Aurora GTQ2: 2 "1073" style Pre/EQ for the price of 1 ?

[Lefrançais]

Hello guys,

I spent hours reading here about 1073 style pre/EQ. I want to buy one very soon.
My choice was between Chandler LTD-1 and Wunder PEQ-1 ( $2350_$2500)
until I found post about Aurora GTQ2 which has 2 Pre/EQ for quite the same price.
My question is why ? How can we built two high end pre/eq when other company sell only one for the same amount ?
Finally is the GTQ2 as good as a LTD-1, PEQ-1 or Great River MEQ-1NV?
thx for your answers.

[Ahellam]

Im pretty sure that there are already a bunch of comparisons and threads ALL about what you are talkin about if you do a search.

[danasti]

Originally Posted by Lefrançais

Hello guys,

I spent hours reading here about 1073 style pre/EQ. I want to buy one very soon.
My choice was between Chandler LTD-1 and Wunder PEQ-1 ( $2350_$2500)
until I found post about Aurora GTQ2 which has 2 Pre/EQ for quite the same price.
My question is why ? How can we built two high end pre/eq when other company sell only one for the same amount ?
Finally is the GTQ2 as good as a LTD-1, PEQ-1 or Great River MEQ-1NV?
thx for your answers.

I think if we are going to discuss the manufacturing differences and the costs involved that could worthwhile. My experience is that the answer can be difficult to find.

Here is a thread where a GTQ is compared to a 737 and a 3124 with some various mics on various tracks. I just downloaded the wav files.
http://gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...highlight=GTQ2

Mr. Tanner closely gaurds his secrets as far as manufacturing is concerned. He worked for Neve and claims the GTQ is not a Neve clone.

Who knows, it's possible that the GTQ is cheaper because it didn't cost him thousands of mind numbing hours to reverse engineer it and put the prototypes together.

[nlc201]

Remember as well that the EQ section on the Aurora is not nearly as comprehensive as the Chandler or GR. Fixed frequency low and high with a semi-parametric mid consisting of only 2 frequencies.

That being said, I think the pres on either the Aurora or the Chandler (haven't tried GR) are both almost worth the price of admission by themselves. I really like both units. I'm not wild about the Chandler LTD EQ, unlike the rest of his EQ designs. The GTQ EQ seems pretty good (the Low frequency boost is quite lovely!) but the lack of real flexibility with its EQ design makes it hard to judge it against other EQs in a completely different flexibility class. The DI input on the Aurora is outstanding. The thing is also quiet as f*ck. It's truly a great buy. Everything that passes through it gets a nice but subtle dose of color which has always sounded great to me. The Chandler also fares well in that department. My gripe with the Chandler is that it's a little vanilla in some cases with the EQ. Not nearly as cool as some of the stuff Wade's been coming out with lately, IMO.

If you want a legitimate 1073 sound, these things aren't it. But they're cool in their own right. Buy both (though I might suggest an alternaitve Chandler product like the "channel")

[Geoff_T]

Originally Posted by nlc201

Remember as well that the EQ section on the Aurora is not nearly as comprehensive as the Chandler or GR. Fixed frequency low and high with a semi-parametric mid consisting of only 2 frequencies.

Hi

Thanks for the kind words... you must have a Mark II with the 400Hz and 3200Hz mid selections. The current Mark III adds 1600Hz as a mid choice and 300ohm/1200ohm input impedance switches.

[Jim vanBergen]

Listen to the pre. Listen to the EQ. None of these designs is identical to the 1073. Geoff's GTQ but has a wider (greater) gain stage, and the frequencies, while somewhat limited in selection, are incredibly musical and have yet to dissapoint me. Wade's LTD-1 has a SLEW more frequencies ike a 1081 on steroids, and a different gain structure with yet again annother tranny, and has a sightly different tone. And Mike's Wunder PEQ is yet again another 1073 STYLE pre/EQ that is kinda API-- NOT a 1073-- but still a great pre/EQ with vibe! So...We're not really comparing apples to apples, its more apples, pear, and banana.

