Electro-Harmonix NY-2A Stereo Tube Compressor

andrew · #1 07-27-2008, 02:14 PM

Does anyone here use the E-H NY-2A in your live rig or have you tried one?

andrew · #2 07-31-2008, 03:53 PM

Seems like that'd be a no....

fretlessman71 · #3 07-31-2008, 04:02 PM

I wasn't even aware that it existed. But I'm happy to bump the thread along; curious myself now.

One of the regular TBers has an extensive compressor review page on his website, but I'll be darned if I can remember who it might be. Maybe a helpful soul will happen by and post a link for ya.

bongomania · #4 07-31-2008, 04:05 PM

Yeah, they're pretty expensive, and studio engineers aren't used to paying that kind of money for something by EHX. I've seen a few posts about it over on Gearslutz, and those posts were favorable, but $2K can buy a lot of different comps that have more "elite" brand names that studios prefer.

fretlessman71 · #5 07-31-2008, 04:17 PM

Thanks, Bongo!

Andrew: THIS IS THE GUY I WAS TALKING ABOUT. Hope you find what you're looking for.

andrew · #6 07-31-2008, 10:40 PM

Thanks Cyrus. I emailed you about compressor pedals a few days back, but what compressors are you thinking of that have more "elite" names that studios prefer?

markjazzbassist · #7 07-31-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew

Thanks Cyrus. I emailed you about compressor pedals a few days back, but what compressors are you thinking of that have more "elite" names that studios prefer?

universal audio, urei, neve, manley, langevin, vintech.

bongomania · #8 07-31-2008, 11:22 PM

Well, the old original Urei LA2A and 1176 can be gotten for about the same price, and those are standards for all high-end studios. As far as modern brands, you'd be looking at Purple, Neve, API, Universal Audio, Empirical Labs, InnerTUBE, Crane Song, Ridge Farm, SSL, Daking, Chandler, Summit, Millennia, Buzz, Manley, Drawmer, etc.

TBH though I was stretching the facts a bit about the price point, as most of the "more desirable equivalents" to the NY-2A are actually priced closer to $3K (and up). However you can pick up an ADL 1500 for about the same price as the EHX. Also, one-channel units are less expensive than two-channel units.

If "tube" is not as important as "fat tone", however, there is a vast spectrum of FET, germanium, and ELOP two-channel comps right around the $2K mark. That's the direction a lot of budget-minded studios go, as you can pick up some insanely good "vintage" tones from those types of comp without the expense and bulk of the tube versions.

Anyway it does appear that the EHX is the "cheapest" of its kind on the market, by a few hundred $$ at least. So I guess it depends on how tight the budget is, and how important tubes are.

prsbass · #9 08-01-2008, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

Well, the old original Urei LA2A and 1176 can be gotten for about the same price, and those are standards for all high-end studios. As far as modern brands, you'd be looking at Universal Audio, Empirical Labs, ADL 1500

Of the ones I would like to try but haven't those are them.
I've always wanted to try one of these and sometimes they can be had for about $1000.
eBay auction

This might rule the world but I haven't tried one.
'nother auction

I know you have a preamp built in to what you use but once you tried this in front of you DB728 you might keep it.
Last one for this post

I have no affiliation with the links above.

markjazzbassist · #10 08-01-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prsbass

Of the ones I would like to try but haven't those are them.
I've always wanted to try one of these and sometimes they can be had for about $1000.
eBay auction

This might rule the world but I haven't tried one.
'nother auction

I know you have a preamp built in to what you use but once you tried this in front of you DB728 you might keep it.
Last one for this post

I have no affiliation with the links above.

great stuff. the UA LA-610 is a great unit. my best friend has one and it REALLY adds warmth, and the compressor is a great unit as well. I like most of the stuff UA makes, they've got a great thing going on.

SFjonstarr · #11 08-01-2008, 12:00 PM

The one that's been haunting me recently is the new Retro Instruments 176. It's supposed to give the punchiness of the 1176 with its tubes imparting the warmth and bigness of the La2A. It's pretty pricey at $3000 though.

bongomania · #12 08-01-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

great stuff. the UA LA-610 is a great unit. my best friend has one and it REALLY adds warmth, and the compressor is a great unit as well. I like most of the stuff UA makes, they've got a great thing going on.

When UA started reissuing the old Urei designs, naturally everyone started clamoring that the reissues were "nothing" in comparison to the originals. The originals had special components that are no longer available, plus the quality of the capacitors etc. used was different, plus "of course" UA must have cut corners in mass production, so there was really no comparison.

Then Purple and a few other companies made clones of the originals using NOS parts, or modern custom-made recreations of those parts, and people started saying that those were the ones to get- they would be obviously superior to the UA reissues due to having the rare components, and they would be more reliable than the originals.

Then a few months ago somebody on Gearslutz posted a blind listening test thread, with samples of identical pre-recorded tracks being run through an original Urei 1176, a Purple MC77, and a UA reissue 1176. When he finally revealed which track was which, it turned out most people preferred the UA.

I'll try to find that thread. It was instructive!

markjazzbassist · #13 08-01-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

When UA started reissuing the old Urei designs, naturally everyone started clamoring that the reissues were "nothing" in comparison to the originals. The originals had special components that are no longer available, plus the quality of the capacitors etc. used was different, plus "of course" UA must have cut corners in mass production, so there was really no comparison.

Then Purple and a few other companies made clones of the originals using NOS parts, or modern custom-made recreations of those parts, and people started saying that those were the ones to get- they would be obviously superior to the UA reissues due to having the rare components, and they would be more reliable than the originals.

Then a few months ago somebody on Gearslutz posted a blind listening test thread, with samples of identical pre-recorded tracks being run through an original Urei 1176, a Purple MC77, and a UA reissue 1176. When he finally revealed which track was which, it turned out most people preferred the UA.

I'll try to find that thread. It was instructive!

way cool bongo. i'd love that, i've been getting into the studio mic pre's and compressor's lately, during research and such trying to learn as much as i can.