SCA Pre's vs UA 710

inspired.artist · 26th September 2011

Hey Guys, Im new to Gearslutz and ive just spent hours searching through many different threads trying to find the answers im looking for. Forgive me for starting yet another thread on this topic but i just cant seem to find any direct comparisons between the SCA Pre's and the Universal Audio 710. My main question is are they in the same league?? I was very impressed when i heard a guitar sample on a review of the 710, but then I stumbled upon the sca stuff just looking through these forums. It seems everyone seems to think that they are comparable to the real pre's they're cloned off. I read some really positive stuff and thats kinda got me leaning towards an sca, probably just an N72 for starters. I also heard some sca samples on here that sounded ok, but with all the hype i was reading i really wasnt overly impressed when i listened. Although i do question whether the samples were rough and maybe not mastered, and maybe that being the main difference between the clarity and presense differences between the 710 samples and the latter.

I get the impression from what ive read that the n72 has a warm soft kind of overall, but the thing is the couple of songs i listened to almost sounded dull and muddy, especially in comparison to the bright tone i heard from the ss side of the 710.

Does anyone know would it be a mistake to hold off on an n72 for the sake of having to wait a couple of weeks to get it? I can get a 710 on ebay here in Aus for roughly the same price and id have it in three days.

I gather from what ive read that the n72 pres should be on a whole new level to the 710, but those samples have kinda got me hesitating a little. And I guess im also wondering if the main thread i was reading was made up a whole heap of people that were biased through wanting to believe that there clones sound very close to the real thing???

I guess its hard to judge a pre off a streamed sample given the other variables that could influence the way that file sounds. I guess i just figure anyone spending bucks on quality pres would have decent hardware all the way to the master.

Anyway does anyone have any thoughts???? Is the 710 cheap and inferior to the sca pre's ???

Or would the quality be in the same ball park????

The dman · 26th September 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by inspired.artist

Hey Guys, Im new to Gearslutz and ive just spent hours searching through many different threads trying to find the answers im looking for. Forgive me for starting yet another thread on this topic but i just cant seem to find any direct comparisons between the SCA Pre's and the Universal Audio 710. My main question is are they in the same league?? I was very impressed when i heard a guitar sample on a review of the 710, but then I stumbled upon the sca stuff just looking through these forums. It seems everyone seems to think that they are comparable to the real pre's they're cloned off. I read some really positive stuff and thats kinda got me leaning towards an sca, probably just an N72 for starters. I also heard some sca samples on here that sounded ok, but with all the hype i was reading i really wasnt overly impressed when i listened. Although i do question whether the samples were rough and maybe not mastered, and maybe that being the main difference between the clarity and presense differences between the 710 samples and the latter.

I get the impression from what ive read that the n72 has a warm soft kind of overall, but the thing is the couple of songs i listened to almost sounded dull and muddy, especially in comparison to the bright tone i heard from the ss side of the 710.

Does anyone know would it be a mistake to hold off on an n72 for the sake of having to wait a couple of weeks to get it? I can get a 710 on ebay here in Aus for roughly the same price and id have it in three days.

I gather from what ive read that the n72 pres should be on a whole new level to the 710, but those samples have kinda got me hesitating a little. And I guess im also wondering if the main thread i was reading was made up a whole heap of people that were biased through wanting to believe that there clones sound very close to the real thing???

I guess its hard to judge a pre off a streamed sample given the other variables that could influence the way that file sounds. I guess i just figure anyone spending bucks on quality pres would have decent hardware all the way to the master.

Anyway does anyone have any thoughts???? Is the 710 cheap and inferior to the sca pre's ???

Or would the quality be in the same ball park????

I wouldn't solely judge a piece of gear by samples that someone posted by the internet...way too many variables. That said I don't have the UA but I have N72's and they sound great, round but not muddy and you can dial them in depending on how hard you drive the input.

DeadPoet · 26th September 2011

You are comparing very different preamps. Next to the preamps in my desk I have 4x SCA N72, 4x SCA A12 and 2x UA610MkII. Very different topologies which produce very different sounds. There are even different sounds within each preamp type depending on how you use it.

Herwig

Tubthumper · 27th September 2011

I can't speak to the UA, but I own an SCA rack with N72s and A12s. You can make great sounding records with either. My personal favourites are the N72s - a lovely, rich and silky sound, especially great for digital recording setups.

If you're near Brisbane, PM me, you're welcome to come around and check them out in person.

inspired.artist · 27th September 2011

Thats very generous of you! I sent you a PM.

Thanks,

Cameron.

