Pick a pre???????????

[bantam]

Hello all,

I have a choice to make RE pre's....

I currently have an APHEX 207 and I need two more channels for overheads (tape op minis) mainly.
I want decent cymbal sound and mainly good toms sound cause i have no dedicated tom mics

my choices are...

(2) bellari mp105s w mod ala blacklion 100
another aphex 207 (would this sould weak to have 4 channels of 207)? 250
mackie 1202 (non vlz non pro) already have this but would have to sell...

did i miss any obvious sub 300 choices?

this choice is driving me mad.

thanks

[awolski]

How about selling the Mackie, going a little higher in budget, and getting the 2-channel FMR RNP (more like $475)? It will be totally different sounding than what you already have.

Or at the really cheap level there is the Studio Projects VTB-1 ($125). I don't know of any mod for it but it has the usual input/output metering, phantom, phase reverse, line in, plus some features not often seen on a budget pre - switchable impedence (which I never use, but if you wanted to run an old ribbon through it or something it's there) and an insert jack.

[Red Rockets Glare]

I second the Studio Projects VTB-1 suggestion, I have one and really love it. It is a lot of fun to use on a room mic for drums to get some great distortion sounds, and in the non-tube setting it is clean and clear.
Good PRE for the cash.

[awolski]

That's a good point. You can get some nice trashy clipping out of the VTB-1 as opposed to, say, the ART tube mp which just kind of sounds like ass when clipping.

[bantam]

so you guys would go with two vtb-1s ($200) over a second aphex 107 ($250) for overheads? (tape op minis)

my first aphex 107 is for kick/snare and others (guitar,bass,etc)

thanks for the advice,
this is my last purchase for a while so i want to make it a good one.

[Jaws of Hell]

maybe a presonus MP20?

[dynomike]

www.goeasygo.com

Preamp listening tests by fellow tapeoppers. I found them very helpful.

Depends on the sound you're going for, I guess, take a listen!

[mjau]

JoeMeek VC3q...can be had for about $150 on ebay, so two for $300 or so. Definitely colored, definitely a one trick pony, but might be what you want. And they make good bass di's, too.

[Jaws of Hell]

For $50 more I find the new ThreeQ to be much more useful (and still pretty colored).

[flanneljammies]

Howzabout a M-Audio DMP3?

[bantam]

i have the delta 44 and i like that but i've never heard anyone praise (sounds better than it costs) the dmp3? whats it like.... tube ,ss?

seems like everyone goes crazy over the RNP. With all the good feedback, if i have 500 id get one...but i don't so i have to try to get something that sounds close