Vintech X73i

[Empire 21 Music]

Simply put - I love it - With a Distressor on the back end, everything sits real nice in the mix. Now to get my Germanium and my Pacifica and I will be . . . . .

[Harsh]

I am there with ya, I am using a vintech x73i into a distressor as well......

[tubesandteles]

I was wondering, do you find that using the distressor after the vintech is TONS better than good plugs in the box?

[Mark Cattano]

Hey boys. Got four of 'em going into two NY-2A's. Really sounds good.

Mark Cattano
Magneto Studios
www.heedmusic.com
www.myspace.com/markcattano

[David Brown]

I've had producers bring in Vintech pre's and they sound really good on electric guitars. I've wondered how they stack up to all the Neve copies out there. Any one out there compared them?

David Brown

[The Gooch]

I was wondering, do you find that using the distressor after the vintech is TONS better than good plugs in the box?

No comparison. We have Waves comps and the UAD-1, and although they sound really good, even the best of those plugs do not come close to touching what a Distressor is capable of adding to your track. Absolutely, undeniably TONS better. IMHO. Hearing is believing, though.

[The Gooch]

...Oh, yes, and we have a pair of X73i's and they rock.

[nlc201]

A friend of mine recently attended a comparison session down in Nashville (he in fact was the one of the musicians playing as the source for recording). They put up Vintechs versus old Neve modules. Apparently, they took great pains to gain match everything and get the test as fair as possible. Blind A/B tests, etc. No one in the room could consistently identify the real ones versus the Vintechs.

I know, most of you are thinking that it's just one of those stunts put out there by a manufacturer to hype their gear and make it seem better than it actually is(like the infamous and false Mackie comparison). My buddy convinced me otherwise. Maybe the moderator cares to chime in on this one?

Personally, I like the Vintech pres a lot. I'm not crazy about the EQs. But, I haven't found a clone yet that has that same Neve sound on the EQ. Preamps are another story however.....


I have no affiliation with Vintech.....I just think they make decent stuff....

[Fearless1]

I sold my Mackie 800R and ordered the Vintech 273 two weeks ago and it's supposed to ship on Tuesday. Can't wait to get it.

My other pres are API 3124+, dbx 786, Focusrite ISA 220, and the pres in the RME FireFace 800.

Nathan's review indicated that the pre is pretty much the same as the X73i, which is half of a 473.

My real question is this:
I have a Drawmer DL241 as well as a couple of UAD-1's. Will the Distressor really make that much of a difference with the 273?

I was really thinking about getting the 1176 or LA2A.
My application would be for vocals using my Peluso 2247 LE or Rode Original Classic tube. My U-87 seems to work fine with the ISA 220.
I really like the LA2A, but the Distressor is half the price. But if there is not that much difference compared to the Drawmer, than I would eat less, quit smoking, save my change and go for the LA2A.
TIA for your opinons.

[Brandino221]

Originally Posted by Fearless1

I sold my Mackie 800R and ordered the Vintech 273 two weeks ago and it's supposed to ship on Tuesday. Can't wait to get it.

I got the 273...I LOVE IT. I know there are people that don't like Vintech here...but I think it is a good pre. I have a Liquid Chan over here as well. Of course the Vintech BLEW the Liquid Chan out of the freaking water. I look at it like this..don't worry if it souds like a neve or not...if it sounds good to you..and does what you want..thats all that matters. For me...I like the tones I can get from it. just another paint brush.

I am sure if you take a chander, GTQ2, VIntech ..or whatever else that is "Neve" like along side a Neve 1073..they will all have something different about them. They all sound great I am sure of that. However, they are all just different paint brushes.

I plan to get a few chandlers as well as a few GTQ2s. I am sure I will love them all! I'm not worried if it sounds like a 1073 or not. As long as it is a great pre and sounds great!

[Harsh]

I have used the api 512c and am about to use the x73i into a distressor, it's great and all but it really doesn't have any musical color that you might be looking for...... I really like it on the voice and bass, but I haven't really figured out how to add that "distressor tone".... if someone disagrees tell me why? Yes it's a great compressor, I wouldn't get rid of it...... I don't think,,,, but sometimes think about trading it for an la2a or something.........am I crazy?

[Mark Cattano]

Hey Harsh

Instead of an LA-2A, have you looked into the NY-2A? It really is a great sounding comp, plus you get three different opto couplers to choose from. FWIW, these comps have really made a HUGE difference in the sound of my digital recordings. Brings alot of warmth and tonal options.

