8 channel preamp - Mackie Onyx vs. Presonus M80

[DeeDrive]

I've been looking into getting an 8 channel pre to add to a 002 rig for a while, and I was pretty set on the Mackie 800R. I started looking on ebay, and realized I could probably get a used Presonus M80 for only a little more money.

The advantage to the Mackie would be the benefit of A/D conversion and an ADAT output, but would this really be much better conversion than the 002? I'm fairly happy with the 002 convertors, but if the Mackie is even a small improvement, it would be worth it.

Also, is the M80 quite a big step up from the Mackie? I know it's a few years older, so maybe Mackie has caught up with their Onyx series, but I haven't worked with either piece, so I don't know.

If the conversion on the 800R is not a great improvement over the 002, and the M80 is a big step up from the Mackie, I'll just go with the M80. Otherwise, I think the Mackie would be a better value.

BTW, I shouldn't need more than 8 tracks at a time, so the whole analog vs. digital output thing shouldn't matter to much.

What do you guys think??

[DP40oz]

as far my opinion goes, the onyx pres are better then the presonus M80's. Im not sure how good the converteres are but the pres are really nice.

[AdamJay]

kind of a wild tangent here but are you on a Mac?

if so, i'd recommend a Metric Halo MIO 2882. it is a little cheaper than the Mackie. ($1200 new)
8 preamps, and 8 channels of A/D and D/A with ADAT in/out. Converters are especially good. HUGE improvement over the 002.

only negative is the preamps top out at 42dB of gain, and half of them are on 1/4" input, but that can be easily resolved with an XLR-TRS cable or adapter.
and its Mac Only and pretty much entirely controlled by software, but damn does it sound good compared to the 002.

[Antigua]

Not sure about the M80, but I work with the Presonus Digimax in a radio studio here. They are ok, but nothing special, and a bit noisy.
Recently our company started a new station in the same market, and we ended up doing an AB test between the Onyx and the Digimax for the new studios.. I didn't want to admit it, but they (compared to the Digimax) actually sounded pretty good. A BIG improvement from the Digi's.
Also they are cheaper and have more I/O options.
Unfortunately the techs opted to keep digis for production, and went with Mackies in the on air studios

[hawaii82]

You can also I've a look to the Audient ASP008...really nice and you've got 2 DIs , a swith impedance on all pres...and most important....it's sounds good

[T.RayBullard]

Ive heard many great things about the True Systems Precision 8s.Cheap price wise, and ive heard they add a bit of sparkle.

[trondned]

Please don't compare M80 to the Digimax

I have an M80 going through a MOTU 2408 into a DIGI002, and without A/B-ing I'd say it's about equal or better than Focusrite Octopre. And it sure ain't noisy!

I've heard the buzz about the Onyx also, but haven't tried it myself. Would love to, though

[trondned]

Haha!!!

Realized I just replied to a three year old post

[You_Father_Sky]

Amazing.

[benpasley]

I have owned an M80 for 10 years, it's the one with the Jensen's in it, and it sounds amazing. I am sending it in this week to be repaired as it just developed a power problem, but just this week I tested it against some $2K stereo preamps and I was blown away. It's sonic footprint is so much like the Langevin Dual Vocal Combo that even the noise signatures (hardware noise alone) are almost the same. It is forward, present, open, and fast. It is not hyped, or tubby, or overly colored, but it has iron in the path and it is to be noticed. It's noise floor is very low and it has the slightest transformer texture, a slight creamy furr on the upper midrange, that does not belong to mic pre's at this price point. It does have a dangerously steep curve between perfect gain to noise ratio and terrible clipping on the rotary gain pot so don't bang the red light very much at all, but other than that I couldn't recommend an M80 more...and they have been discontinued!

It is funny that we are tagging in on a three year old post, but still I have studio friends right now looking for more channels, and I can not think of one thing under $1K that could possibly compete with this thing, especially those sterile one rack space, low voltage designed, cheapo-eights that are a dime a dozen. I love to save money and make great music. Word.

[Fhl]

Bump for a great question.

I own both a digimax FS and an M80, and the M80 is in another league! Really a great pre. I'm selling my digimax fs. I works great, but it's nothing special and I don't need the extra channels.

[bxt403]

FYI-

The Presonus M80/MP20 (regardless of Jensen mic transformer) is actually an IC based Jensen Twin Servo...putting some AD-797's (as per the Jensen schematic) into the Presonus definitely puts it in the league of the Hardy version. I have a Jensen equipped MP 20 (I put AD-797's in as well) and the 7th circle J99 (with hardy 990c's)- both sound amazingly similar (although I prefer the J99 for obvious reasons) but the J99, MP20, and M80 are all Jensen Twin Servos under the hood.

[doulos30]

i like tacos and replying to +5 year old threads

presonus needs to go back to the m80 20 quality instead of the garbage they make now

[bxt403]

I think their latest digital mixer actually uses the MP20/M80 preamps...so perhaps not all their stuff is garbage.

[darkwater]

this
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/gears...o-tmp-8-a.html

[dickiefunk]

Originally Posted by doulos30

presonus needs to go back to the m80 20 quality instead of the garbage they make now

Originally Posted by bxt403

I think their latest digital mixer actually uses the MP20/M80 preamps...so perhaps not all their stuff is garbage.

The Eureka is also the same preamp as the MP20 + channel strip features.

[dibravibra]

eureka sucks imho

[dickiefunk]

Originally Posted by dibravibra

eureka sucks imho

Wow! Why?

What are you comparing it to?

[dibravibra]

Originally Posted by dickiefunk

Wow! Why?

What are you comparing it to?

Preamp is muddy, comp might be usefull for some stuff, EQ is crap. Compared to ISA 430, Studer 962 and AMEK CIB.

[dickiefunk]

Originally Posted by dibravibra

Preamp is muddy, comp might be usefull for some stuff, EQ is crap. Compared to ISA 430, Studer 962 and AMEK CIB.

Interesting. I don't find mine sounds muddy next to my ISA!?

I guess it's personal taste.

I find the Eureka to certainly hold up with my ISA and UA610 pres!

[dibravibra]

Originally Posted by dickiefunk

Interesting. I don't find mine sounds muddy next to my ISA!?

I guess it's personal taste.

I find the Eureka to certainly hold up with my ISA and UA610 pres!

I'm talking about ISA mk1. UA610 has mediocore pre (for my taste), I like comp though

[Steffmo]

The M80 is quite possibly the best piece ever made by Presonus. It was designed in an era when the company had much higher sonic goals to meet and wasn't trying to be so consumer friendly.

In short, the M80 is not the Presonus you think of today.

[Basslik]

Sorry if I dug it up a few years late.

I have a chance to buy a m-80 for $200, in mint condition, and was wondering if that is still a good buy after all these years, and looking at photos it has a digital output slot and I can't find any related info pertaining to that slot, not even in the manual?

[Basslik]

Originally Posted by Basslik

Sorry if I dug it up a few years late.

I have a chance to buy a m-80 for $200, in mint condition, and was wondering if that is still a good buy after all these years, and looking at photos it has a digital output slot and I can't find any related info pertaining to that slot, not even in the manual?

None knows nothing about the digital output plate?, thanks