Phoenix N16 MK1 vs MK2

[andremattos]

No advices ?
c"mon fellow slutz
please give me some help

[xavi]

Well the main differences were features from mk1 or mk2 as opposed to sonic differences, the mk1 however hasn't been available for around 8 years, so you must mean a used unit. We do see some old units come in for service and unfortunately lots of them haven't been well cared for, people tend to buy them for a project and re-sell them again. Its quite a heavy unit with lots of pots on the front panel so needs to be well protected when shipped, and people don't do this either perhaps due to a lack of experience in shipping or to save a few bucks - somebody sent one in recently in an Amazon box packed with shopping bags as you can guess it didn't make it and the customer seemed intent to blame everyone but himself.

Sonically and in terms of serviceability the best units are the US made units rather than the older UK manufactured units. We made some changes and improvements in these units including a few components and we feel that we've made the unit even better, the feedback from several users who've tried both older units and the newer units is that newer ones have improved tighter lower end and a better stereo image.


There are maybe 10 different revisions of units, so if you can get a serial number we can always offer advice. Here are some pics of the latest revisions.


robin@phoenixaudio.net

[andremattos]

Great! thx
I will ask the seller for the serial number (mk1 unit)

[u b k]

I can't imagine anything on earth sounding 'better' than the original nicerizer. 'Different', maybe, and 'equally as good', but better doesn't seem like the right way to conceptualize things in this league.

I've had mine for 8+ years now, it's on every mix I've done since I got it. It never fails to cause a positive emotional response when I first patch it in, which is pretty remarkable given how many times I've done that. You'd think I'd get used to it, take it for granted... nope.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[xavi]

Your right Greg, I should choose a better word/term than 'better' I've got sucked into the GS vortex where everything is better or best. In reality the new US made Nicerizer's are the best units that we've ever made in terms of :

Build construction
Aesthetics
Component quality - we now use panasonic/nichicon & Wima caps
Connector quality - we now use all Neutrik as opposed to the older units
Wiring - we now use PTFE silver wire
User serviceability - these can now be serviced by users with no real technical expertise, which helps with guys whom live out in the 'burbs' or far flung places.


Sonically speaking, I have a great quote from you :

"At last, I have a summing box that not only preserves the sounds that I capture and blends them effortlessly, it actually improves on them in a way that is not at all subtle and is nothing short of stunning. "Nicerizer" is such a ridiculously appropriate name. Bass goes deeper, wider and inky black, without a trace of muddiness. Spiky digital transients are softened in all the right ways, on the order of microseconds to my ears. Midrange is creamy smooth, and highs are completely silkened... this is most apparent when using crunchy drum loops, as I'm wont to do in my own music. Any remaining sense of "digital" is swept away, and a gorgeous 3-D analog landscape opens up."

So essentially sonically its very similar as before, but with a few changes to components there is a subtle difference which we feel has enhanced the sound of the unit particularly in the lower end and overall stereo imaging of the unit.


robin@phoenixaudio.net

[RKrizman]

To the OP, I would recommend avoiding the European made N16 (presumably the Mk I?) because of quality control issues. Can't speak to the new ones, but presumably they worked out the bugs by now.

-R

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by u b k

I can't imagine anything on earth sounding 'better' than the original nicerizer. 'Different', maybe, and 'equally as good', but better doesn't seem like the right way to conceptualize things in this league.

What converters are you using with it?

-R

[u b k]

Originally Posted by RKrizman

What converters are you using with it?

Burl for the golden channels, Metric Halo for the rest. The MH's have a very slight rise at 10k, which the Nicer mellows quite well. It doesn't darken, it just changes the texture to something more 'analog' sounding.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[u b k]

Originally Posted by xavi

So essentially sonically its very similar as before, but with a few changes to components there is a subtle difference which we feel has enhanced the sound of the unit particularly in the lower end and overall stereo imaging of the unit.

Fascinating, now I'm curious to hear an mkii side by side with mine.


Gregory Scott - ubk

[andremattos]

I'm curious to hear mkii side by side with mkI . i would like to hear the diferences ..
Any samples?

[xavi]

Don't think any sample files exist (we certainly have any) and I'm not sure what the point of any would be, the mk1 unit was discontinued around 9 years ago for the mk2 unit. We wouldn't discourage anyone from buying a mk1 unit but we wouldn't certainly actively encourage it either especially as some of the parts in that unit are becoming increasingly scarce.