Screw the pricing. If your ears love only one, then you know its because you're hearing something you like. What more is there? My problem is I like them each for what they bring to the table, the same way a painter likes Blue, Red, or Yellow.

You have to decide what you want, or be like me....and you'll have to buy them ALL sooner or later!

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Jim vanBergen

Listen to the pre. Listen to the EQ. None of these designs is identical to the 1073. Geoff's GTQ but has a wider (greater) gain stage, and the frequencies, while somewhat limited in selection, are incredibly musical and have yet to dissapoint me. Wade's LTD-1 has a SLEW more frequencies ike a 1081 on steroids, and a different gain structure with yet again annother tranny, and has a sightly different tone. And Mike's Wunder PEQ is yet again another 1073 STYLE pre/EQ that is kinda API-- NOT a 1073-- but still a great pre/EQ with vibe! So...We're not really comparing apples to apples, its more apples, pear, and banana.

Screw the pricing. If your ears love only one, then you know its because you're hearing something you like. What more is there? My problem is I like them each for what they bring to the table, the same way a painter likes Blue, Red, or Yellow.

You have to decide what you want, or be like me....and you'll have to buy them ALL sooner or later!

Just a little clarification here....



I don't believe the Wunder PEQ is really a 1073 clone. It uses the same form factor and will replace a 1073 in a Neve 80's desk but it is not a Neve clone at all. This is something that people get confused all the time because the Wunder module will fit in any desk or rack that a 1073 will.

Originally Posted by From the Wudner web site

The PEQ1, however, is NOT a 1073 clone. It has its own unique circuit, and over the last four years we have made about 20 modifications in the prototype.

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

I don't believe the Wunder PEQ is really a 1073 clone.

It's tighter and brighter than a 1073. Call it the Grandson of.

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

It's tighter and brighter than a 1073. Call it the Grandson of.

Fair enough.. In the interest of full disclosure I am only going by what I hear others say and what I read on their web site, I have no personal experience with the Wunder stuff.

I hear good things and every now and again not so good things about their stuff but I don't know much about them at all.

[Mr Ted]

That's why I love this forum, we get answers from engineer themselves ! (even if they just say a few words :) ... ) and real "gear head".
I wish I could buy all the pre at the same time but I have to choose only one first (budget...).
I 'll get the others later after I buy the comp ! (Purple MC77). I already heard LTD-1 and PEQ-1, they sound different but I really love them both.
The fact the GTQ2 is a stereo EQ/Preamp has to be taken into consideration.
For the same price I can choose between a mono or a stereo high end pre....
I can't find where to hear the GTQ2 here in France. So I ask you guys if I won't be disappointed if I buy the Aurora after what I've heard from Chandler and Wunder.
thx

Edit: Lefrançais and MrTed are the same I thought I lost definitly my"Mr Ted" account, I'll try to fix that with an admin.

[Jim vanBergen]

Buy all three, you won't be disappointed.

[Jim vanBergen]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

Just a little clarification here....



I don't believe the Wunder PEQ is really a 1073 clone. It uses the same form factor and will replace a 1073 in a Neve 80's desk but it is not a Neve clone at all. This is something that people get confused all the time because the Wunder module will fit in any desk or rack that a 1073 will.

Michael, I'm gonna hire you to edit my copy, man. Thank you!

Wunder: Different, but similar approach. NOT a 1073. But...who cares, its damn good.
Personally, I think if money is an object and you need a pair, the Aurora kicks ass, but I'd STILL want all three.

Finally:
Each one has a great vibe. And THAT, I hope Michael will agree with!

[Drumsound]

I very much doubt that you would be unhappy with an Aurora GTQ2 mkIII. I've been enjoying mine more and more lately! I use it both in tracking and mixing, so that to me makes it even more worth the money.

[TonyBelmont]

I couldn't imagine anyone being "disappointed" by the sound of the GTQ, whether in comparison to those other pre's that were mentioned, or even a 1073.

[lucey]

no it's not 2 for the price of 1 .... a 1073 is darker than the new ones mentioned (in the pre), but it has the eq that's the calling card.

all of these pres are great, as are about 15 others.



amazing mastering eq's? we could still use a few more.

