Pacifica vs. Great River MP2NV ... I know I know

ryannorth · 14th February 2007

This is a thread for those that own or have owned both and what they think about their comparisons or how they measure up, or I guess for anyone that has an opinion on the matter. Is one preferred over the other if so why? Is one great at this and the other isn't so great? thoughts?

Chunky Karma · 14th February 2007

http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...s.+Great+River
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...s.+Great+River
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=88466
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=77560
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=63458

shortyprs · 14th February 2007

Both are excellent. Both are infinitely useable. The Great River is a little less 3D than the Pacifica. Sometimes that's very good. The Great River has more fat in the lows. The Pacifica has a very sweet extended top with low mids that sound so fine. I tend to put very little EQ on Pacifica tracks. I won't ever sell the Pacifica. I'd be hard pressed to ever sell the GR. The main differences are matters of taste and the particular situation.

Brad McGowan · 14th February 2007

FWIW I had both the Great River and the Pacifica. I used them side by side for a long time. Then I sold the Great River and bought a Chameleon Labs 7602 which I recently upgraded by installing two JLM Audio input transformers. I honestly can't say I miss the Great River yet. It was a very nice preamp, but I like having the EQ on the 7602 and the extra cash in my pocket, which I've been spending on other goodies. I'm still getting a feel for the mic pre side of the unit especially post transformer upgrade, but my initial impressions are that the JLM Audio iron is making a positive improvement.

The Pacifica on the other hand is never going anywhere.

Brad

Rogervandeberg · 15th February 2007

What i like about my pacifica is that it is imo 2 colors in one package. The sound of the pacifica is retro seventies, but clean, and with the pad in and cranking the gain, the pre sounds very different, almost Neve-ish like.
I haven't used the mp-2nv though.

YMMV ofcourse.

alcohol · 15th February 2007

I don't have the Pacifica, but the Great River, especially for kick drum and bass guitar just seems perfect.

mcballs · 15th February 2007

I have both. I've had the Great River for a few years now, and it's a great pre. Just got the Pacifica a few months ago, and it love the sound of it. We've all heard about the top end of the Pacifica which is awesome, but the other thing I love about it is it's got really smooth mids to my ears... those two features make it great for voice. But it's also got a big bottom end too

Everyone says the Pacifica doesn't need much eq, and I agree. I find myself using a lot more EQ on the Great River now that I know what the Pacifica sounds like. The Great River is a bit more throaty sounding which I like sometimes and you can EQ in some of the air that's missing).

The Great River is a very high quality unit. The metal work and the electronics are really top-notch... anyone ever look inside it? It's gorgeous. It has metering which is very handy (although not labeled in terms of dB's), and the impedance and loading switches give it a bit more variety in tone (in my opinion) than does the Pad switch on the Pacifica. I think the Great River is a slightly higher quality build than the Pacifica, but the Pacifica just sounds better to me most of the time.

They are both great units, and I'd advice you to not buy either before hearing them both. The other thing is I think there are quite a few pre's out there that tread the same sort of ground as the Great River that may or not sound better depending on your preference... and there's definately some that are truer to the Neve sound. You're in the US, so it should be no problem to hear them both and buy only one without dealing with a shipping & customs hassle. But if you don't want to do that and just want to do what I say, go and get a Pacifica.

Good luck

P.S. I've never tracked drums with either unit.

Matti · 15th February 2007

"upgraded by installing two JLM Audio input transformers"
interesting and not too expencive.
Matti

Muso · 15th February 2007

How do these compare to the Summit Audio MPC100A and the Tubetech
MEC1A?

asagaai · 19th February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

FWIW I had both the Great River and the Pacifica. I used them side by side for a long time. Then I sold the Great River and bought a Chameleon Labs 7602 which I recently upgraded by installing two JLM Audio input transformers. I honestly can't say I miss the Great River yet. It was a very nice preamp, but I like having the EQ on the 7602 and the extra cash in my pocket, which I've been spending on other goodies. I'm still getting a feel for the mic pre side of the unit especially post transformer upgrade, but my initial impressions are that the JLM Audio iron is making a positive improvement.

