hard to believe, rare sighting of an Aurora GTQ2 in the USA well under $2500 used, but in mint condition. I jumped on the deal as fast as I could and cut a deal for a great price. I wont mention how much, but well below what I (Happily) paid for a new one and away it went.

The item arrived on schedule UPS and looked like that box had seen some abuse. The box was about the size you expect a new one to arrive in with enough room on all sides for lots of packing, except something was moving around inside... I Come to find this beautiful preamp was shipped in one cardboard box with not much more than a single piece of bubble wrap around it. It had lots of room to move and did.

I have to assume this box was dropped from high up and probably more than once. Upon inspecting the unit, it was obvious the ears had come through the sides and the knobs almost through the front of the box. the right rack ear was bent about 20 degrees and one of the EQ/ trim knobs was pulled a bit off its pot shaft. We freaked b/c we knew the most sensitive parts of this unit must have been bashed hard without much of anything protecting it, over and over with one BIG hit bending a very heavy part of the unit and we all know this thing weighs a ton.

I decided to hook it up and see what the damage was... And there was none.

Not a single discernible scratchy pot, faulty channel, or back light out. Both channels matched perfectly as if new and just as good as the week-old MK III I had racked below it. I was beyond surprised.

Because the item was shipped insured, I let the original owner take it back and refund my money so UPS could reimburse him, though no one in all the time I've been buying and selling has so carelessly shipped such a beautiful piece. I really wanted to keep it and maybe take a few hundred back for the ear I'd have to repair (with a lot of leverage) but I had to swallow my loss and play it safe while I could afford to. I've yet to find a deal so good and I still only want more, maybe a GTP8 to replace my UA 8110.

I've never been so impressed by a piece of equipment, except when my custom shop Fender Strat was hurled across a room (twice) and didn't get more than a ding.

I Hope this empowers buyers of the above. Aside from the two indiscretions, I've been very lucky with the care of my things.

-Frank

[steveschizoid]

Originally Posted by fmsoloist

Just thought I'd share my Aurora GTQ2 experience.

.... Everything I tried it on made me just want more.

This fact is what stacks up to be the only downside I can see to using Aurora Audio equipment. It aint cheap, and every new piece tends to make you wonder what you could do if you had another.

I still have plans to sell my GTQ2 once I can afford another GT4-8 to go with my second GTP-8. Studio business is a little down so far this year, while general expenses are up, but it will happen eventually.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by fmsoloist

I Come to find this beautiful preamp was shipped in one cardboard box with not much more than a single piece of bubble wrap around it. It had lots of room to move and did.

Just as an FYI. Aurora does not use any bubble wrap in their packaging of the GTQ2. It ships with heavy foam inserts within the box that are cut to size for the GTQ.

[cowboycoalminer]

Originally Posted by fmsoloist

I really wanted to keep it and maybe take a few hundred back for the ear I'd have to repair (with a lot of leverage) but I had to swallow my loss and play it safe while I could afford to.

I would have hit the bastard that shipped it that way for as much money as I could get and kept it. It would have remained solid I'm sure. And I'd bet the last penny if you had contacted Geoff and told him the situation, he would have been glad to assist you under the circumstances.

Peace

[fmsoloist]

It was hard not to be upset, but we were more disappointed. The Seller was very apologetic and accommodating and even credited my purchase with his own money b/c UPS doesn't immediately reimburse you. Depending on if he's able to get the unit fixed up and it goes back on the market, I might try to buy it again at a discount, but even still the new ones are not that expensive and I might as well invest to upgrade all my pres to GTP 8.
Can any one Direct me to anyone Using a fairly completed/expanded Ivar Street console? Before I got the GTQ-2 I was really looking into a good summing/mixer/console and I'm curious if anyone is successfully utilizing GTs system

[Geoff_T]

Hi

Email me and I will give you email addresses of users you could ask.

Posted from my iPhone

[Seditionary]

Just another user's opinion here. We are selling a lot of gear right now to make sure we are covered to put out our album in case our Kickstarter doesn't get funded. On the front end, the only things we are really set on keeping is an Aurora gtq2 and some classic api channels

Not only do Geoff's modules sound amazing, but also the service both by Geoff and those who work at Aurora Audio are top notch as well.

[tape_attack!!!]

got my aurora GTQ2 today!
that is so far the most impressive preamp i have ever used!
i recorded a lot with API512c, chandler TG2 and Universal Audio preamps during the last years but the GTQ2 is another league!
so far i only used the DI input with a Bassguitar boosting the EQ a little bit,...really really awesome!

compared to the Universal Audio LA610 that i used the last days for recording Bass i have to say that the difference is like night and day!

[tape_attack!!!]

btw. can someone tell me what impedance of the GTQ2 should work best for tracking guitar with an SM57 for example, or SM7 or C414?

thanks

cheers