The A Designs Solid State Shootout (500 series + Pacifica)

[TobyToby]

I did my own P1 / Pacifica mini comparison.






It's right, the Pacifica delivers a bit more fullness than the P1. I'm also assuming that this results from the bigger output tranny in the Paci. The Blue, with its mojo & openness, is simply one of my right things for vox & ac guitar.

For those who don't know. There is a 'nice place' in the modules way behind the gain value you would usually choose for a -preamp direct to converter- chain. If you drive the units "hot" with more pregain you will find a kind of sweetspot-range. It results in peak-limiting, compression & coloration in a very nice way. But with this adjustment, you would bring your AD converter into ueberclipping. If you hook up an attenuator between pre and ad converter ( I did this with a Volume2) you will tame the gain for the AD but save the result you have built by pushing the box. This works great with bass. You got a huge more RMS level with the same record peak level as in a -preamp directl to converter- chain.

[Infernal Device]

That was a great shootout. Thanks for doing all the work.

I loved the P1 and Pacifica overall.

The Blue KILLED on drums for me. I loved it. Had a bit more attack that I like.

They were not all as subtle as I thought they would be.

Great stuff Peter!

[Matt Hepworth]

Funny, I was just wondering if it was time to pull those files down and BAM! - the slutz have resurrected the thread. Guess I'll leave them up permanently.

After all this time, the P1 has remained my go to and is one of those things I can't see leaving my lunchbox (unless I go with a Pacifica).

[gm5k]

Originally Posted by ben_allison

I couldn't hear tons of difference:

Does anyone think the the Behringer Truth's I'm listening on could be to blame?

no i dont think so, but then again im not familiar with what ur listening on so take that for what it's worth. ive listened to this shootout a couple of times, and i can not hear much of a difference between any of the pres.

[BLueROom]

I have almost all the EM stuff, no more room or I'd have a silver too. Really awesome pres that beat out the competition on a regualr basis. Here are my choices for given formats:

RED: anything that needs depth and punch. AMAZING on toms, beats out my 512Cs every time ...yea, I said it.
P-1: anything that needs some richness (vague enough?) Kills on vocals
BLUE: anything that needs a sharp transient, clarity and fullness. Kills on snare and E-Guitar.
GOLD: anything that needs extended low-end. Lives on my floor toms and gets business on bass DI duties.

Peter, thanks again for making my recordings sounds that much better. Your products are already making many appearances on my next release.

I need a HAMMER!

[bobwarren]

I've only got an EM Silver and a couple P1's but I'm interested in the Blue.

[warhead]

I'll further confirm my love and preference for the BLUE module...

n/a

War

[pan60]

Originally Posted by glitch

Funny, I was just wondering if it was time to pull those files down and BAM! - the slutz have resurrected the thread. Guess I'll leave them up permanently.

After all this time, the P1 has remained my go to and is one of those things I can't see leaving my lunchbox (unless I go with a Pacifica).

mine will never leave my rack!

Originally Posted by BLueROom

I have almost all the EM stuff, no more room or I'd have a silver too. Really awesome pres that beat out the competition on a regualr basis. Here are my choices for given formats:

RED: anything that needs depth and punch. AMAZING on toms, beats out my 512Cs every time ...yea, I said it.
P-1: anything that needs some richness (vague enough?) Kills on vocals
BLUE: anything that needs a sharp transient, clarity and fullness. Kills on snare and E-Guitar.
GOLD: anything that needs extended low-end. Lives on my floor toms and gets business on bass DI duties.

Peter, thanks again for making my recordings sounds that much better. Your products are already making many appearances on my next release.

I need a HAMMER!

i love the range and the way Peter did these pres, get the sound you want and it all sets in so nice and snugly.

[Bob Vinsick]

I did a test where I recorded my vocal through CAD E300 into the Pacifica with my voice. Next I recorded with the same mic but depressed the pad switch on the Pacifica and boosted the gain to make the 2 tracks equal in volume.

The result is very different and the track with the pad engaged has less highs and seems fuller and matched more closely to an SM7 recorded through the Pacifica.

I chose the E300 for this test as this mic seems to be a flat mic without much color.

I almost like the color I get on my voice with the SM7 through my 428 better than through the Pacifica, but I need to do some more testing before I make a final decision.

[Martin Dubka]

Funny how none of my choices are the recommended ones from the A-Designs web-site... just goes to show you really have to hear these pre's for yourself.

