Read Purity vs. ???

[Dallyd31]

Can anyone comment on the sound of the Read Purity and compare it to other preamps ??? I have listened to the samples at basstasters, but it is sometimes had to get a good idea from that.

Sounds like it has that tubey warmth with some real growl and punch.......great for rock, classic rock and some blues. Would this be correct ??

 

[Hollow Man]

Sounds like it has that tubey warmth with some real growl and punch.......great for rock, classic rock and some blues. Would this be correct ??

Yes. I'm convinced that there's nothing this preamp can't do well.

 

[jokerjkny]

the Read to me is that more grunty demeter VTBP that shoulda been, OR its the ampeg w/ waaay more hifi flavor that ampeg could never do.

terrific pre that's definitely a big fav 'round these parts.

 

[porteous]

Before you get too involved in this comparison, realize that the Read preamp is only available used, and you probably will have trouble finding a used one at that. I tried to buy one a few months ago, and found the Readcustom website was off-line, and a few calls to his phone number were not returned. I suspect he has retired...

My advice to to try the Ampeg SVPCL preamp. Very clean, warm, and tubey. That's what I ended up with...

 

[SFjonstarr]

The Kern Ip-777 is going to be avalible in the next couple of months. I think it kills the Ampeg and the Demeter FWIW... Never tried the Read though.

 

[Iridescentone]

I had a Purity built for me a couple years ago. Very nice.

I compared it to my old 201 for weeks on end. I also popped different vint tubes in and out of it.

The impression I came away with was that while the Purity is an excellent preamp, it could not quite match the sonic "purity" of the Demeter.

The 201 has zero "flab" to my ears, while I found myself often wanting to mop up after the Purity a little bit on the low freqs. Still, a truly fine sounding pre, and very nicely built.

One thing the Purity has, that I wish the 201 had, is rear loading tube sockets. Great for tweakers like me, always changing valves. The Demeter scares the crap outta me every time the PCB starts flexing. One day, I know I'm going to crack that darn board in there.

 

[Dallyd31]

I hear the Demeter as more hi-fi and less grungy and less grunt than the Read. I like the Read because is it less hi-fi

Is the Kern IP-777 not available now ??? It's on the website

 

[porteous]

Les Plopa stopped making the Kern IP-777. the website hasn't been updated in years. I called Flynn music (the sole distributor) and they said they had backordred over 50 of them, but hadn't seen a new one come in in 2 years.

 

[Fuzzbass]

The impression I came away with was that while the Purity is an excellent preamp, it could not quite match the sonic "purity" of the Demeter.

The 201 has zero "flab" to my ears, while I found myself often wanting to mop up after the Purity a little bit on the low freqs. Still, a truly fine sounding pre, and very nicely built.

Flip side of the coin: some feel that the Demeter is too clean, i.e. not warm or tubey enough. Different ways of saying the same thing!

As usual, the bottom line is what you're looking for from a preamp. I bought the Purity and compared it to the Alembic F2B that I'd loved for 20-odd years. I kept the Purity and sold the Alembic. I felt that the Purity delivered the tubey shimmer and phatness of the F2B, but with better versatility in its EQ and features.

I hit a bad money crunch early this year and almost sold my Purity along with some other gear. I'm so relieved that I didn't!

 

[FroggyOne2]

Well Dallyd31, if you are interested in one.. there is one for sale right here on TB.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=258156

 

[Fran Diaz]

The Read has been my preamp for more than 2 years.
I wrote this review some time ago:
Contruction: Solid, elegant, functional. The pots feel so solid and smooth...ready for the road.

Electronics: I'd like to open the cover and check the cavity, but I don't want to void the warranty (5 years) so all I can say is that the noise is non existent both throught the output that goes to the power amp and through the DI.

Tone: You put your ear close to your bass and play it unplugged, then you plug the bass and play... that's what you hear, the tone is warm and deep but there is no coloration, hard to explain in words. I have the eq bypassed all the time, you get almost the same tone With the eq engaged and the controls set flat but with the eq bypassed the sound is more...alive I'd say.
The emphasis knob is a must now that I have it...you want growl? turn it up to taste, your tone will cut through a wall of guitars like a knife through warm butter.
The eq section is very well voiced. The boost only bass can make the bass rumble, but the lows are not boomy, the low mids can thicken the tone nicely and the tone with the high mids boosted remind me of the Aguilar tone (I don't have my old DB659 to A/B, so this is a very subjetive feeling). The highs can be turned up and never get harsh, but I'm not the best to talk about highs since I usually set them flat or turn them down. The deep and bright switchs are great. Turn both on and slap happy. You want instant bottom, use the deep sw. only.
I've recorded a couple of tracks using the DI and the tone is warm and defined. love it.

 

[SFjonstarr]

Les Plopa stopped making the Kern IP-777. the website hasn't been updated in years. I called Flynn music (the sole distributor) and they said they had backordred over 50 of them, but hadn't seen a new one come in in 2 years.

I talked to Les about a week ago, as I was having a problem with my well used wall wart adaptor, and hes going to be releasing a new version with a new custom built internal power supply. He said that he's been able to bring down the noise level even further. He said that they're going to be a little bit more expensive, but they're going to have the same high build quality and attention to detail.