The holy grail of tube compressors

[Kelly Cameron]

Originally Posted by jindrich

When €1M Studios can be booked for just €400-500/day (those that haven't closed yet BTW), I don't see any considering investing 50k in just a damm compressor.

IF someone buys such things at such prices, it isn't going to be audio professionals, but rich doctors and lawyers playing the home studio thing.

I'm thinking rich musicians/recording engineers as a more likely buyer demographic for this compressor vs doctors and lawyers, unless this post is about a 2nd hand Audi R8.

[walth]

Fairchild
UA LA2A
i'm not sure if the pye is tube but i hear they sound great.
the fairchild is cool
gates, federal, department of commerse, Altec/EMI Compressors. they're all great.

i think it would either be a LA-2A or a Fairchild 670.

[yotonic]

Originally Posted by jindrich

When €1M Studios can be booked for just €400-500/day (those that haven't closed yet BTW), I don't see any considering investing 50k in just a damm compressor.

IF someone buys such things at such prices, it isn't going to be audio professionals, but rich doctors and lawyers playing the home studio thing.

The Fairchild is probably the single unique piece of gear that can live outside the new reality of recording you describe. But I agree with you completely as to how it applies to all of these home studios. It's just such a strange contradiction. If you care so much about quality why would you try and do everything yourself at home. Are you really going to purchase everything your local studio has and Engineer yourself?

I can understand owning your own chain, some extra mics and room treatment to record tracks to take into the studio but even that can start to not make financial sense on paper.

[a zombie]

Originally Posted by G-Spot

Ha... a pity... I only buy gear in pairs, I'll pass

The Fairchild 670 is stereo, so it's all yours

...unless you mix in quad ??

[Tube World]

Originally Posted by bcgood

Save your money and buy an OCL-2 or VT-7.

For the price of the Fairchild, you could get

1. Pen OCL 2
2. Pen ES-8
3. Manley Vari Mu
4. DW Fearn VT-7
5. Two Cranesong Trackers
6. Rupert Neve Portico II Stereo Bus
7. Audient ASP4816 or SSL Matrix

Now which is a better deal?

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by Tube World

Now which is a better deal?

If you want a 'Fairchild' tone/action, then the Anamod AM660 is the better deal.

[toneguru]

Originally Posted by Beyersound

The EAR 660 has been doing an even better job than the original for years. Around 20k for 2 channels and it is new and extremely quiet as well.......................

The EAR 660 does a better job on some sources and the Fairchild 670 does a better job on others. For instance, piano... 660 would be my first choice. Drums... there is something about the organic tone of the Fairchild.

The EAR and the Fairchild are both fantastic units. One better than the other? I guess its a matter of application as well as taste.

On another note: this bickering about whether it is worth $30k is understandable ($30k for 2 ch of comp sounds crazy). But now the argument may have to be ratcheted up to about $35k cause the days of finding a good 670 for $30k may have passed us forever. Especially if the dollar takes a steep drop.

PS. Why buy a pair of Neve 2254E's when you can get a pair of RNC's for 1/10th the cost?... That's okay, I'll keep my Neve's.

[emrr]

And in finding and buying a good 670, I'd expect to spend several thousand alone in traveling to audition it, and in getting it transported properly.

[piano]

Originally Posted by yotonic

Not sure if you Googled him, but he's a fairly well known Engineer from Denmark. I don't believe English is his first language.

Ya, he speaks the language of $$$$$$$$$

[piano]

Originally Posted by mwagener

Bob Olhson once told me: "Back then we only used the Fairchilds because we didn't have anything better."

Ha, great quote! That's because they had nothing else in the studio. The 670 circuit does sound amazing.

In addition, the Fairchild 670 does make for an excellent marital aid in the bedroom. Your wife will scream like never before when you tell her you purchased one for $50K.

[SIXTWOFOUR]

I own a Fairchild 670! However I think the Holy Grail of compressors is the Vacuvox CL-2!

[Ben F]

We have the Fairchild 670 in the mix room as well. PITA to maintain.

I prefer the Fairman TMC.

[Marcocet]

Originally Posted by SIXTWOFOUR

I own a Fairchild 670! However I think the Holy Grail of compressors is the Vacuvox CL-2!

Stop bragging :) I know you got one.

How's that thing working out for you? Good I suppose?

[Dave_Amels]

Originally Posted by a zombie

The Fairchild 670 is stereo, so it's all yours

...unless you mix in quad ??

not stereo... dual mono or M/S only

[pongmaster]

TAB U73 are simply amazing!

[MrMeek]

EMI RS 124 COMPRESSOR LIMITER VINTAGE REDD 47 TG BEATLES MIXING CONSOLE TUBE | eBay

[kennybro]

Originally Posted by jackinthebox

if it was mint, maybe $65000 for an all original example?

the paf pickups would be worth 10k alone!

All of the Pauls took a big hit in the mid-late 00's, after 2006. I sold an insanely immaculate '56 (P90's, tune o matic) a while ago for around 20k. In 06, a guy offered me over twice that and I turned him down. Back then, the cases alone were over 5K. I was lucky to get what I did.

[Wabana66]

RCA BA-6A is an absolutely monster beast of epic proportions!! It'll totally do that thing.....And it's old, heavy, and hot, and could kill you if you touch it wrong........Mmmmmmmmmm