1073LB vs 573 vs MA5 vs MP-500nv vs 517

[RiF]

Sounds like a stupid answer, but if you want to have THAT Neve sound, why not go for a Neve preamp (1073LB that is).

[Takeomi]

Thx RiF
and the reason is i dont know 1073LB is really closest sound to vintage 1073

also i asked to shop then they said i need to wait over 2months to get 1073LB caz too many back ordres
i can wait but if others are betther than 1073LB, no need to wait.

and I'm in japan, i can not test all of them
(maybe just 573 and MA5 are possible)

[dbjp]

MA5's not for you if you want the 'vintage 1073 sound'.
But they're very very good at everything. I little cleaner, a little tighter at the bottom than vintage neve units.
I was very pleased when I had them.

[msquared]

I haven't used the 1073LB but there have been a handful of posts on here talking about how it's noticeably not the same as the real deal. It's on the internet so it must be true, right?

I've used all of the others for many things and with any of them, you're entering into a situation of "if you can't make it sound awesome then it's the engineer's fault rather than the gear's fault".

Personally I think the Vintech is pretty close to where it's at for "that sound" and if I were buying any of the above it would be that one.

[cheu78]

I absolutely love the MA5.. First for the sound and second for the build quality.. It is really very very well made. There's a lot of quality in that module and for the price they're selling it is "cheap"... Seriously.. Only the Jensen custom output xformer alone is very expensive !

As every piece of gear it may or may not be the best for a particular source, but 90% of the times it's the right pick...I just recorded a reggae album where the MA5 was chosen for the lead vox.. Was simply stunning paired with the Coles 4038..
.. And I still have to find another company that build audio tools where QUALITY comes first and the price tag doesn't count much.. (studer was like that many years ago, but you payed a high price tag for that quality).

HATS OFF TO AVEDIS !!

Btw if you want an MA5 for (almost) free and helping a good cause, please check out this giveaway :

More free stuff....let's do it again!

The winner will be picked up on july 4th and will be announced on the "more free stuff" thread..

Best regards,

Cheu

[mattg082]

I have a api 512 and a great river 500. Bought the Great River for vocals. I love it a lot and it is very diverse in features! It has a great polished vibe on vocals and is also great for acoustic guitar, room mics and kick drums. It can sound very warm and big! Pair mine with a sm7b, re20 and when I'm lucky a u87. It's more of a current updated version of the old school neve sound from what most say, but I love it. Hmmm, I think the reason most people love the original neve is for the eq, but it still sounds good.

I don't think you could go wrong with your choices, but as a great river user and many others on this site you will never be dispaointed with it for vocal duties. It's like a slow glaze made of honey if I had to describe the cranked sound of this pre.

[James the 2nd]

Originally Posted by mattg082

..."It's like a slow glaze made of honey..."

Excellent description!!

I have used the ma5 and 1037lb extensively. The LB has a fat bottom end, the ma5 is less coloured and quite transparent in the midrange and tops.

In a blind shoot out for the last record I did with a beautiful female vocalist we picked the ma5. That made us feel that she was singing right there in front of us, whereas the lb was a little sluggish, ie, a bit slow in comparison.

Both great pres though, both complimentary.

[daez]

all of those will get the job done just pick the one that appeals most to you

[Stepwise Sound]

The good thing is I'm not sure you could make a bad decision.

I picked up a pair of the Vintech 573s -- think they sound great. Just used them extensively for a weekend of recording.

Paired with Shure SM7B for vocals -- sounded spot on.
Paired it with Audio Technica 4050 for upright bass -- sounded great as well.

I think the DIs on the Vintech 573s are really exceptional as well.

That being said, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these pres. People seem to love the MA5, the Great River gets a plenty of love as well.

So I don't know -- just make sure you can return it if you don't like it. For me, the Vintechs made the cut. They are well built and the price is right.

[Takeomi]

thx everybody

looks all pres are pretty much well made and worth for the buying
except Portico (I dont know its not good or nobody is using yet)

soon i will decide and email to vintage king.

thx again to everybody

[msquared]

The Portico is pretty new so it's possible that it's just not been widely used yet, especially since it's a combo box and not just a preamp so it's probably a bit more expensive.

I think that zenproaudio.com has sound clips of it online.

