A quick preamp comparison 473-DRS-MP20

[RaGe]

Sup gang,
A drum loop (i chose it for it's content, basic drums pattern + percussion, about the whole audio spectrum is represented) into a Vintech 473, Phoenix Audio DRS2, Presonus MP20 ... nothing scientific about that test, ok? I matched the levels the best I could by ear.
To me this proves nothing except the fact that what is best is highly subjective ...
I'll give more deails if you guys want.
Enjoy.

[Plec]

Thx for this great little test!

I love when tests are musical and not all scientific where everything has to be down right perfect in every aspect. Here you get the "feel" of the gear across which is very important to me!

I feel that the Vintech adds most "color" to it, the pre that distorts the original most. I would like to describe it as "orange" sounding where the high end is very smooth and almost rolled off, the same being true for the most extreme low end. What you're left with is more of a vintage sounding raw midrangey kind of feel

The PhoenixAudio is without a question my favourite. I think it sounds more real than the other two. It gets more of the depth across and also sounds more "full range".

PreSonus gives me a light blue feel. It's clean but sounds a bit narrow and doesn't really get the low end across. Lacks the depth too.

If it is meant to color the signal.. then it should really color the signal if you know what i mean. It feels like the PreSonus is trying to sound like the Phoenix but doesn't really get there.

1. Phoenix Audio
2. Vintech
3. PreSonus

[RaGe]

The original loop is already "colored"and testing the DI, i'll do it again with a more neutral sounding loop and/or a mic'ed source.
I agree on all you said, those are my feelings exactly.

[RaGe]

This time I strummed a chord on a Johnson guitar ( I think that model goes for $69 new ), you can tell I am not a guitarist! Now my left fingertips hurt ...

Each chord repeats twice for each pre.

I like the 473 better in this case, i like how it smoothes out the edge of that s*itty guitar (and guitarist).
BTW, mic is a SP C3 in omni.

[NeoVXR]

for the drum, it depends on the music, the first device I would maybe like better for some soft-funk, rap, dance, house etc tracks, because it sounds very neutral but clear,
the second one I'd like best for rock, grunge etc..

for the guitar, I would like the second device, it's just more "there".
if something is too bright, the eq can correct it and still power remains in the sound.