Earcatcher · 29th September 2011

A big part of the price of the UA 710 is made up out of the double circuitry. However, I don't find the difference between the solid state side and the tube side worth the money. Under normal conditions there is hardly any audible difference between the two sides. (I have two of these units and often wonder why.) I would suggest a very good single topology preamp for the same money. Could be a True Systems P-Solo if you want clean and detailed or a UA 610 for a more typical warm vibe. (I prefer clean as it is more versatile in post; buy colored later on when you have more money to burn on predefined flavours.)

inspired.artist · 30th September 2011

Thanks for your input, I ended up going with a Hamptone hvtp2 on ebay. In the end it was between the sca's and the hamptone. Hopefully ill be satisfied with my purchase. Thats a good point, kinda like paying for a channel strip when all you want is a reasonable preamp. I posted a thread in the low end forum asking people to post Hamptone samples, it seems to be getting a few looks but no samples?? I'm guessing theres a few people interested in the topic, ive spent hours debating sca vs hamptone ect. There's nothing in the way of Hamptone samples on here (I think i heard one guitar sample). Does anyone round this neck of the woods have anything they could post? Just curious! Ill have mine next week and will post some soon, but it would be nice to hear something in the meantime. Cheers!

26th September 2011	#1
inspired.artist Gear interested Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 25 Thread Starter	SCA Pre's vs UA 710 Hey Guys, Im new to Gearslutz and ive just spent hours searching through many different threads trying to find the answers im looking for. Forgive me for starting yet another thread on this topic but i just cant seem to find any direct comparisons between the SCA Pre's and the Universal Audio 710. My main question is are they in the same league?? I was very impressed when i heard a guitar sample on a review of the 710, but then I stumbled upon the sca stuff just looking through these forums. It seems everyone seems to think that they are comparable to the real pre's they're cloned off. I read some really positive stuff and thats kinda got me leaning towards an sca, probably just an N72 for starters. I also heard some sca samples on here that sounded ok, but with all the hype i was reading i really wasnt overly impressed when i listened. Although i do question whether the samples were rough and maybe not mastered, and maybe that being the main difference between the clarity and presense differences between the 710 samples and the latter. I get the impression from what ive read that the n72 has a warm soft kind of overall, but the thing is the couple of songs i listened to almost sounded dull and muddy, especially in comparison to the bright tone i heard from the ss side of the 710. Does anyone know would it be a mistake to hold off on an n72 for the sake of having to wait a couple of weeks to get it? I can get a 710 on ebay here in Aus for roughly the same price and id have it in three days. I gather from what ive read that the n72 pres should be on a whole new level to the 710, but those samples have kinda got me hesitating a little. And I guess im also wondering if the main thread i was reading was made up a whole heap of people that were biased through wanting to believe that there clones sound very close to the real thing??? I guess its hard to judge a pre off a streamed sample given the other variables that could influence the way that file sounds. I guess i just figure anyone spending bucks on quality pres would have decent hardware all the way to the master. Anyway does anyone have any thoughts???? Is the 710 cheap and inferior to the sca pre's ??? Or would the quality be in the same ball park????

26th September 2011	#3
DeadPoet Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2003 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,285	You are comparing very different preamps. Next to the preamps in my desk I have 4x SCA N72, 4x SCA A12 and 2x UA610MkII. Very different topologies which produce very different sounds. There are even different sounds within each preamp type depending on how you use it. Herwig __________________ studio.gyraf.be

27th September 2011	#4
Tubthumper Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Beardsville Posts: 815	I can't speak to the UA, but I own an SCA rack with N72s and A12s. You can make great sounding records with either. My personal favourites are the N72s - a lovely, rich and silky sound, especially great for digital recording setups. If you're near Brisbane, PM me, you're welcome to come around and check them out in person. __________________ Viral marketeers: reveal yourselves.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

29th September 2011	#6
Earcatcher Gear addict Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Europe Posts: 421	A big part of the price of the UA 710 is made up out of the double circuitry. However, I don't find the difference between the solid state side and the tube side worth the money. Under normal conditions there is hardly any audible difference between the two sides. (I have two of these units and often wonder why.) I would suggest a very good single topology preamp for the same money. Could be a True Systems P-Solo if you want clean and detailed or a UA 610 for a more typical warm vibe. (I prefer clean as it is more versatile in post; buy colored later on when you have more money to burn on predefined flavours.)

30th September 2011	#7
inspired.artist Gear interested Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 25 Thread Starter	Thanks for your input, I ended up going with a Hamptone hvtp2 on ebay. In the end it was between the sca's and the hamptone. Hopefully ill be satisfied with my purchase. Thats a good point, kinda like paying for a channel strip when all you want is a reasonable preamp. I posted a thread in the low end forum asking people to post Hamptone samples, it seems to be getting a few looks but no samples?? I'm guessing theres a few people interested in the topic, ive spent hours debating sca vs hamptone ect. There's nothing in the way of Hamptone samples on here (I think i heard one guitar sample). Does anyone round this neck of the woods have anything they could post? Just curious! Ill have mine next week and will post some soon, but it would be nice to hear something in the meantime. Cheers!