[E.rOk.stA]

Originally Posted by msquared

I haven't used the 1073LB but there have been a handful of posts on here talking about how it's noticeably not the same as the real deal. It's on the internet so it must be true, right?

I've used all of the others for many things and with any of them, you're entering into a situation of "if you can't make it sound awesome then it's the engineer's fault rather than the gear's fault".

Personally I think the Vintech is pretty close to where it's at for "that sound" and if I were buying any of the above it would be that one.

I've owned a Vintech X73i and now own a Neve 1073DPA and honestly, they're not the same but the Vintech is close and awesome in it's own right so just pair it with a mic that's not too bright 'cause the V will compensate for that.

[Fieldstone]

Bump on observations of the Portico 517....
I'd be interested to see observations/comparisons to "lesser" pres such as FMR Audio RNP.

[cinealta]

Originally Posted by dbjp

MA5's not for you if you want the 'vintage 1073 sound'. But they're very very good at everything. I little cleaner, a little tighter at the bottom than vintage neve units. I was very pleased when I had them.

Why do you no longer have your MA5s? Thanks for your advice.

[Jeff16years]

i'll bump because i'm interested to hear a few more opinions on this.

[johnnyc]

Have used the MP-500NV and MA5, prefer the MA5.

[protoolscubase]

Originally Posted by johnnyc

Have used the MP-500NV and MA5, prefer the MA5.

Great River for me!

[cheu78]

Originally Posted by Jeff16years

i'll bump because i'm interested to hear a few more opinions on this.

fwiw you could read my review of the MA5 in the GS review section, that I wrote after my post in this thread...

<<< Below my avatar there's the link...

Btw the best thing to do is to try them in your place and then decide..
This is the only way for you to find out if you like more the MA5 or another module on your sources.
Said that, IMO an MA5 is always a great addition.



Cheu

[funkynuts]

Great river owner here . Its an awesome choice of pre

Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk

[Brotherinarms]

Did a shootout with the Great River, MA5, and the Vintech 573 about two weeks ago.

To my ears the MA5 hands done was the winner. It just sounded so smooth, warm, and musical. The Great River was my second choice (sounded a bit more clinical IMO). The Vintech unfortunately we didn't like at all especially on my voice (sounded kind of hollow and awkward). Of course don't take my word for it. Try and grab a listen of the pres if you can!

After listening I ended up ordering a pair of MA5's. Can't wait to use them on my EP this weekend ;0)

[Daedalus77]

All will work.

I have both GR and MA5. Love both. Sound, build quality, customer support, and so on.

I'm not concerned with chasing the 1073 myth.

For guitars and vox, the MA5 usually gets the nod.

But you could make a fine record with either, assuming you can make a fine record.

Don't overthink this. Make a purchase and make some music.

Best of luck.

[protoolscubase]

it's all about source n taste

Great River or MA5 will be great for mostly instrument and Vocal

[elambo]

A couple of years ago I set out to buy the ultimate Neve type preamp. Money was no object. I spent a couple of months researching and ended up buying the MA5 and I couldn't be happier. It can be very Neve-esque when pushed but with more clarity and a tighter bottom. I consider it an evolution of the classic design.

[dbjp]

Originally Posted by cinealta

Why do you no longer have your MA5s? Thanks for your advice.

Couple of reasons..
Wanted to get out of 500 series at the time,
and due to the fact I started using a vintage u47 everyday for lots of vocal recording, I got interested in using clearer, faster preamps to match the slower and slightly softer sounding mic (as opposed to solid state mics, like a U87 for example).

Nothing to do with the quality of Avedis. It was/is exceptionally good. Wish he'd come out with a 19" alternative.

[lemonsquash]

I want two MA5's badly. Maybe a couple of 573's too. I wonder how the Electrodyne 501 stands against these...?

[Matt Hepworth]

I really like the LB and MA for vocals and guitars.

If you're looking for the Neve sound, the least like it is the Portico.

[radic]

All great pre's. Used the 573 recently and it sounded fantastic. On bass guitar the low end was huge and a pleasure to mix

[Andrew Kinsey]

Weve got demo units of both the X73i and the 573 here and i have to say that hands down Vintech did a great job of keeping the sound consistent in the 500 series module, would highly recommend it.

[Johnkenn]

Heritage Audio 1073/500