Neve 33609 vs. 2254R

[loveinoctober]

I have a vintage Neve 33609 and I love it! Amazing on bass, vocals, drums...you name it. I was wondering how it compared to the new Neve 2254R. I've never used a 2254. If somebody who has used both comps could explain the sonic differences please do. Thanks

[Gav G]

There are quite a few threads on this very topic. Have you tried a search?

[DarkSky Media]

I have both (though the 33609 is a "JD" with the "MichaelAngelo mod" that restores the same input impedance as the vintage units).

Pretty hard to describe the way stuff sounds. And Fletcher will be in any moment to warn us about "dancing about architecture" and "personal sense of aesthetic" or something. So yeah, you need to listen for yourself before you take anything I or anyone else says too seriously. But that said, here's an attempt at my take on these two:

The 33609 is relatively transparent and responds well to bright/punchy tracks. It does its thing but you don't tend to hear it working too much (at least the ways I use it). Very classy and open sounding, needs to just touch the peaks IMO.

By contrast, the 2254R delivers thickness and a creamy smoothness like a jar of sonic sauce. It audibly adds to (and/or alters) the flavour of what passes through it - in a good way (mostly - depending on taste and the material to hand!). I use it more when tracking tonal instruments (strings, woodwind, brass...), less a bit often on vocals or percussion (unless I really want the effect of its sound - no hard and fast rules...).

Both can work in their (quite different) ways on drum bus and parallel comping. In these roles, you get "classy and classic" liveness from the 33609 and rich dark/heavy/moody vibiness from the 2254. I don't tend to use either on 2-bus - plenty other options - but who knows, that might be what does it for you...

Hopefully that gives you something to go on. It would probably be worth it for you to try to get a listen to a 2254R and see if you agree with my comments. In which case you should report back with your findings!

[loveinoctober]

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

I have both (though the 33609 is a "JD" with the "MichaelAngelo mod" that restores the same input impedance as the vintage units).

Pretty hard to describe the way stuff sounds. And Fletcher will be in any moment to warn us about "dancing about architecture" and "personal sense of aesthetic" or something. So yeah, you need to listen for yourself before you take anything I or anyone else says too seriously. But that said, here's an attempt at my take on these two:

The 33609 is relatively transparent and responds well to bright/punchy tracks. It does its thing but you don't tend to hear it working too much (at least the ways I use it). Very classy and open sounding, needs to just touch the peaks IMO.

By contrast, the 2254R delivers thickness and a creamy smoothness like a jar of sonic sauce. It audibly adds to (and/or alters) the flavour of what passes through it - in a good way (mostly - depending on taste and the material to hand!). I use it more when tracking tonal instruments (strings, woodwind, brass...), less a bit often on vocals or percussion (unless I really want the effect of its sound - no hard and fast rules...).

Both can work in their (quite different) ways on drum bus and parallel comping. In these roles, you get "classy and classic" liveness from the 33609 and rich dark/heavy/moody vibiness from the 2254. I don't tend to use either on 2-bus - plenty other options - but who knows, that might be what does it for you...

Hopefully that gives you something to go on. It would probably be worth it for you to try to get a listen to a 2254R and see if you agree with my comments. In which case you should report back with your findings!

Thanks for the description.

I use my 33609 quite differently from you. I've found that it sounds magical when I slam it hard with a signal (especially vocals & bass). It adds that subtle color and makes a vocal sit nicely in the mix.

I'm going to have to find a 2254R at some point...

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

By contrast, the 2254R delivers thickness and a creamy smoothness like a jar of sonic sauce. It audibly adds to (and/or alters) the flavour of what passes through it - in a good way (mostly - depending on taste and the material to hand!).

Wow if only my 2254 really sounded like this, i would probably eat it as a snack after wards as well.

Honestly all of this stuff is so subjective and unique to the person using it. As much as i love using a 2254, to me its sonic effect is subtle and not as dramatic as described above. Compared to a 33609 it has more tone, but not that much.

Its compression characteristics is where the difference mostly lies and why one is preferred over the other for certain sources.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Wow if only my 2254 really sounded like this, i would probably eat it as a snack after wards as well.

Honestly all of this stuff is so subjective and unique to the person using it. As much as i love using a 2254, to me its sonic effect is subtle and not as dramatic as described above. Compared to a 33609 it has more tone, but not that much.

Its compression characteristics is where the difference mostly lies and why one is preferred over the other for certain sources.

Could you expand on how the compression characteristics differ?

[MarkyGoldstein]

One is more transparent, the other is more chocolet / colour. Buy both (get 2 of the 2254R and link them...).

Anyway, I wonder about the 33609 "MichaelAngelo mod"... I mean why did Neve put the resistor there ? There must be a reason.

(I just compared the 33609 JD to an older Chandler TG1, and yes the Chandler had more magic, color, fx, lushness, vibe, shine. The 33609 JD was good on rock guitar and I would say different to the Chandler, maybe harder / harsher. I think the 33609 JD is more transparent).

[syra]

I don't have any experience with the 2254R but can give you my take on the 2254E. Compared to an original 33609 they are different but audibly from the same family as to be expected. In detail:

33609: brighter in the upper mids, more snappy - brings out the percussiveness to sounds. Great for drumbuss, 2buss, percussion, piano.

2254E: darker, thicker, more flexibility overall. Great for everything really.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Wow if only my 2254 really sounded like this, i would probably eat it as a snack after wards as well.

I warn you, they're a bit crunchy. tutt

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

Honestly all of this stuff is so subjective and unique to the person using it.

Absolutely, thrill. I gave my own take, based on what I hear the way *I* use them - nothing more.

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

As much as i love using a 2254, to me its sonic effect is subtle and not as dramatic as described above. Compared to a 33609 it has more tone, but not that much.

As I noted, I tend to use a lighter touch with the 33609, so what I get out of it is on the subtle side. Loveinoctober has responded to say he prefers to "slam it hard" and pulls a color that he likes from his 33609 by doing that. Different color from what he'd get from a 2254, I'd surmise.

For sure, depending on how they are set up, what is passing through them and what else is in the chain, the differences will be more or less dramatic. Thanks for chiming in with a different perspective.

[syra]

Originally Posted by DarkSky Media

As I noted, I tend to use a lighter touch with the 33609, so what I get out of it is on the subtle side. Loveinoctober has responded to say he prefers to "slam it hard" and pulls a color that he likes from his 33609 by doing that.

Your observations DarkSky as well as loveinoctober's are spot on. The only reason between your different preferences is that you're talking about two completely different compressors. The JD can't be pushed hard... it lives in the "lighter touch" approach as you mentioned. Its color is beautiful and provides smoothness in the upper midrange. The metalknob's sweet spot lives in the "slam it hard" territory as the OP mentioned. Both comments spot on... as long as you realize that besides the name, they have nothing in common sonically.

Also the mod you've done only increases the high end on your JD. The key difference lies in the attack and release response.

[DarkSky Media]

Originally Posted by syra

Your observations DarkSky as well as loveinoctober's are spot on. The only reason between your different preferences is that you're talking about two completely different compressors. The JD can't be pushed hard... it lives in the "lighter touch" approach as you mentioned. Its color is beautiful and provides smoothness in the upper midrange. The metalknob's sweet spot lives in the "slam it hard" territory as the OP mentioned. Both comments spot on... as long as you realize that besides the name, they have nothing in common sonically.

Also the mod you've done only increases the high end on your JD. The key difference lies in the attack and release response.

Thanks syra. That all makes sense!