The Pacifica on the other hand is never going anywhere.

Brad

Hey Brad

Sorry bout delay in replying-but I have been doing 3 exams

I got the pacifica and agree, and I got the labs 7602. Real interested in the JLM AUDI INPUT TRANSFORMERS- what did they cost- and what differences has it made to the chameleon labs- you say positive improvement-in what respect- can you punch out some more specifics?

Cheers and thanks

GJ
Newcastle OZ

Muso · 19th February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muso

How do these compare to the Summit Audio MPC100A and the Tubetech
MEC1A?

was this a ridiculous question?

daryllh · 19th February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muso

was this a ridiculous question?

if it was, the guys here will let you know in that Jimmy Fallon, SNL I.T. character sort of way.

Brad McGowan · 19th February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by asagaai

Hey Brad

Sorry bout delay in replying-but I have been doing 3 exams

I got the pacifica and agree, and I got the labs 7602. Real interested in the JLM AUDI INPUT TRANSFORMERS- what did they cost- and what differences has it made to the chameleon labs- you say positive improvement-in what respect- can you punch out some more specifics?

Cheers and thanks

GJ
Newcastle OZ

You need two of the JLM14 transformers to create one input transformer similar to the Neve original. There is wiring info on the JLM site. The cost for two was $80 AUD. It's hard for me to say what the differences are since I really didn't get to experience the originals for very long and I only have one unit. I haven't really had a chance to use it in a session yet. That will happen this weekend. But from what I can tell the high end is nicer, the upper mids are less pinched, and the low end is deeper. I don't know if it sounds more Neve-like, but it does sound nicer to my ears.

Brad

fuzzface777 · 19th February 2007

WOW! I always read Slutz going on and on how the GR MP-2NV was so versatile and works great on anything (vox, bass, drums, all guitars) and I was set to buy it based on these reviews. However, lately, the pacifica sure has great reviews. I know Lugo uses it extensively on his vox, and guitars. Can the pacifica shine on bass or drums, too?

Brad McGowan · 20th February 2007

Yes, the Pacifica can handle drums and bass. Mine stands in for dates with my girlfriend when I'm too busy mixing.

Brad

lpkyer · 20th February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzface777

Can the pacifica shine on bass or drums, too?

.............YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mds · 20th February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzface777

WOW! I always read Slutz going on and on how the GR MP-2NV was so versatile and works great on anything (vox, bass, drums, all guitars) and I was set to buy it based on these reviews. However, lately, the pacifica sure has great reviews. I know Lugo uses it extensively on his vox, and guitars. Can the pacifica shine on bass or drums, too?

That's just gearslutz...trends come and go here...not that the Pacifica isn't a worthy piece of gear, but its the hot item here right now. The Great River is yesterdays news in some respects on this board. Its still a great preamp, just not the new hot item...I'll take both! :-D

Mike

Muso · 21st February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by daryllh

if it was, the guys here will let you know in that Jimmy Fallon, SNL I.T. character sort of way.

A producer friend I know said I should have used longer words.

jdjustice · 21st February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muso

How do these compare to the Summit Audio MPC100A and the Tubetech
MEC1A?

i will try and answer this.

first of all, the GR MP-2NV and Pacifica are dual-channel preamps without eq or compression functionality. the TT and Summit are channel strips (the Tube-Tech has a compressor and EQ and the Summit has a compressor).
second of all, the Tube-Tech and Summit Audio are tube-based and the MP-2NV and Pacifica are solid-state designs.

so they are quite different and one could not really compare them.

cheers.
~j.d.

jdjustice · 21st February 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by daryllh

if it was, the guys here will let you know in that Jimmy Fallon, SNL I.T. character sort of way.

14th February 2007	#1
ryannorth Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 57 Thread Starter	Pacifica vs. Great River MP2NV ... I know I know This is a thread for those that own or have owned both and what they think about their comparisons or how they measure up, or I guess for anyone that has an opinion on the matter. Is one preferred over the other if so why? Is one great at this and the other isn't so great? thoughts?

