Neve 33609 - Which one to look for?

[citystate]

I know there are a few different revisions including a new one.
Is there a certain one to look for?

[joel hamilton]

The only one I really love is the original, the 33609. Not "A" not "B" not "C" not "J" or "Q" or anything... just 33609.

I dont know the exact differences, as they are debated ad nauseum all over the interwebs, but I do know that the one we have has metal knobs, a locking metal power switch, and sounds amazing. The others I have used with a "x" after the numbers always seem to have a plastic power switch, plastic knobs, and not sound as good!

[rhythm ranch]

Geoff Tanner on the Aurora Audio board posted this a couple of years ago:

...here's a very quick "potted" history....

2252.... Rupert's original compressor. Vastly too much distortion to meet IBA specs for a Broadcast limiter

2253.... David Rees's solution, built on a block of wood with nails hammered in and the components soldered to the nails. Big orders placed by the IBA for this broadcast limiter based on the spec of the prototype.

2254... David's original Limiter compressor created by adding a compress side chain to the 2253. Rupert insisted that it be fitted with the 183 amp card instead of the 186 in the 2253. This unit had different controls to later 2254's with stepped input and output level controls.

2254a... the more common version we love and admire, the I/P + O/P pots replaced with threshold and gain make up switches.

2254e... basically a 2254a with switchable attack time on the limit section.

You forgot the 2262!

2264... started out as a pressed steel module like a 1073 but later used custom extrusions for the metalwork. Circuit based on the 2262 with a single 440 amp as the audio path instead of the 183/AV in the 2254.

2264a.... I think that's the more common extruded version. Stick a 3 in front to have a NAD paint job.

2264x.... Designed to go with consoles designed for USA 150 ohm circuits instead of the normal 600 ohm. Different output transformer

You forgot the 33314!

81069... Like the 33609 further down, just a repackaged 33314 limiter compressor...

33609... That was my baby... two 33314 mother boards and a 1777 power supply in a case strong enough to park a truck on top of it. Metal control knobs and locking ac switch.


33609C... Incorporated all the mods/improvements that I begged Neve to incorporate when I worked there. Recadded motherboards with IDC connections, LM317 PSU, pressed steel case, neon rocker switch.


33609J... AMS-Neve's current offering, J = Japan, the main client. I believe that it's a repackaged C though I've never peeped inside one. I'm not fond of equipment that includes the word "classic" in its title...

I hope this helps!

And also:

This is entirely written from memory but I hope it covers your questions.

Once Rupert had designed the 2262 as a plug-in replacement for the Pye compressor the circuit, which was a motherboard construction and totally different from the previous 225* limiter/compressors, became the "standard" for the limiter/compressors that followed. If you have a succesful product, in terms of circuit design and facilities, why change it?

The 2264 was the 2262 repackaged into a more useful 45mm (1073 style) format. The 33314 was the same circuit repackaged into 35mm (3114 style) format so that it could be included in 35 series broadcast consoles. In the case of this module, the meter had to be mounted remotely as the front panel was too narrow.

The 33609, I can attest because I was the given the task of creating it, was two BA475 motherboards from the 33314 mounted in a 19" x 2U box with the power supply from a 1777. So, you can see that the modules are all drivatives of the original 2262... there should be no substantial difference between the sound of any of them.

Modules with a /X suffix are an entirely different kettle of fish because they were designed to fit in USA bound CBS custom broadcast consoles which, unique to CBS as far as I recall, had to be able to drive a 150 ohm load albeit at lower level than regular +4dBu... I think it was -10 but it was 30 years ago and is straining the brain cells.

You can't plug those modules into a regular console and expect the levels/headroom to be the same. They didn't have the LO1173 output transformer fitted to the other modules that had an 8dB step up... from memory (that could be shaky at 30 years) I believe that they had the lower ratio 2.5dB step up similar to the ones fitted in 54 series consoles. The lower turns ratio enabled them to drive the 150 ohm load.

In order to make /X modules work the same as normal, you need to swap the transformer to the 1173 of which there are some for sale on another thread on this forum.

Anyway, I hope this helps!

[jimbob]

Anyone know which revision the UAD 33609 was modeled after?

It doesn't matter so much because it sounds so freakin' awesome but I am curious.

[jimbob]

Anyone know which revision the UAD 33609 was modeled after?

It doesn't matter so much because it sounds so freakin' awesome but I am curious.

i'll answer my own question. rev c

btw, uad 4.5.0 is out NOW! 1081!!!