Anyone tried the Golden Age Project PRE-73?

[AON]

Originally Posted by retractablezing

but do they have them in stock? i think that's they bit that's not quite clear...

They don´t have it in stock.

[lerone]

The suspense is actually killing me...Sound on sound had an advertisement last month with the pre 73 in GBP (£229), I can't find a dealer anywhere in London or anywhere else in the UK, not even a whiff....

[Hotstuff]

Unfortunately I got word that they will only be available around August as there has been a delay in delivery of the units. hopefully sooner

The pre´s can be brought from Golden Age Music in Sweden and sent to all of europe, even here to Portugal.

The description I got is that the pre was designed based on the preamp section of the Neve 1073 preamp but has 3 transformers 1 for mic in 1 for line and 1 output tranny.
I don't know about power but suspect a wall wart.

When I get mine I´ll tell you all about it

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by Hotstuff

Unfortunately I got word that they will only be available around August as there has been a delay in delivery of the units. hopefully sooner

The pre´s can be brought from Golden Age Music in Sweden and sent to all of europe, even here to Portugal.

The description I got is that the pre was designed based on the preamp section of the Neve 1073 preamp but has 3 transformers 1 for mic in 1 for line and 1 output tranny.
I don't know about power but suspect a wall wart.

When I get mine I´ll tell you all about it

também vou comprar um, cumprimentos para o Algarve!

[World Studios]

Let it be known that there is a Pre Eq 73 as well, with a 1073-style eq. I have one sitting at the post office next door waiting for me to come pick it up. It is a demo unit from Friendly Bo at Golden Age Music. Mine for 625 USD. I will want to try it against a "proper" west world clone or an original Neve, but I have to do some hard searching here in (Smallville) Malmö to find one first...

[chris carter]

Originally Posted by World Studios

Let it be known that there is a Pre Eq 73 as well, with a 1073-style eq. I have one sitting at the post office next door waiting for me to come pick it up. It is a demo unit from Friendly Bo at Golden Age Music. Mine for 625 USD. I will want to try it against a "proper" west world clone or an original Neve, but I have to do some hard searching here in (Smallville) Malmö to find one first...

I will not be suprised one bit if it's identical to the GB pre....... Please post a pic when you pick it up!

[Chance]

That picture that was posted (now removed) looked much different. I have that picture (GA) and will post later

[Chance]

I guess the attachment funtion is disabled

[Amun Ra]

I can't stand not knowing if this is too good to be true or not.

Any more info?

[World Studios]

I went to the post office today and picked the preeq-1 up. It has the same red GA projects design as the preamp. Not ugly, but a bit cheap looking. Separate psu supports 2 units. I tried it today for hours next to a Phoenix Audio pre/eq stereo unit. They were of similar quality to my ears and I listened to several monitors/headphones and recorded some voice, ac guit and DI-d electric. The Phoenix is no dog, and it did sound a bit more sleek and hifi, often a good thing, but I preferred the "in your face" quality the GA one had and the mid band sounds just like I want it too :-) Even when comparing the preamps only, the GA had a slightly more forward quality. You can get more level out of the Phoenix, but at equal levels, the GA is very much more quiet, as in muuuch less hiss. The phoenix is (i am guessing) 3-4 times the price per channel, so I wanted to find a problem with the GA one. It was very hard. The build quality/life expectancy is probably inferiour, but you can get 3 of them... The very top end (14k+, mabye) is more evident on the Phoenix, but many wil argue that thats not where rock'n roll is. I agree. I think you get this baby for an up front engaging raw middey fat sound and an Avalon (or so) for Da Smooth RnB highs?

[Tomer1]

If the point was to compere the GA Pre73 to a 1073\1081 type pre then the Phoenix Audio is not the optimal choice since it uses a transformless input design,
But if your goal was to compering it to a highend pre like the Phoenix then this brings me high hopes for this product.

