25th June 2012
|
#1 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 29
Thread Starter | APA Juggernaut Twin vs JMK Audio JM-130 vs Aurora Audio GTQ
Hey.
I would love to hear more on these units as well as samples. Not many clips can be found on the juggernaut and jm-130. It would be nice if many who have a/b the jugg and jm-130 or used them can comment. I have narrowed my choice down to these 3 pres. I will be using them for r&b alternative rock and rap vocals. Thanks.
| 
|  | |
25th June 2012
|
#2 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Lugano, Switzerland
Posts: 1,946
|
The best thing for you to do is find a dealer that will send them to you to evaluate them in your place..
I don't know the JMK, but I own the other 2.. They're different..
First the Juggernaut twin doesn't have an eq.. So depends from what you need..
I like the Juggernaut in nickel-nickel mode best (but that's me) and the DI is one of the nicest around IMO.. And you could play with the impedence knob also, which will shape the sound (for the good or the bad).. and of course you coupd "play" with the different xformers.. it's well built and priced very reasonably..for a 2 channel preamp is a good price..
The Aurora GTQ2 is a very nice preamp based on the neve topology without being a clone..it's Geoff Tanner using that kind of circuit and "improving" that design.. I think he will describe it like that.. of course it falls in that category of sound somehow.. it has a nice sweet high end and a big and "bloomy" (not boomy.. bLoomy) lowend.. Very nice.. The eq is rather limited, and small adjustments goes a long way.. very ballsy.. Hard to choose between these..
I'd add even more confusion..  try to get an adesign lunchbox (or an API one) and get 2 Avedis MA5's.. very nice pre's.. (doesn't have all the features that the other 2 have..but sometimes is not forcely a bad thing).
<<< (fwiw I wrote a review in the GS review section).
I could tell you what to buy, but you might have a different taste or simply reaching for a different goal/sound.. That's why it's better to try them in your place.. sometimes samples are not too representative of how a piece of gear sounds..
I hope this helps somehow, 
Cheu
__________________  www.masterdaelion.com
A new, breaktrough way of reading your music scores. "If you want to be given everything, give everything up" www.qtrio.ch www.studio21.ch Quote: |
We're only as good as the musicians we keep; the same goes for the musicians. - Remoteness
| | |
| | |
25th June 2012
|
#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2007 Location: West Coast
Posts: 1,951
 | Quote:
Originally Posted by cheu78  The best thing for you to do is find a dealer that will send them to you to evaluate them in your place.. | Sadly for him the JMK is sold only through JMK so getting all 3 might be difficult.... having said that, they are all great.
FYI If you only need 1 channel, there is a used Aurora GTQC Channel strip in the Classifieds - Amazing Pre, Useful (but limited EQ) and AMAZING Compressor.
Never used the JMK but the Juggernaut is a pretty special beast - too many options ultimately for me and I sold it (all of them sound great - which is an issue sometimes in getting bogged down) but IF you want a lot of options and only want 1 pre it would be my first choice. My overall first choice is the Aurora though (I have 8 of them)
__________________
-
"You only have a certain amount of headroom with Pro Tools... if you start pushing it a little bit too hard it's starts squawking like a chicken, if you go too low, it starts squawkin', you have to work within a certain realm otherwise you get zapped either way!" - Tad Donley (2006)
- | |
| | |
27th June 2012
|
#4 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL USA
Posts: 3,983
|
Hard choice, But the JM-130 is more on the clean side compared to the other two..The JM-130 also has a Boat load of Input headroom and dynamic range, needed on some sources..
So, if you are looking for More color than what you already have, what ever that is....
Will add one more tid bit, using a dark pre will always BE dark...but a pre that is more open/clean you can ADD that after the fact..Kinda like compression, too much can NOT be removed later...
My .0256 cents
| |
| | |
30th June 2012
|
#5 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 29
Thread Starter | Is it just APA and Aurora
Thanks guys. Anyone else care to shade light on this topic.
| |
| | |
1st July 2012
|
#6 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Dirty South
Posts: 238
|
Big fan of the JMK over here. I think its because of the headroom. It makes the mic sound more "hi fi" but still very musical.
| |
| | |
2nd July 2012
|
#7 | | Gear Head
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 30
|
I have a Jugg Twin but none of your other options.
I'd highly recommend this piece because it gives you bucket loads of options all of which are usable and most of which are very good. I myself don't find all these options bogging me down but I've had the unit for a while now and know it very well.
IMO this unit has it's own sound and can go from relatively transparent/polished to pretty dark and murky. The tonal shaping is obviously a lot more subtle than an eq but it is pretty useful when going for broad brush sounds. However in saying that I don't want to pretend that it nails all these different types of preamps that it's suggesting in the documentation. IMO it gets you some of the way there but certainly imparts some of it's DNA on sources.
| |
| | |
3rd July 2012
|
#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL USA
Posts: 3,983
| Quote:
Originally Posted by yotonic Frankenstein 47 - Flea cap. | Sounds nice..
| |
| | |
6th July 2012
|
#9 | | Gear interested
Joined: Feb 2009 Location: Mississippi
Posts: 29
Thread Starter |
Indeed great sound.
| |
| | |
2nd August 2012
|
#10 | | Gear nut
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 76
|
yeah a direct comparison of these would be awesome. Throw the Slate Fox in there too!
| |
| | |
2nd August 2012
|
#11 | | Moderator
Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Boston,MA Providence,RI
Posts: 16,345
| Quote:
Originally Posted by nosebleedaudio Will add one more tid bit, using a dark pre will always BE dark...but a pre that is more open/clean you can ADD that after the fact..Kinda like compression, too much can NOT be removed later...