Mark Cattano
Magneto Studios
www.heedmusic.com
www.myspace.com/markcattano

[weatherbox]

Originally Posted by nlc201

A friend of mine recently attended a comparison session down in Nashville (he in fact was the one of the musicians playing as the source for recording). They put up Vintechs versus old Neve modules. Apparently, they took great pains to gain match everything and get the test as fair as possible. Blind A/B tests, etc. No one in the room could consistently identify the real ones versus the Vintechs.

were those 73i or 73 models used in the shootout?

[not_so_new]

I have a 473.... not bad, not bad at all. Not as bad as others make them out to be. I go through phases were it does not do what I want and I start to reach for other things first but every now and again I go back to some tracks that I recorded with the 473 and they suprise me.

[nlc201]

Originally Posted by weatherbox

were those 73i or 73 models used in the shootout?

Don't know. I thought I remember him saying they were the more expensive ones, which would be the regular X73's right?

[tubesandteles]

The x73 and x73i have IDENTICAL PREAMPS!!!! From the mouth of Dallas himself.

[jdjustice]

Originally Posted by Fearless1

My real question is this:
I have a Drawmer DL241 as well as a couple of UAD-1's. Will the Distressor really make that much of a difference with the 273?

I was really thinking about getting the 1176 or LA2A.
My application would be for vocals using my Peluso 2247 LE or Rode Original Classic tube. My U-87 seems to work fine with the ISA 220.
I really like the LA2A, but the Distressor is half the price. But if there is not that much difference compared to the Drawmer, than I would eat less, quit smoking, save my change and go for the LA2A.
TIA for your opinons.

If vocals are your primary concern, the LA-2A is certainly the "historic" choice for engineers all over... that having been said, there are reasons you would want a Distressor or a 1176, for example when you need to catch serious peaks; if the vocalist is well-versed in microphone technique then the LA-2A is a great choice, imparting a bit of warmth in the process. OTOH if you are working with lesser vocalists or you want the compressor to add its own sound to the mix, if you really want to "hear" the compressor, consider a Distressor. Many engineers use both in the chain, going from the mic to a good pre (many times a 1073) to the LA-2A and THEN to the Distressor.

So all three compressors certainly have their applications and most GearSlutz would want all three!! But speaking just for myself I say LA-2A for my vocals.

jdjustice

[Fearless1]

Originally Posted by jdjustice

.

So all three compressors certainly have their applications and most GearSlutz would want all three!!

jdjustice

That's what I was afraid of. Dang it! I guess I'm on the hook to buy all three.
Being a member of this board is expensive!

[gregor z]

we have a Universal audio 1176 LN. It is turned off 90% of the time since we got it. It was a compensation for unpaid job.it Is for sale. Make an offer. Nothing special, obviously all the hype about it was snake oil. IMHO UAD plugs sound way better than the hardware unit. I also have a pair of DISTRESSORS which are absolutely great. No plug can match the versatility and charachter of them.
Vintechs look nice, cant test them in Europe , maybe they are worth the risk.....

[nukmusic]

Originally Posted by weatherbox

were those 73i or 73 models used in the shootout?

******//www.vintech-audio.com/shootout.html

There were a total of four rented Neve 1073's available for the tests. Two were rented from Gear for Days of Nashville, and two were rented from Dreamhire rentals of New York. Vintech provided two model X73 units and one model X73i for the tests. The mics used were a Royer stereo ribbon microphone and custom large diaphram tube microphones built by Big Microphones of Nashville.

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by tubesandteles

The x73 and x73i have IDENTICAL PREAMPS!!!! From the mouth of Dallas himself.

I guess that depends on what your (or Dallas's) definition of Identical is.

The x73i (and 473 and maybe 273) only has 1 input transformer, the X73 has 2 input trannys (like a 1073 has).



Fleaman

[Beech]

Another thumbsup for the X73 here!

By the way, what's a NY-2A?

[Fleaman]

Originally Posted by Beech

Another thumbsup for the X73 here!

By the way, what's a NY-2A?

******//www.soundonsound.com/sos/Oct0...es/electro.htm

[bc184c]

I guess that depends on what your (or Dallas's) definition of Identical is.

The x73i (and 473 and maybe 273) only has 1 input transformer, the X73 has 2 input trannys (like a 1073 has).



