Is the Avalon U5 the honda of DIs?

**IvanMike** · #1 07-14-2011, 03:59 AM

OK, you're thinking - what the hell does he mean?

Remember back before kids started putting loud mufflers on cars, and if you bought used the most reliable cars were things like toyota, nissan & honda - but hondas really held their value so you had to pay more for a used one?

I love the U5 - great unit - years ago I had the chance to A/B it as a preamp against a Demeter VTBP-201 1.5u preamp and they sounded darned similar (both really good).

So why is it that the U5 sells used for so close to the new price compared to myriads of other used (and high end) amps, preamps, etc. It's not like they're rare or hard to find new or used.

(Please god don't let kids start putting obnoxious mufflers on them)

kaputsport · #2 07-14-2011, 11:00 AM

Could be. Honestly, I listened to a U5, and an ISA One by Focusrite back to back. The ISA One was super clean, non coloring. Just made everything sweeter. I was shopping and noticed the U5, the M5 and all Avalon preamps were excessivly overpriced in the used market.

Hell, you could pick up the UA 610 that paramore ran through on their first album for under $400 on ebay, but a used U5 was closer to $800, even over a grand.

We ended up with the focusrite, and could not be happier.

enricogaletta · #3 07-14-2011, 01:15 PM

Nice thread man, well I think the more obvious answer is just because the U5 is became the standard class a di.
Just as you said for honda and toyota, they are still good also if they are older cars.
Probalby another reason can be because Avalon it was one of the main brand that started to make bigger productions compared to other ones of a class studio product, just like the fender jazz and precision are became the "4 strings" bass.
I'm not sure that this will be the right reasons but the things are that right now there are a lot of high class d.i., I have a u5 but I had the chance to use also Millenia TD1, Evil Twin and they are sound great too, nothing less, but as the same for other asian car company that they improved the car quality, so you can have a older mitubishi or hyunday as the same of honda or toyota people still think a older honda is better than mitsubishi, as well U5 betther than other.
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
WebSite

lullbass · #4 07-14-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enricogaletta

Nice thread man, well I think the more obvious answer is just because the U5 is became the standard class a di.
Just as you said for honda and toyota, they are still good also if they are older cars.
Probalby another reason can be because Avalon it was one of the main brand that started to make bigger productions compared to other ones of a class studio product, just like the fender jazz and precision are became the "4 strings" bass.
I'm not sure that this will be the right reasons but the things are that right now there are a lot of high class d.i., I have a u5 but I had the chance to use also Millenia TD1, Evil Twin and they are sound great too, nothing less, but as the same for other asian car company that they improved the car quality, so you can have a older mitubishi or hyunday as the same of honda or toyota people still think a older honda is better than mitsubishi, as well U5 betther than other.
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
WebSite

I purchased my AvalonU5 12 years ago after using one on a session. It was so clean and had such a warm tone that I had to have it. I've used it on every single recording session since. Including the bass tracks for GuitarHero, Rockband and KaraokeRevolution it is a great piece of gear !

**IvanMike** · #5 07-14-2011, 10:44 PM

It's a great unit - no questions. Still there are a ton around and IIRC the retail price has dropped.

doing a quick survey on the evil bay (and other retailers) I found that new units (doesn't matter if it's the super ugly black face 25th AV model, the blue light silver face, or the standard silver face) all go for $585 new. The single unit rack mount kit runs from $75 to $80, and the dual unit rack mount kit retails for about $100.

However, when a single rack kit is sold with a U5 together as a new unit, the price tends to be $640, not $665 (so you save 25 bucks).

Used on the bay they seem to sell for 380 avg in successful auctions - but the bay is always more expensive than here.

Looking back at the last 1 year of sales on TB most successful listings are from $400 to $425, and that's with the rack ears and shipping to the 48 included. That's 62.5% to 66.4% of the new price, (although the seller is eating the shipping) That's pretty darned good for a resale of an item that you can find any day of the week. (compare it with resale averages of alembic or demeter preamps, a lot of heads, etc)

bongomania · #6 07-14-2011, 10:55 PM

I think it's partly a self-fulfilling cycle: people buy them knowing they can flip them and not take much of a loss, so they are more likely to buy. Looking at a preamp/DI with less movement on the used market, people are less willing to risk taking a hit on resale, so they are less likely to buy in the first place.

**IvanMike** · #7 07-14-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I think it's partly a self-fulfilling cycle: people buy them knowing they can flip them and not take much of a loss, so they are more likely to buy. Looking at a preamp/DI with less movement on the used market, people are less willing to risk taking a hit on resale, so they are less likely to buy in the first place.

so they're the DI equivalent of an aguilar DB-750...

P. Bass · #8 07-14-2011, 10:59 PM

I've been using the U5 for recording & I find it to be the best tone purifier. It's pure class A, it's a discrete design, & it's built like an army tank. All the pros that are using it for concert DI can't all be wrong. If you read some of the online reviews it become apparent what I can't explain.
In Toronto it is currently selling for $615 new. Why would it be higher in the US ?
B.

godblender · #9 07-14-2011, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

Could be. Honestly, I listened to a U5, and an ISA One by Focusrite back to back. The ISA One was super clean, non coloring. Just made everything sweeter. I was shopping and noticed the U5, the M5 and all Avalon preamps were excessivly overpriced in the used market.

Hell, you could pick up the UA 610 that paramore ran through on their first album for under $400 on ebay, but a used U5 was closer to $800, even over a grand.

We ended up with the focusrite, and could not be happier.

Hmmm...I was just looking into the Focusrite unit myself. I've been doing a fairly half-arsed search for preamps for the last two months. I almost pulled the trigger on a FMR RNP last week. After checking the specs on the ISA though...it might be the one for me. Plus just from an aesthetic standpoint, it looks so damned great.

bongomania · #10 07-14-2011, 11:10 PM

I have the ISA One, and it is flat-out awesome for clean, articulate, "nice" tone. The form factor makes it awkward for live use, but then that's true of the U5 too. I use the ISA as my "reference" preamp when comparing different products.

RedLeg · #11 07-14-2011, 11:18 PM

I hadn't heard of the U5 till I got to my new unit and I saw that the bass rig was a U5 and a bergantino powered 1x12. Wow what a sound. I guess it is a great DI, but the preamp capabilities are awesome. every tone I need from EUB to 5string fretted.

Who needs tubes

bring on the flames

I guess to adress the initial question about used prices. It was a boutique flavor of the month that really had staying power.

P. Bass · #12 07-14-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedLeg

....I guess to adress the initial question about used prices. It was a boutique flavor of the month that really had staying power.

"Bass Player" mag wrote it up a couple years ago as well. Gave it some legs I would imagine.
B.

kaputsport · #13 07-15-2011, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I have the ISA One, and it is flat-out awesome for clean, articulate, "nice" tone. The form factor makes it awkward for live use, but then that's true of the U5 too. I use the ISA as my "reference" preamp when comparing different products.

Agreed. We coupled it with a Neumann TLM 102 mic, and it sounds so crisp and clean.

I love Avalon, but $389.99 shipped for a brand new ISA One is a price that cannot be beat.

SteveC · #14 07-23-2011, 09:18 PM

I have a friends sitting downstairs. I have had one in the past. I am debating buying this one. It just does something to the tone and sounds good both DI and to my little mini stack. It's hard to justify hauling it around, but it sounds amazing.

I drive an Odyssey and my wife drives an Accord. Maybe that has something to do with it.