Which of These Stereo Pre-amps do you guys prefer?

AURORA4DTH · 15th June 2008, 04:17 PM

I will be buying a new stereo preamp next week and I was wondering which of these pre amps you guys prefer and why. My budget is about $2000. I am looking for something not to colored with nice smooth upper mids / highs. I would love to be able to listen to them but I cant find anywhere around here that sells them. Also any other pieces you may know of as well. I am open to all options at this point. I already have some API stuff, A True, and A Drawmer as well as some other lower end pre amps.

A Designs Pacifica
Earthworks 1022
Great river mp 2nv
I know Millennia and Gml also make stereo preamps in that price range as well but I know nothing of most of them.
Thanx for any help.

AURORA4DTH · 17th June 2008, 05:11 AM

Well after I posted this i read posts on this site for about an hour. I guess I should have read first because it seems the pacifica is very well liked here. I really couldn't find one bad post about it. I just went ahead and ordered one and should have it by friday. After reading the posts i cant wait.

Rick Sutton · 17th June 2008, 05:19 AM

I think the Pacifica will fit into your collection like a glove. Enjoy!

Digitar · 17th June 2008, 04:30 PM

The Great River would of given you many different colors of saturation. I love mine.

analogjeff · 17th June 2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AURORA4DTH

something not too colored with nice smooth upper mids / highs.

this sounds like a pendulum tube pre to me...

i personally prefer more colored pres, but for an open, but smooth sounding pre that's excellent for contemporary acoustic music, the pendulum is great...

warhead · 17th June 2008, 04:50 PM

I have used all of those preamps a lot and can tell you the Pacifica has the best presence of all of them without being just "bright". The upper mids are more forward on the Pacifica vs the other two, so if you're looking to accent that range then you have chosen well. Excellent pre, you really cannot go wrong.

The Earthworks is flat, super flat stuff with nice detail. I use it on anything I feel like using it on, even guitar cabs and other rock based recordings, and they deliver a very true source. There is no DI on board, but I use my Radial JDI with it a lot when I just want super clean and detailed sound.

The Great River is the BIGGEST sounding of the bunch, with the largest range of clean (well, pretty clean anyhow) to a full on saturated sound and extended low end response. I love the input and output metering and find it to be a huge plus!

War

AURORA4DTH · 18th June 2008, 06:37 AM

Thanx for all the responses.
According to tracking I should have it some time today. I will most likely take it down to the studio and spend some time with it before using it on a session that night.
On another note is there a really good stereo eq for less than $3000 for running on a mix bus. This will most likely be my next purchase. I have looked around and see a few things but once again no one carries anything I can hear around my studio.

rcm · 18th June 2008, 08:15 AM

Pacifica. The Great River gives it a good run for its money, but I subjectively like the Pacifica a bit more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AURORA4DTH

On another note is there a really good stereo eq for less than $3000 for running on a mix bus. This will most likely be my next purchase. I have looked around and see a few things but once again no one carries anything I can hear around my studio.

Look at the A Designs hammer. Its the first EQ that has gotten me to EQ the mix buss on a regular basis.

AURORA4DTH · 22nd June 2008, 06:16 AM

Well I have been using the Pacifica for the last 3 days and all i can say is WOW, this pre amp is great. It was just what i was looking for. Thanx for all the help in deciding.

**TonyBelmont** · 22nd June 2008, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AURORA4DTH

On another note is there a really good stereo eq for less than $3000 for running on a mix bus. This will most likely be my next purchase. I have looked around and see a few things but once again no one carries anything I can hear around my studio.

A pair of E27's would be my choice and those are well under $3000.... second choice would be an API 5500.

AURORA4DTH · 23rd June 2008, 03:47 AM

Yeah I really like the API stuff I have, I have the 3124, the 2500 compressor and I think that 5500 eq would be just right.
Thanx for the suggestion.

drumkideric · 23rd June 2008, 04:25 AM

You will be VERY happy with the Pacifica. I own one, it is a great investment.

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15th June 2008, 04:17 PM	#1
AURORA4DTH Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15	Which of These Stereo Pre-amps do you guys prefer? I will be buying a new stereo preamp next week and I was wondering which of these pre amps you guys prefer and why. My budget is about $2000. I am looking for something not to colored with nice smooth upper mids / highs. I would love to be able to listen to them but I cant find anywhere around here that sells them. Also any other pieces you may know of as well. I am open to all options at this point. I already have some API stuff, A True, and A Drawmer as well as some other lower end pre amps. A Designs Pacifica Earthworks 1022 Great river mp 2nv I know Millennia and Gml also make stereo preamps in that price range as well but I know nothing of most of them. Thanx for any help.

17th June 2008, 04:50 PM	#6
warhead Jai guru deva om Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 8,328	I have used all of those preamps a lot and can tell you the Pacifica has the best presence of all of them without being just "bright". The upper mids are more forward on the Pacifica vs the other two, so if you're looking to accent that range then you have chosen well. Excellent pre, you really cannot go wrong. The Earthworks is flat, super flat stuff with nice detail. I use it on anything I feel like using it on, even guitar cabs and other rock based recordings, and they deliver a very true source. There is no DI on board, but I use my Radial JDI with it a lot when I just want super clean and detailed sound. The Great River is the BIGGEST sounding of the bunch, with the largest range of clean (well, pretty clean anyhow) to a full on saturated sound and extended low end response. I love the input and output metering and find it to be a huge plus! War __________________ Warren Dent Email: warren (at) frontendaudio (dot) com Front End Audio Sells Gear Tuesday Testers: Hear the Gear Shootouts Product Videos on YouTube: Overviews of Gear

23rd June 2008, 04:25 AM	#12
drumkideric Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Nashville Posts: 542	You will be VERY happy with the Pacifica. I own one, it is a great investment. __________________ Eric Green www.myspace.com/plaidnomad

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17th June 2008, 05:11 AM	#2
AURORA4DTH Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15	Well after I posted this i read posts on this site for about an hour. I guess I should have read first because it seems the pacifica is very well liked here. I really couldn't find one bad post about it. I just went ahead and ordered one and should have it by friday. After reading the posts i cant wait.

17th June 2008, 05:19 AM	#3
Rick Sutton Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Atascadero, CA Posts: 1,842	I think the Pacifica will fit into your collection like a glove. Enjoy!

17th June 2008, 04:30 PM	#4
Digitar Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Boondocks Posts: 312	The Great River would of given you many different colors of saturation. I love mine.

18th June 2008, 06:37 AM	#7
AURORA4DTH Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15	Thanx for all the responses. According to tracking I should have it some time today. I will most likely take it down to the studio and spend some time with it before using it on a session that night. On another note is there a really good stereo eq for less than $3000 for running on a mix bus. This will most likely be my next purchase. I have looked around and see a few things but once again no one carries anything I can hear around my studio.

22nd June 2008, 06:16 AM	#9
AURORA4DTH Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15	Well I have been using the Pacifica for the last 3 days and all i can say is WOW, this pre amp is great. It was just what i was looking for. Thanx for all the help in deciding.

23rd June 2008, 03:47 AM	#11
AURORA4DTH Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 15	Yeah I really like the API stuff I have, I have the 3124, the 2500 compressor and I think that 5500 eq would be just right. Thanx for the suggestion.