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[Blap]

Next up for my rack will be a nice clean preamp to be used for vocals.  I'm considering Hardy M1 Personal Pre, Phoenix DRS-1, or Avalon M5.  Already have GRiver NV, Vintech 72, and JoeMeek VC1Q, so it's time for something different.  

I've read great stuff about the Phoenix, but heard that it may have some reliability issues.  Thanks for opinions on these pieces!

[McAllister]

Add the RNP to your list.

Very clean.

M

[sdelsolray]

Blap wrote on Tue, 29 June 2004 08:07

Next up for my rack will be a nice clean preamp to be used for vocals.  I'm considering Hardy M1 Personal Pre, Phoenix DRS-1, or Avalon M5.  Already have GRiver NV, Vintech 72, and JoeMeek VC1Q, so it's time for something different.   I've read great stuff about the Phoenix, but heard that it may have some reliability issues.  Thanks for opinions on these pieces!

If you go with the John Hardy, consider getting the frame and one channel.  It costs a bit more, but you'll have the option of adding another 3 preamp modules in the future.  You can't do that with he Hardy Personal pre.

[natpub]

The Hardy line always gets confusing to me because there are several options, then there are the Jensons. I have a hard time understanding what difference they all are. I have not heard them.

I have heard the Avalon and it is very nice in its way.

I prefer the GML 8300 series, though they may be a little expensive.

However, IMO, the 4 channel unit is just a steal--at about $650 a channel for GML, jeesh, it is crazy.

[Fletcher]

The Hardy line isn't that confusing... get it with the Jensen transformers and the meter option and you'll be a happy camper.

The originator of this thread mentioned that he had a Great River pre... FWIW, I have found that the Phoenix stuff goes with great with the Great River stuff... sorta like Rasberries and Chocolate go together well... both are great flavors individually, but when you put the two together, the sum is far greater than the parts!!!  ...as always, YMMV.

[locosoundman]

How does the John  Hardy compare with the API?  I am considering the 4 channel  M-1 or the 3124.

[Fletcher]

The Hardy and the API are two other different tones/textures.  In some ways the Hardy is more 'open' sounding, the AOI is a bit tougher sounding... they're both great... all I might be able to suggest would be to try them both and try to choose.

Best of luck with it.

[lucey]

hardy, phoenix, avalon M5

or martech mss-10

[Roland Storch]

Don?t know the afforementionrd pres by own experience. But if I am asked to name clean preamps then comes to mind first:  Millennia Media, Grace, FM Acoustics, Prism Sound, GML and Sonosax FD-M4.

The Millennia is so clean that some may even say boring. It is really boring when the source tells you nothing - it isn?t euphonic at all.

The Grace is a little brighter, maybe more lively.

The FM Acoustics is clean too but shows more energy in the sound - for me one of the best pres I know.

The GML is clean and fast, the fastest I know, absoltuley neutral.

The Sonsosax (I mean the FD-M4, not the tiny boxes) is very open, similat to the Grace.

[tom eaton]

I'll throw another one into the pool:

Benchmark MPS400.

A no frills 4 channel very clean preamp.  Used by lots of classical folks, but not really that well known.  

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/micpre/default.asp

I've had one for three years or so...I quite like it.

-tom

[ryan streber]

I'm also in the market for a clean pre.  I haven't heard anyone mention the Earthworks preamps as contenders.  I have no experience with them, but I'm curious to hear what others think, how they compare to the various aforementioned units, etc.  ALso, can anyone comment on the similarities or differences between the newer "zero distortion" Earthworks pres and the older "LAB" series?