Avalon U5 question

[jock]

Thanks!
Im on the hunt for either that Summit or a GT Brick. I found a great review of that here:
http://recording.org/reviews-27.html

 

[Joe P]

I've used it as a bass preamp in my home only, but as a DI live. As a bass preamp, it is very neutral and uncolored. I like that it has adjustable input impedance, so you can dial in a great tone for either magnetic or piezo pickups...

This is very interesting to me. Could you elaborate on that a bit?

I mean when you say 'piezo', do you mean RAW piezos? In that case I know that you need a very high input-Z, but I can't imagine a piezo-equipped bass without an onboard buffer!

What's really on my mind, though, is this: Can it make a passive pickup system sound better to intentionally 'load it down'? Now I know that the tone and volume circuits load-down passive pups on passive basses...

Ahh! I guess this should really be for another thread.

I'll hit the 'submit' button anyway!

Joe

 

[tombowlus]

This is very interesting to me. Could you elaborate on that a bit?

I mean when you say 'piezo', do you mean RAW piezos? In that case I know that you need a very high input-Z, but I can't imagine a piezo-equipped bass without an onboard buffer!

What's really on my mind, though, is this: Can it make a passive pickup system sound better to intentionally 'load it down'? Now I know that the tone and volume circuits load-down passive pups on passive basses...

Ahh! I guess this should really be for another thread.

I'll hit the 'submit' button anyway!

Joe

Well, as this is definitely one of the viable alternatives to the U5 (IMHO, at least), I would think that this is on-topic.

The loading control does let you control the "loading" or impedance of the instrument input, and it is variable from 10K ohms to 2M ohms. Ideally, it's to match the impedance of your instrument, but it also works as a kind of tone control. As for piezo's, I was referring to piezo pickups in acoustic instruments. For instance, my Barbera Bridge Transducer on my Kay has an impedance that actually surpasses 2M ohm, I believe, but it sounds great through the TD-100 at its highest setting (and certainly better than at the lower settings).

And FWIW, on magnetic pickup instruments (most electric basses), I find that the loading control does in fact have a more audible tonal impact upon passive instruments than it does upon active instruments.

Hope this helps, Tom.

 

[jokerjkny]

hmm... i think we maybe losing focus here.

if KOA likes the sound of the U5, then i doubt these basscentric pre's are what's desired here. heck, we buy alot of these bass preamps like my beloved Kern, so they can impart some of their sonic goodness to our tones.

and, while not nearly as flat or as neutral as most other studio grade gear, compared to these basscentric pre's, i think most guys/gals will agree that the U5 is still a shelf above in terms of the neutral sound.

so, for more affordable audiophile preamps that do both the pristine clear uncolored sound, and are highly flexible literal "channel strips" w/ uber flexible EQ's w/ parametric options, here are some suggestions:

i.e. the Presonus Eureka. terrific EQ section w/ a smooth compressor section all in one. i liked mine alot, but had to let it go for GAS in other areas. but i'm always strolling thru Ebay for a good deal on one.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

another great setup that i've been eyeing myself is the Speck combo made up of they're MicPre 5.0 and ASC EQ. if i'm not mistaken, a few guys were planning on getting this setup for their "anthony jackson" wannabe rigs, which i'm a proud member of.

Link Removed

and try this thread for some more ideas.

 

[61pollmann]

I recently replaced my Eden WT-400 with a U5 / QSC2402 rig. It's like heaven with either my Modulus Quantum 5 or Lakland 5. I'm driving a pair of Bergantino 112's. The problem comes when I try to use the same rig with my Pollmann double bass. Bass piezos are notoriously unflat in their response, and I find that I really need more eq than I get with the U5. The U5's presets are very musical as long as you're feeding it a sonically accurate signal. I'm hoping to try out the Avalon 737 soon. Hopefully that will give me the eq options I need for double bass. I hate paying for the compressor because I never use it. I may also try the Millennia since it costs about the same as the Avalon. I did try adding a Presonus 3 band parametric eq, but it really degraded the sound.

 

[jetsetvet]

so, for more affordable audiophile preamps that do both the pristine clear uncolored sound, and are highly flexible literal "channel strips" w/ uber flexible EQ's w/ parametric options, here are some suggestions:

i.e. the Presonus Eureka. terrific EQ section w/ a smooth compressor section all in one. i liked mine alot, but had to let it go for GAS in other areas. but i'm always strolling thru Ebay for a good deal on one.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

another great setup that i've been eyeing myself is the Speck combo made up of they're MicPre 5.0 and ASC EQ. if i'm not mistaken, a few guys were planning on getting this setup for their "anthony jackson" wannabe rigs, which i'm a proud member of.

Link Removed

and try this thread for some more ideas.

I have been intriqued by what is offered in the Presonus Eureka as well......sort of a "Swiss Army knife" of a thing. I also have come across another similar sort of unit that uses a tube for its compressor/preamp and I wonder how it stacks up by comparison with the Presonus.

Does anyone have any experience with/knowledge of the MindPrint EN-VOICE MK II tube preamp ?

see: Link Removed

http://www.mindprint.de/files/manuals/EnVoice_MK_II_Manual_engl.pdf

 

[tombowlus]

I was going to add the Eureka to my preamp list as well, but as mine went into my PA rig (mostly for vocals) right after I picked it up, I really haven't been able to try it on bass, so I didn't have any basis for recommending it for a bass preamp. But, I will vouch for its quality, features, and uncolored tone. I do believe that it would be a good bass preamp, especially if you're looking for an uncolored preamp, but I haven't had any direct experience using it as such.

Tom.

 

[jokerjkny]

I have been intriqued by what is offered in the Presonus Eureka as well......sort of a "Swiss Army knife" of a thing. I also have come across another similar sort of unit that uses a tube for its compressor/preamp and I wonder how it stacks up by comparison with the Presonus.

Does anyone have any experience with/knowledge of the MindPrint EN-VOICE MK II tube preamp ?

see: Link Removed

http://www.mindprint.de/files/manuals/EnVoice_MK_II_Manual_engl.pdf

man, i'm sooooooooo GAS'ed to try that sucker. the red really gets me. hehe...

cmon, it got the "kays" award!

 

[jetsetvet]

man, i'm sooooooooo GAS'ed to try that sucker. the red really gets me. hehe...

cmon, it got the "kays" award!

Actually, you are showing a picture of the older model. The newer one looks even more cool.......but.....really....how does this sound and how useful are the controls, EQ, Compressor settings etc., especially by comparison with the Presonus Eureka ? Anybody.....anybody?