1176 compressor comparisons: UA, Purple, Mohog, Urei

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by 44deluxe

I have a pair of Mohogs, they're cool but man, they're noisy....!

I have a Mohog and love it unconditionally. Mine had a slight low hum in it until I noticed it was sitting next t two tube mic power supplies. I moved them a foot away and it cleaned up. Now it's dead quiet.

Again, a great compressor. The transformer option is one you can actually hear and makes a real difference.

-R

[andrea19837]

Wow big secret give away soon

first i have UA1176 reissue. nice, but i remember when i used UREI, and the baby was very different.

what i do to make the magic happen:

1- instal 680 omhs between +/- OUT in barrier strip, that simple resistance give U 2 advantages:

A- IF i use it on Digital AD it lower the output so U don't clip never the converter, and record at -10 DBfs without problem

B- with this convert You are forced to push the output pot near 18-12 on front pannel to achieve a good singnal, and so the output transformer start to make the magic happen, saturate, and give low high delay smooth 3d sound-

2-I also use a ATTY volume POT to give it more out and option on converter signal

3-this a my wiev maybe don't work for anyone:

open your compressor and find the BIAS pot, turn it till you can push the imput at 18 in front pannel with no gain reduction on 4.1 ratio with a sine at -5 DBfs. THIS modification push you tu put the imput on a range of 18-6 in 4.1 ratio to achieve a nice reduction, and so U start to feel hungry the imput transformer.

IMHO:

but the magic in UREI is the sweet pot, If u ever use one u know that u need to push it very hard to compress and give a bief output, imput and output on UREI are not unusual work ON 12-12 18-18. IN the all new revision they put too much in the first step and the transfomer don't start to kick hard and U already have compress too much...

anyway, IMHO and I can also be DUMB


WHy the f**k i give it away!

[andrea19837]

PS: NOW your meter don't work as usual, it's more slow, somwthing that i USE to see on old UREI...


Universal Audio 1176 Vintage Blue Stripe Demo - YouTube

look at that meter, it talks a lot how many VOLT and HOW are inside

[pan60]

Originally Posted by a2dpapi

For some reason the clients who have had a lot of love for their urei 1176 had difficulty getting used to the MC77. I like it and see it as a more open and brighter version. It feels more responsive to me too, although I know the 1176 is supposed to have the same attack times (in microseconds).

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Horseshit. I've spent untold amount of hours with both, have had more real 1176LN's of every distinction and revision [and more than a couple of "non-LN"s] and the Purple is about as close to my favorite LN's as it gets... no adjustment period, no nothing... plug it in, and it works like you'd expect a well maintained LN to work.

Peace

enough said!
on and upward, i would like to try one of the Mohog's someday in the future.

just spent to much on comps this years as it is.

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by RKrizman

Mine had a slight low hum in it until I noticed it was sitting next t two tube mic power supplies. I moved them a foot away and it cleaned up. Now it's dead quiet.

Again, a great compressor. The transformer option is one you can actually hear and makes a real difference.

-R

mine had a hum too but rotating the toroidal a bit fixed it.
yes great compressor

[the fxs]

^
and not only this comp.
they have pultec clone aswell.

[cowrange]

Originally Posted by RKrizman

I have a Mohog and love it unconditionally. Mine had a slight low hum in it until I noticed it was sitting next t two tube mic power supplies. I moved them a foot away and it cleaned up. Now it's dead quiet.

Again, a great compressor. The transformer option is one you can actually hear and makes a real difference.

-R

I recently got mohog as well and love it but it also made a loud hum until I put it into a different place in the rack. Also find that I typically have the output around 9:00-11:00 depending on the transformer selection, which is lower than some other 1176 types.

Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk

[skybluerental]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

mine had a hum too but rotating the toroidal a bit fixed it.
yes great compressor

the hum is due to the input transformer.

my tech and i did extensive tests on my pair and found it to the problem.

i swapped out the input trannies with UTC 0-12’s, and the noise of the unit dropped dramatically. no hum from other nearby gear and the overall noise of the unit went WAY down.

our theory is that the input tranny is not properly shielded........
it is especially sensitive to being near tube gear, it would seem, as my retro 176 made my Mohogs hum like crazy.

even when the units arent “humming” due to other gear that is around, the noise specs of the Mohog are kind of questionable if you ask me.
swapping out the input tranny for a UTC 0-12 made a huge difference in the self noise of the unit.

all that said, the Mohog’s sound freakin’ GREAT and Brandon is a very cool guy to deal with..............

[AlbertoPG]

sometimes, the best way to avoid the hum is an external power supply.

[littlesicily]

I've had 3 different UA 1176's and 3 different MC77's... Sold 'em all and now have a UREI 1176 rev.F and a Blue Stripe. The UREI's stand out to me if they are well maintained like the ones I have.
MC77 was okay, better than UA but bright and slightly fizzy.

