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Good alternative to a Noble?

#61
Here’s the results of a shootout 10cc and I did back in 2017, before all the Noble craziness.
IMG_9778.jpeg

1. P-15
2. REDDI
3. JDI
4. Whirlwind
5. Noble

I think we sold the Noble for less than $800. We both still own and use our P-15s.

IMG_9779.jpeg
 
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#63
PWolverine said:
Only if you want a power supply that isn't isolated. IMHO it won't replace my Cioks, or even Voodoo Labs, as they are both isolated power supplies. Making it not-isolated, IMHO, is a big drawback as it means you are paying for a feature you possibly will never use.

From the Noble website:



The built in power supply for me is actually a drawback to the design. I much prefer having those components separate.
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If you are to the trouble, do it right. The Noble is good. But it's not better than other options that are much less
 
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#64
Kindness said:
Run a high quality preamp before the Radial JDI and you'll meet the same level of quality. Something as simple as the Broughton Audio SV-Pre into the JDI is exquisite.
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This right here for me too. Never owned a Noble and I'm sure they're great, but had a Reddi for some time when those were all the rage, and have been through a few others. These days I swear by passive bass>Xotic Bass RC>JDI and man, it gets me there, studio and live. I like that I can swap out a different pre before the JDI when called for (but it usually isn't--the RC is kinda my secret weapon).
 
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#65
PWolverine said:
I truly think there is a hell of a lot of confirmation bias going on when it comes to the noble. Loads of hype, long delay to get the product, and people not willing to admit that after all that money and time there are many other products that will do exactly the same thing for 1/4 of the price. Anyone listening in a mix won't know the difference. But after waiting 10+ months and dropping $1200-1500 bucks on a product, many people just can't come to the conclusion that the wait was for very little improvement - especially with all the new technology coming out regularly, some tube, some tube emulated - all get you there
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Admittedly, I have never played through a Noble, am unlikely to, nor do I particularly care, but I do imagine that it probably is as good as its price commands.
However, like how I feel about a 1200 watt amp, its excesses would be wasted on me. A Rolls Royce may be $200k nicer than a Mercedes, but I, a humble member of the proletariat, cannot imagine a need left unsatisfied by a mid-range Mercedes. Similarly, a Khan or a RedDI or any preamp or DI of that tier would already be above and beyond my needs. I can appreciate that the Noble may sound better, but I doubt that I would sound better with one.
 
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#66
I do kinda wonder how much the Nobel's form factor has contributed to it's popularity?

With the REDDI for instance, you have to be pretty committed to dragging that thing around and setting it up. With the Nobel, you can Velcro it to your pedalboard and pretty much forget about it, which is particularly good for the ampless crowd.
 
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#68
PWolverine said:
I truly think there is a hell of a lot of confirmation bias going on when it comes to the noble. Loads of hype, long delay to get the product, and people not willing to admit that after all that money and time there are many other products that will do exactly the same thing for 1/4 of the price. Anyone listening in a mix won't know the difference. But after waiting 10+ months and dropping $1200-1500 bucks on a product, many people just can't come to the conclusion that the wait was for very little improvement - especially with all the new technology coming out regularly, some tube, some tube emulated - all get you there.
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I was just thinking of when VHT came out with the Valvulator tube buffer. I bought one. I don't remember how much they cost, but they weren't cheap. $150, maybe, years ago, which is like $500, today? I played a bunch of gigs with it, before I finally admitted it made zero difference to my tone (which may have been because I have always played active basses), and I eventually sold it. I sure did feel fancy for awhile, though. :D
 
#69
Plus, I would also note that if a modern sound is what you are after, in my experience, you want a solid state amp or preamp. Tubes are great for vintage tone, but I've played a lot of tube gear, and none of it is as crisp as high quality solid-state. I used to run a rack system with three different preamps in it (and actually intended to have a fourth, but never got the SansAmp RBI).

I had:
A. SWR Interstellar Overdrive (blendable tube and solid-state preamps)
B. JoeMeek VC1Qcs studio channel strip (mic/inst preamp, optical compressor, extensive eq section)
C. Trace Elliot V-Type rackmount preamp

Mostly, I used the Stella's solid-state side with the JoeMeek's optical compressor, but every once in awhile, I would switch over to the V-Type, because that rack system actually replaced my V-Type tube head for a couple of years, and I sometimes missed that tone. But, the JoeMeek VC1Qcs on its own was a stellar bass guitar preamp in its own right, also fantastic for vocals. I truly regret selling that, but I was desperate for money at the time, and got $500 for it in mint condition, about 10-12 years ago.
 
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#76
J.Wolf said:
My Arkham Oracle sits nicely on my pedalboard with velcro and fits in the hard case, height-wise. Every now and again I get a wild hair for something like the noble but ultimately the Arkham does everything I needed to do and then some, in spades. Fat, tubey, gritty if you want it, and way more high voltage hifi tube tone than I've ever heard in another pedalboard pre.
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Jake,
Is yours “always on” or just when you are going ampless? I’m a bit new to the preamp pedal concept…
Thanks!
 

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