[tomylee]

dont kill me now, but I really had the compelling impression that the gtq kind of compressed the signal...I dont know, it sounded just way more different to the other 2 pres tested...It had moch more density, and I fell in love with its sound on the motif drum samples, but then, I really disliked its sound on the guitar sample, I dont know why.

But, thats no problem, i finally found what i was looking for...the drum sample speaks volumes to me, and I am looking for a preamp, to give sample sounds the little extra, I think i found it with the GTQ-2 (but, of course I´ve never heard what you call the real thing...neve 1073, 1081, 1084...)(and I can never, unless i visit LA...damn, noone seems to have a Neve here in Vienna...no shop!! can you immagine this?? crist...;))

What do you think about this, do you also hear this weird kind of compression, (Well, I´d rather call it "signal density", if i could ;)) with the GTQ-2?

tom

[lucey]

Originally Posted by tomylee

What do you think about this, do you also hear this weird kind of compression, (Well, I´d rather call it "signal density", if i could ;)) with the GTQ-2?

tom

That's the transformer...

[tomylee]

Originally Posted by lucey

That's the transformer...

oh well, so this is typical ... neve-like? Is this a common known thing...come on...tell me, what is this...the so often cited "neve-magic"??...

I´m glad I didn't hear hallucinoghosts..e :)

bye

tom

[lucey]

Originally Posted by tomylee

oh well, so this is typical ... neve-like? Is this a common known thing...come on...tell me, what is this...the so often cited "neve-magic"??...

I´m glad I didn't hear hallucinoghosts..e :)

bye

tom

yes the transformer weight is similar to the classic designs, the mids/high end of the GTQ2 are more open, making it different overall. Maybe better for your application.

yes the 1073 magic is partly the transformer ... and partly the eq. the GTQ2 is different but similar.

[Switchcraft]

I went with the LTDs/ The EQ on that jama exceptional, then there is the Pre. Cant go wrong, but I havent hear the others.

[grahluk]

I'm itchin' for a GTQ2 (as soon as I can pull the trigger Tony I'll get back to you). I don't think it's really fair to compare the EQ of it to the Neves' or their derivatives. I would think of the GTQ2 more like a preamp that has "some" eq to help you when micing as opposed to a console EQ/input module. Mic selection, placement, and maybe a little help from the GTQ EQ is probably all you need when tracking. If you need more EQ than that maybe change the mic or move it. You shouldn't need 5 bands of fully parametric +/-12dB to get your sound. Mixing may be another story but there are lots of other toys better suited for that. $.02 added to the pot.

[Drumsound]

Originally Posted by grahluk

I'm itchin' for a GTQ2 (as soon as I can pull the trigger Tony I'll get back to you). I don't think it's really fair to compare the EQ of it to the Neves' or their derivatives. I would think of the GTQ2 more like a preamp that has "some" eq to help you when micing as opposed to a console EQ/input module. Mic selection, placement, and maybe a little help from the GTQ EQ is probably all you need when tracking. If you need more EQ than that maybe change the mic or move it. You shouldn't need 5 bands of fully parametric +/-12dB to get your sound. Mixing may be another story but there are lots of other toys better suited for that. $.02 added to the pot.

Funny you should put it that way. One thing I really love about the GTQ2 is simple EQing while tracking. I little dip in the mids of a BD or adding some top to a ribbon mic. I also will use it when I mix so there you go. It kills as a guitar buss EQ.

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by grahluk

I'm itchin' for a GTQ2 (as soon as I can pull the trigger Tony I'll get back to you). I don't think it's really fair to compare the EQ of it to the Neves' or their derivatives. I would think of the GTQ2 more like a preamp that has "some" eq to help you when micing as opposed to a console EQ/input module. Mic selection, placement, and maybe a little help from the GTQ EQ is probably all you need when tracking. If you need more EQ than that maybe change the mic or move it. You shouldn't need 5 bands of fully parametric +/-12dB to get your sound. Mixing may be another story but there are lots of other toys better suited for that. $.02 added to the pot.

Yeah..the GTQ is a great pre..and the EQ is nice and handy..but definitely not a 1073 eq.