Fleaman

The mic preamp transformers and circuits in the X73 and X73i are basically identical. The second input transformer you mentioned is used for line input signals. On the X73i there is a switch on the front panel that reverse wires the mic input transformer to allow it to function as a line input transformer when needed. Neve produced documentation on using the 10468 mic input transformer in this way if desired. We chose to do it in order to help bring down the cost to the customer. But in terms of mic preamps and mic input transformers, again, both units are basically the same. The only difference is that the X73 offers up to 80db of gain while the X73i offers a maximum of 70db of gain.

Thanks,
Dallas Upton
Vintech Audio

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by bc184c

On the X73i there is a switch on the front panel that reverse wires the mic input transformer to allow it to function as a line input transformer when needed. Neve produced documentation on using the 10468 mic input transformer in this way if desired. We chose to do it in order to help bring down the cost to the customer.

I haven't seen any Neve documentation... But, I know the Marinair 31267 line input transformer used backward as a 1:2 both winding in Parallel can be used as a mic input transformer... But, they don't measure exactly the same and they have slightly different distortion... But, then again none of these new transformers sound like the old Marinair tranny's IMO.

[echo unit]

All I can say is

SOUND SAMPLES!

If Vintech wants us to believe that thier stuff sounds like Vintage Neve stuff, they better gives us some honest and acccurate sound samples and let us be the judge. They should haVE SOMEONE who owns vintage Neve modules and doesnlt care to own Vintech product to do the testing. How about someone we all know and trust?

Jules?

I used to own a Vintech.

Nothing like a Neve!

Small image

Muddy bottom end

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by echo unit

All I can say is

SOUND SAMPLES!

If Vintech wants us to believe that thier stuff sounds like Vintage Neve stuff, they better gives us some honest and acccurate sound samples and let us be the judge. They should haVE SOMEONE who owns vintage Neve modules and doesnlt care to own Vintech product to do the testing. How about someone we all know and trust?

Jules?

I used to own a Vintech.

Nothing like a Neve!

Small image

Muddy bottom end

1) Who cares, it's a dead issue. Whether or not you think that Vintech sounds like Neve or not, or even sounds good or bad is irrelevent. Vintech is selling faster than they can make it. And they make a lot of product. No one returns it after they buy it or evaluate it. That must mean they are doing something very right.

2) I hate to say it, but you are an anonymous troll that has pissed off a lot of people on this board (see Toft console thread for reference). You are rude, and it appears your goal is to create negativity on this forum. And I think (and a lot of people would agree if they've seen you in action) that you are also really a shill of the GS member Jacklynn.

Have a nice day.

Let's lock this thread please, I'm sure it's for the best.

[Dirty Halo]

Originally Posted by echo unit

All I can say is

SOUND SAMPLES!

If Vintech wants us to believe that thier stuff sounds like Vintage Neve stuff, they better gives us some honest and acccurate sound samples and let us be the judge. They should haVE SOMEONE who owns vintage Neve modules and doesnlt care to own Vintech product to do the testing. How about someone we all know and trust?

Jules?

I used to own a Vintech.

Nothing like a Neve!

Small image

Muddy bottom end

Man am I tired of hearing the same boring "Oh, it's GOT to be a NEVE!" Nope. I''ve got both and I guarantee you you could NOT choose one from the other consistently in a blind test.

And by the way "Neve" isn't even Neve!

The difference between a X73 and a new Neve 1073 is as close as a new 1073 and any "real 1073...go figure

-a

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

2) I hate to say it, but you are an anonymous troll that has pissed off a lot of people on this board (see Toft console thread for reference). You are rude, and it appears your goal is to create negativity on this forum. And I think (and a lot of people would agree if they've seen you in action) that you are also really a shill of the GS member Jacklynn.

Have a nice day.

Let's lock this thread please, I'm sure it's for the best.

Wow... Nathan taking the gloves off in a big way. Ouch. Unfortunately yes I would have to agree with much of this as well. Negative negative negative, not much fun to read all the time, it is really that much fun to write?

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Dirty Halo

Man am I tired of hearing the same boring "Oh, it's GOT to be a NEVE!" Nope. I''ve got both and I guarantee you you could NOT choose one from the other consistently in a blind test.

And by the way "Neve" isn't even Neve!

The difference between a X73 and a new Neve 1073 is as close as a new 1073 and any "real 1073...go figure

-a

I can't disagree more. I can hear the difference between all of these Neve clones, and have been able to differentiate between 4 different Neve clones in a blind test. I got the order exact, these things all sound different including the AMS Neve units compared to a "real" vintage unit, and each other.