[World Studios]

Well, the Phoenix (designed by ex Neve people) was the closest thing I could find today, and given that they were not too far apart, not a bad chioce either. I also compared it to my ISA430 mark 1, but the ISA sounded a lot softer and "hi fi". The ISA has lots more features on offer, but I was just comparing the pres and then tried to compare the eq, but they were just too far apart. I would choose the GA over the ISA in most cases. Maby not for soft lullabys, but definitely for rock, rap or anything where "balls" is required!

[Tomer1]

Very impressive,
Would it be possible to upload some comperison tracks?

[Tibbon]

For a second I thought you guys were talking about a DIY Shadow Hills Golden Age... then I noticed the price

[World Studios]

I could post some files tomorrow. I made some exteme settings and had a mid quality mic at hand, so the only info you will get from the files is the difference between the units, not how well they can sound under ideal conditions...

[retractablezing]

if you have something with just the pre (no eq engaged) that would be great and much appreciated.

[World Studios]

I have. The GA, Phoenix and ISA with the same mic, same dude trying to sing and strumming a crap guitar :-) I a couple of hours...

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by World Studios

I have. The GA, Phoenix and ISA with the same mic, same dude trying to sing and strumming a crap guitar :-) I a couple of hours...

great! thanks in advance!

[Matti]

With pix if you could, just for curiousity

Matti

[World Studios]

Hi!

I did some tests the other day. I used my NT5 Röde stereo mic, to make sure the mics were exactly the same and I used a stereo Gyraf Tube preamp, so the difference in sound should all be down to the pre's. I kept far from the mic, so as not to be closer to any of the two capsules, hence the distant and roomy sound. It is not ment to tell you anything but the difference between the preamps. I tried, but failed to match the EQ setting, so those files are what they are. I boosted a lot on each band, abut 18-20 "units", so we can really hear it working. Again, these settings are not ideal, but over the top. The biggest surprise is how boring the ISA pre sounds in comparison. I have used that one on vocals exclusively for many, many years... Please pardon the singing and the strumming. Again only ment to make some sound, not to hit any notes or chords ;-). OK, here you go:

http://www.worldstudios.se/PreampTest.zip

No camera here - no pics, sorry...

[World Studios]

Found the camera! :-)

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by World Studios

Hi!

I did some tests the other day. I used my NT5 Röde stereo mic, to make sure the mics were exactly the same and I used a stereo Gyraf Tube preamp, so the difference in sound should all be down to the pre's. I kept far from the mic, so as not to be closer to any of the two capsules, hence the distant and roomy sound. It is not ment to tell you anything but the difference between the preamps. I tried, but failed to match the EQ setting, so those files are what they are. I boosted a lot on each band, abut 18-20 "units", so we can really hear it working. Again, these settings are not ideal, but over the top. The biggest surprise is how boring the ISA pre sounds in comparison. I have used that one on vocals exclusively for many, many years... Please pardon the singing and the strumming. Again only ment to make some sound, not to hit any notes or chords ;-). OK, here you go:

http://www.worldstudios.se/PreampTest.zip

No camera here - no pics, sorry...

thanks a lot for this!

[Matti]

Thanks!
I´ll do a test of the attachments now...
I couldn´t see any but now its working?

Matti

[retractablezing]

sadly i can't see either...

can you folks post a link?

[Matti]

Bropably some cookie thing, but now I can see it

Matti

[AON]

Thanks a lot! Will they sell the pre with EQ too?

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by MATTI

Bropably some cookie thing, but now I can see it

Matti

humm...did you do anything to the cookies? i still can't see them.

[World Studios]

well... they sold me one with EQ!

The file was too big to be an attachment, so you must follow my link.

[AON]

Originally Posted by MATTI

Thanks!
I´ll do a test of the attachments now...
I couldn´t see any but now its working?

Matti

It´s working.

[retractablezing]

Originally Posted by World Studios

well... they sold me one with EQ!

The file was too big to be an attachment, so you must follow my link.

sorry to be a pain, but can you post a link to the picture?

sorry, i can't see it.