Millennia HV-3 vs Forssell solid state piano samples

[ISedlacek]

A friend of mine asked me to post his short piano samples made on Millennia HV-3 and the new Forssell stereo solid state preamp. A pair of DPA 4011 used:

Sample 1

Forssell

Millennia HV-3

Sample 2

Forssell

Millennia HV-3


(I wish the samples were a bit longer, hopefully I will receive some upgrade soon ...)


Here is my own old monochord sample (if you have not listened to it yet):

Millennia HV-3

Forssell

[madriaan]

Hi Ivo,

Why is the difference on the Monochord so much more noticeable? Different mics, no? On the piano the HV3 sounded a little more boxy and "forward" vs the Forsell which sounded open and a little more distant. They all sounded good to me and I'm sure I could do a record with either.

Thanks for the clips!!!

M.

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by madriaan

Why is the difference on the Monochord so much more noticeable?
M.

The same mics (Schoeps MK2), room, AD, instrument and mics position ... Only played at different time each. Nothing "scientific", just an overall picture (and also - monochord may have slightly more delicate sound spectrum, so the differences may be more obvious).

Anyway, it is just a secondary source comparing to the fresh piano samples. Listening to them, I found Forssell sounding more open, smooth and 3D, while Millennia seemed to give some "edginess" to the tones, with less spacy and rich bottom and slightly boxy mids ... Not night and day, of course, but here we rarely talk about night and day differences :-)) But for me, the difference is big enough.

[madriaan]

Ah, makes sense; thanks for clarifying. I thought you were using the 4011s on Monochord as well and couldn't understand why the difference was so much more significant. Seems like the Schoeps interact quite nicely with the Forsell.

Thanks again,

M.

[billgennaro]

very nice. even on my cheap harmon kardon computer speakers here at work i can hear the openness of the forsell. i'll listen in my studio when i get home. thanks for the samples.

[ISedlacek]

Forssell and Millennia preamps...

[jacobq]

I didn't think either one of them sounded all that great on piano. Both are rather dull sounding.

This probably has more to do with the Schoeps mics that you are using rather than with the preamps. Those mics always came across to me as a wooly or fuzz box sound. Especially noticeable on piano.

[nandoanalog]

Originally Posted by billgennaro

even on my cheap harmon kardon computer speakers .

Bought some soundsticks from harman kardon.... They look incredible.