Alternative 500 pre to API, Neve, Manley

[AllBread]

I'd demo the Chandler Little Devil Pre and the LaChappelle tube pre.

[pieter k]

AEA, Grace, Forssell.

[Giahni]

I'm a big fan of the Burl B1D and B1.

[cornwall6000]

big +1 on the forssells.

fred's stuff doesn't seem to get the incessant, crazy love it deserves here in slutzville. but that company quietly produces some ridiculously good gear. those 500 pre's are something else, man. jaw-dropping gain. we've got a pair in a floating 500 rack, and they get chosen as often if not more than any other pre we have. (and that's quite a few, actually) they're fantastic on ribbons. fantastic on everything.

super clean and uncolored though. it wont impart it's own color or flavor like the helios (and some the other cool pres you already have). so it may not be your thing.

in terms of something "different sounding", i'll go a bit off the board and suggest the chandler germs? i believe they're no longer in production due to issues in certain racks with their voltage requirements, so you'd have to get 'em used. we've got four (originally bought two new way back when, loved 'em so much that we've added two more off the ebay over the years) and they are a riot. tons of fun. we've had them in a few different sizes and brands of lunchboxes and have never experienced any probs whatsoever.

[pan60]

The Forssell, the Magg, Electrodyne, LaChapell.
Have-em use-em love-em.
some others out there as well.

[wxyz]

Roll Music Tubule - articulate and funky

[Slikjmuzik]

Originally Posted by Giahni

I'm a big fan of the Burl B1D and B1.

Yes, I have one...they totally rock...

The Electrodyne's also look damn promising...

[tubehead]

Originally Posted by Timsplace

I've freed up some space in my BAE 500 rack and looking for a different sounding mic pre. I've got 312's, a Manley dual Mono, and a Neve 3405. The Helios/Realios's look intriguing. Any other ideas for a "different" sounding pre from what I have?

Thanks

The Realios / Helios is awesome!!! I have several. A/B'd against what they the ones in Henry Hirsch's Helios console (while I assisted him) for which they were based on, Dave Amels nailed it.

P.S. The DI is amazing!

That said... I'm also feeling the fever for some Chandler Limited action these days too.

[EisenAudio]

Unique: nonlinearaudio.com: NonLinearAudio - NLA