DAV vs ZED-R16 preamps

[omegaomega]

DAV vs ZED-R16 preamps
Hello!

I am about to purchase a few preamps or a good analog mixer to use for location recordings. I was looking into the DAV line of preams and BG8 in particular,and was thinking to combine it with an ONYX 1620 or LINE AUDIO 8MP, when I read about the new Allen-Heath mixer, the ZED-R16 which has apparently very good audio quality and 16 mic preamps as well as firewire and ADAT I/O.

Anyone here using a ZED-R16 for location recording?
Anyone has actually compared the ZED-R16 mic preamps to DAV preamps? I read that review on Sound On Sound comparing ZED's preamps to DAV and stating that the results the reviewer got from the ZED were on par with what he would expect to achieve with his DAV preamps, but to be honest it is very hard to believe it since the DAV BG8 with 8 preamps cost a bit more than the ZED itself!!!

I will use the ZED or DAV for location recordings mostly of church choirs (mostly male), so quite distant recording and high-up mic placement in churches and halls with long reverb, so I think quality preamps are needed.
I think that in close-miking even a lesser preamp is quite passable but in distance recording real quality is needed...

If the quality is really about as good as DAV preamps it would be really fantastic as my budget is quite limited at the moment. Has anyone compared ZED's preamps to DAV, Onyx or ANY other preamp for that matter and would like to share his findings?

Thank you all!

[Blast9]

wow - good spec - 2 x fully parametric mids by the look of it.

Looks like the f/w adat are included rather than add-on like the onyx

[Chunky But Funky]

Originally Posted by Blast9

Looks like the f/w adat are included rather than add-on like the onyx

True, but the ONYX is less than 1/3 the price of the ZED. You could set up two remote rigs using ONYX 1620's with firewire for less than the price of the ZED. On the other hand, Allen and Heath probably have a better reputation and the ZED can also be used as a DAW controller as well. Depends on the features you embrace as necessary for your application. I have an ONYX 1620 for my live rig, but I would LOVE a ZED R-16 for my home studio set-up!

Doug