[Daedalus77]

I've used lots of different versions. The old ones are all different—some fantastic, some less so. I've used the UA reissue (though admittedly just a few times), and I found it OK—not as bad as some here assert, but not "impressive."

I've loved the MC77 since I first got one years ago. I don't find it particularly bright—and certainly not "fizzy." It just works every time.

I haven't tried the Mohog, but I'd like to hear it. Sounds great.

Distressors and 1176s are quite different beasts. This is Gearslutz. One needs both.

Best of luck.

[FunkyTek]

Originally Posted by skybluerental

the hum is due to the input transformer.

my tech and i did extensive tests on my pair and found it to the problem.
...
even when the units arent “humming” due to other gear that is around, the noise specs of the Mohog are kind of questionable if you ask me.
swapping out the input tranny for a UTC 0-12 made a huge difference in the self noise of the unit.

all that said, the Mohog’s sound freakin’ GREAT and Brandon is a very cool guy to deal with..............

All that being true, a unit that is sensitive to interference like that just plain has a design/manufacturing problem that needs to be resolved.

Too bad since it is so widely praised for it's sonics.

As to the other poster's comment about remote power supplies; Personally I hate them and you can build a dead quiet unit with an internal supply. Unfortunately it usually involves extra cost, so there is that tradeoff.
External supplies have their issues as well. You either have to have internal regulators and duplicate decoupling and/or remote sensing regulators. The umbilical cords can present issues and the external case and cabling adds cost and maintenance issues.

All in all though, it is cheaper to get UL and EC approval for an external power supply and then use it for multiple products. Hense the proliferation of wall worts.

Sorry for the aside. Interesting thread, have learned a few things. thanks!

[Salty James]

Bumping this as regards Mohog noise..
Is this an issue that has been fixed?

Trying to get a pair...

[Salty James]

Bumping this as regards Mohog noise..
Is this an issue that has been fixed?

Trying to get a pair...

[herecomesyourman]

Originally Posted by BLueROom

I have not tried the Purple, but after trying some of Purple's other gear and knowing Andrew is a maniac about his stuff, I'd have to say it's probably great. It's on my short list.

I HAVE had newer UA 1176ln and I currently have a Mohog 76. I liked the UA 1176ln but got bored of it and sold it. Then, I craved the 1176 sound again and decided to try the Mohog because of the different trafo options.. oh and because it looks badass and that matters!

I have to say I like the Mohog a whole hell of a lot. From what I remember, it gives me what I missed about the UA and more (because of the options). I really dig the weight it adds to bass and the sponginess I get on snare. It really just kicks ass on drums. On vox it is equally cool.. it seems to place the vocals right where you need them to be, if that makes sense. Very cool piece, reminiscent of the older UA stuff but has more bells and whistles. OH... and it's quieter

Brandon is a top notch dude, too. Hit him up.

thumbsup

Brandon is a great guy, and I think his product sounds amazing. To be honest I would purchase a pair of them with linking over any vintage units.

[Mike Green]

I got a pair of DIY 1176s Rev A type and I dig them anywhere / everywhere, vox, drums, bass, acoustic guitars, electric guitars so and so forth. Plus, I find the distortion ****ing beautiful. That's a testrun I did a while ago on drums: https://soundcloud.com/atticmike/set...-built-testrun

Got an original Urei black comp and I prefer the DIY one.

[jeremyglover]

Originally Posted by Mr. Light

Yah if you already have a distressor (or pair) your money might be better spent elsewhere

Completely different compressor all together.
I have 2 of each and they are worlds apart.

[nigel saunders]

Originally Posted by Salty James

Bumping this as regards Mohog noise..
Is this an issue that has been fixed?

Trying to get a pair...

Got One last week.
Sounds fantastic but yes it is noisy in my set up - I think I can work around it and it is worth it for the sound.

[maddizzar]

Hi, after purchase a Mohog i have problems with noise. But i wrote to Brandon and after some adjusts on gain stage my unit it's dead quiet.
Make sure you are sending a strong signal from the preamp by monitoring the input mode on the mohog. You should be right around -4 on the VU in input mode.
This comp is amazing and i will buy another unit.

[swafford]

Originally Posted by Salty James

Bumping this as regards Mohog noise..
Is this an issue that has been fixed?

Trying to get a pair...

Yes, by moving them as needed and paying attention to your gain staging. Love my Mohog.

[Salty James]

so is the noise a grounding thing or what?

[maddizzar]

More like a hiss to me.

[nigel saunders]

Originally Posted by maddizzar

Hi, after purchase a Mohog i have problems with noise. But i wrote to Brandon and after some adjusts on gain stage my unit it's dead quiet.
Make sure you are sending a strong signal from the preamp by monitoring the input mode on the mohog. You should be right around -4 on the VU in input mode.
This comp is amazing and i will buy another unit.

Thanks for that - it definitely helps!