14th February 2007	#3
shortyprs Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: just west of east Posts: 216	Both are excellent. Both are infinitely useable. The Great River is a little less 3D than the Pacifica. Sometimes that's very good. The Great River has more fat in the lows. The Pacifica has a very sweet extended top with low mids that sound so fine. I tend to put very little EQ on Pacifica tracks. I won't ever sell the Pacifica. I'd be hard pressed to ever sell the GR. The main differences are matters of taste and the particular situation. __________________ I follow the road less traveled, but now, where the hell am I?

14th February 2007	#4
Brad McGowan Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 5,525	FWIW I had both the Great River and the Pacifica. I used them side by side for a long time. Then I sold the Great River and bought a Chameleon Labs 7602 which I recently upgraded by installing two JLM Audio input transformers. I honestly can't say I miss the Great River yet. It was a very nice preamp, but I like having the EQ on the 7602 and the extra cash in my pocket, which I've been spending on other goodies. I'm still getting a feel for the mic pre side of the unit especially post transformer upgrade, but my initial impressions are that the JLM Audio iron is making a positive improvement. The Pacifica on the other hand is never going anywhere. Brad __________________ plotagainstrachel.bandcamp.com Little Red Wagon Studios How to integrate your analog tape deck with your DAW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bswx5...eature=channel

15th February 2007	#5
Rogervandeberg Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 523	What i like about my pacifica is that it is imo 2 colors in one package. The sound of the pacifica is retro seventies, but clean, and with the pad in and cranking the gain, the pre sounds very different, almost Neve-ish like. I haven't used the mp-2nv though. YMMV ofcourse. __________________ "A cold heart is a dead heart"

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14th February 2007	#2
Chunky Karma Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 149	http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...s.+Great+River http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...s.+Great+River http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=88466 http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=77560 http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=63458

15th February 2007	#6
alcohol Gear maniac Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 264	I don't have the Pacifica, but the Great River, especially for kick drum and bass guitar just seems perfect.

15th February 2007	#7
mcballs Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 366	I have both. I've had the Great River for a few years now, and it's a great pre. Just got the Pacifica a few months ago, and it love the sound of it. We've all heard about the top end of the Pacifica which is awesome, but the other thing I love about it is it's got really smooth mids to my ears... those two features make it great for voice. But it's also got a big bottom end too Everyone says the Pacifica doesn't need much eq, and I agree. I find myself using a lot more EQ on the Great River now that I know what the Pacifica sounds like. The Great River is a bit more throaty sounding which I like sometimes and you can EQ in some of the air that's missing). The Great River is a very high quality unit. The metal work and the electronics are really top-notch... anyone ever look inside it? It's gorgeous. It has metering which is very handy (although not labeled in terms of dB's), and the impedance and loading switches give it a bit more variety in tone (in my opinion) than does the Pad switch on the Pacifica. I think the Great River is a slightly higher quality build than the Pacifica, but the Pacifica just sounds better to me most of the time. They are both great units, and I'd advice you to not buy either before hearing them both. The other thing is I think there are quite a few pre's out there that tread the same sort of ground as the Great River that may or not sound better depending on your preference... and there's definately some that are truer to the Neve sound. You're in the US, so it should be no problem to hear them both and buy only one without dealing with a shipping & customs hassle. But if you don't want to do that and just want to do what I say, go and get a Pacifica. Good luck P.S. I've never tracked drums with either unit.

15th February 2007	#8
Matti Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 3,696	"upgraded by installing two JLM Audio input transformers" interesting and not too expencive. Matti

15th February 2007	#9
Muso Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 161	How do these compare to the Summit Audio MPC100A and the Tubetech MEC1A?

19th February 2007	#14
fuzzface777 Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,190	WOW! I always read Slutz going on and on how the GR MP-2NV was so versatile and works great on anything (vox, bass, drums, all guitars) and I was set to buy it based on these reviews. However, lately, the pacifica sure has great reviews. I know Lugo uses it extensively on his vox, and guitars. Can the pacifica shine on bass or drums, too?

20th February 2007	#15
Brad McGowan Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 5,525	Yes, the Pacifica can handle drums and bass. Mine stands in for dates with my girlfriend when I'm too busy mixing. Brad