Acoustic: Blue or Silver

Bass: Red or Blue (I ignore the obvious winner - Pacifica - because it's out of my price range)

Snare: Silver

Kick: Blue or Red

Overhead: Silver

Floor: Red or Blue (although not particularly either)

Couldn't concentrate on the Electric Guitar one's... Too awful! ;-)

Thanks for the shootout.

Martin

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Martin Dubuque

Funny how none of my choices are the recommended ones from the A-Designs web-site... just goes to show you really have to hear these pre's for yourself.
Martin

absolutely when ever possible i say you really need to hear them yourself!!!!!

Originally Posted by Martin Dubka

Bass: Red or Blue (I ignore the obvious winner - Pacifica - because it's out of my price range)


Thanks for the shootout.

Martin

go for a P-1, not a big difference, and, one would be no better then another, some love the Pacifica, and some love the P-1, and can not hear a big enough difference for it to matter.
the P-1 is as always a top pick for me: )~

[Martin Dubka]

Hmmm, not so sure about that...
I can definitely hear the difference between the P-1 and Pacifica (unfortunately).

I think I was much more sensitive to this test (having been a bass player for the past 15 years) but I could hear more of what I like in the Red and Blue. Leaning more towards the Red as I recall. But the Blue could be really cool for something a little more "wirey". Maybe it's more a question of REDDI > P-1 to sell me on that pre...

As a side-note, from a bass player and producers point of view, the REDDI is the best bass di bar none.

Martin

[pan60]

Originally Posted by Martin Dubka

Hmmm, not so sure about that...
I can definitely hear the difference between the P-1 and Pacifica (unfortunately).

I think I was much more sensitive to this test (having been a bass player for the past 15 years) but I could hear more of what I like in the Red and Blue. Leaning more towards the Red as I recall. But the Blue could be really cool for something a little more "wirey". Maybe it's more a question of REDDI > P-1 to sell me on that pre...

As a side-note, from a bass player and producers point of view, the REDDI is the best bass di bar none.

Martin

please, i did not say their was no difference just pointing out they are very close.
also, just a note, and maybe war can post on this, but how they were set up will effect the sound you hear, as i am sure you already know.

[GearHunter]

I'm currently playing with a 500H rack with the P-1 and the EM-Peq. As a "channel-strip" it's got some serios mojo.

[pan60]

Originally Posted by GearHunter

I'm currently playing with a 500H rack with the P-1 and the EM-Peq. As a "channel-strip" it's got some serios mojo.

big time! ( IMHO ),

[James Lugo]

The Montessi Blue is probably the most used pre I own. I love it on vocals.

[sctt_stone]

Bump.

[GearHunter]

If I were going to get two of one color, red or blue, which one should I get for all around stuff. (Already have and love P-1) The red is supposed to be mid-forward and I like the API sound, so I'm leaning that way. But how's the blue? A lot brighter?

[pan60]

Originally Posted by GearHunter

If I were going to get two of one color, red or blue, which one should I get for all around stuff. (Already have and love P-1) The red is supposed to be mid-forward and I like the API sound, so I'm leaning that way. But how's the blue? A lot brighter?

as to the EM-BLUE, i do not feel it is so much brighter, but more HI-FI, the mids are not pushed up front as much.
i think this allows the top as well as the bottom to shine a bit more, for me, it helps deliver more clarity on source that would set better set, on top on the spectrum.
the EM-BLUE is also nice for acoustic sources.
i have not had a chance to snag a EM-RED, but i do plan to, just takes time: )~

[DRC]

Originally Posted by pan60

as to the EM-BLUE, i do not feel it is so much brighter, but more HI-FI, the mids are not pushed up front as much.
i think this allows the top as well as the bottom to shine a bit more, for me, it helps deliver more clarity on source that would set better set, on top on the spectrum.
the EM-BLUE is also nice for acoustic sources.
i have not had a chance to snag a EM-RED, but i do plan to, just takes time: )~

Pan, would you say that the BLUE is similar to a Daking or maybe closer to an Elixir? I have used a Daking and your description of the BLUE sounds much like a Daking. I could be completely wrong.

[pan60]

i have not used the Daking: (~ so i can't say but i will say i wanted to keep the buzzaudio elixir, and if i had had the cash i would have but i did feel the A-Design EM-BLUE covered the same territory.

[AllAboutTone]

Maybe its just me but i still like the P-1 over the Pacifica.

[Kiljoy]

Right now I have 2 API 512c's, 2 Buzz Exilir's and 2 EM Red's in my box and the Red is a good soft & mellow mid ground between the agression of the 512 and the openness of the Elixir IMO. I tried a Pacifica a while back too and really loved it, seemed a bit softer sounding than the EM Red.