My .0256 cents | I'm not sure which preamp you were referring to with the "dark preamp" comment... But.... The GTQ2 is NOT remotely dark sounding.
| |
| | |
3rd August 2012
|
#12 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2002 Location: West Coast Central Florida
Posts: 7,746
 |
The Jugg Twin is not dark, Nickel is big lows/airy highs, Iron is midrange present (there is a good chance we'll offer a fatter version of the Iron input transformer if anyone is interested). If you hit the FAT button and lower the impedance all the way it will be dark, but this is only one of many options and variables.
| |
| | |
23rd August 2012
|
#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL USA
Posts: 3,983
| Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyBelmont I'm not sure which preamp you were referring to with the "dark preamp" comment... But.... The GTQ2 is NOT remotely dark sounding. | DID NOT mention ANY Pre by name....
BUT dark IS dark..Dull is dull...
| |
| | |
23rd August 2012
|
#14 | | Moderator
Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Boston,MA Providence,RI
Posts: 16,345
| Quote:
Originally Posted by nosebleedaudio DID NOT mention ANY Pre by name....
BUT dark IS dark..Dull is dull... | When reading your whole post, it seemed to imply that one or both of the other preamps was "dark". Either way... not worth discussing further. It's been established that neither is "dark" or "dull" sounding. Quote:
Originally Posted by nosebleedaudio Hard choice, But the JM-130 is more on the clean side compared to the other two..The JM-130 also has a Boat load of Input headroom and dynamic range, needed on some sources..
So, if you are looking for More color than what you already have, what ever that is....
Will add one more tid bit, using a dark pre will always BE dark...but a pre that is more open/clean you can ADD that after the fact..Kinda like compression, too much can NOT be removed later...
My .0256 cents | | |
| | |
24th August 2012
|
#15 | | Gear nut
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 149
| Quote:
Originally Posted by yotonic Yeah I'm a big fan of the JM-130. Perfect for the music you are doing. It has a "smoothness" that I've never found in another preamp on vocals. | I really really would like to know how the JM compares to the NPNG preamp .... Anyone ?
| |
| | |
24th August 2012
|
#16 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
|
For,what it's worth
Jugg Twin + 1 + infinity
I consider pieces of my fav gear "Paint Brushes". The Twin However is more of a Magic Wand. If an artistic approach is suuper important to you and you're good/interested in making several quick taste decisions while on the Clock$, the Jugg may contend as your fav Pre ever. My converters are very rare and particularly bad ass and I have had/am spending a Fortune to upgrade all my other outboard gear to not take away from my source material, Especially in post. The Jugg was my first upgrade and I'm planning on picking up another 2 to 3 units as time and $$ permit. Along with vintage military pieces, new portico units, vintage ssl, custom built proprietary mastering grade Pultecs etc the Juggs Have Become my Personal fav pres. way to go APA  I personally could not express myself the way I care to when tracking, mixing and producing (heck sometimes even mastering) with any other Pre I've come across on the market...and I have considered every high, mid, and low end Pre (to my knowledge) to find what I was and am always looking for
| |
| | |
24th August 2012
|
#17 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 716
| Quote:
Originally Posted by NathanEldred The Jugg Twin is not dark, Nickel is big lows/airy highs, Iron is midrange present (there is a good chance we'll offer a fatter version of the Iron input transformer if anyone is interested). If you hit the FAT button and lower the impedance all the way it will be dark, but this is only one of many options and variables. | "Fatter"?
| |
| | |
24th August 2012
|
#18 | | Gear interested
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
| Quote:
Originally Posted by SoSueMe "Fatter"? | Yea, I actually think I understand what they may be getting at, but a slightly more detailed explanation from anyone at APA would be rad!
| |
| | |
24th August 2012
|
#19 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 716
| Quote:
Originally Posted by kjppro Yea, I actually think I understand what they may be getting at, but a slightly more detailed explanation from anyone at APA would be rad! | Yep, and is there the option to just buy the trannies alone and swap the old ones out myself, and at what cost?
| |
| | |
24th August 2012
|
#20 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham, AL USA
Posts: 3,983
|
By the way everyone, I used the term "Dark" in general...
| |
| | |
24th August 2012
|
#21 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,000
| | |
| | |
7th September 2012
|
#22 | | 500 series nutjob
Joined: Nov 2004 Location: 500 series Guru SKANK! ; )
Posts: 11,337
|
My head hurts! 
Get a lunchbox!!
try some pre and get what you like: )
Almost all the reputable dealers will work with you and get you into some that will fill the bill.
Call Tony Belmont and ask to check out the MA5, that gets a lot of love here!
| 
| | |
18th September 2012
|
#23 | | 70% Coffee, 30% Beer
Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Quincy, MA
Posts: 9,203
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Musician I really really would like to know how the JM compares to the NPNG preamp .... Anyone ? | Haven't tried the JM preamp, which I am sure is very kool, but Karl's NW circuit is pretty radical. The front end is super transparent, fast, and he's optimized the slew rate to craft/shape/control the linearity/attack of the preamp. His circuit is extremely low noise and has really excellent dynamic range. VERY detailed, and spacial.
The sound is without the "weight" and heavy harmonic build up you might find in old Neve's, but is still solid sounding, given its use of the Jensen Output Transformer. After a ton of testing with different trafo's, this was the one that worked and sounded the best. I like it a lot, because its hugely open sounding, but smooth in the right ways. Super Detailed and Articulate.
Can't wait for Karl to finish building mine! Though, I may be waiting a while! Clients come first, and they are snatching these things up, and loving them!
__________________ Adam Brass adam@dspdoctor.com  DSPdoctor.com "Where High End is Still King" 
__________________ "Any opinions above are worth exactly what you paid for them." Anonymous "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. Thomas Edison
RTFM
| |
| | | |
New Reply 
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
