The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[kkenda11]

Regarding the phase reversal on the Alix, it should make absolutely zero difference in how the sound is perceived unless you are blending it with something else.

I would be really surprised if the Alix is perturbing the signal in any way while performing a simple phase reversal.

And you don't hear the change in phase of a single channel — you only hear the difference in how that signal blends with other simultaneously playing waveforms.

Or maybe there's something I'm missing?

 

[scubaduba]

Regarding the phase reversal on the Alix, it should make absolutely zero difference in how the sound is perceived unless you are blending it with something else.

I would be really surprised if the Alix is perturbing the signal in any way while performing a simple phase reversal.

And you don't hear the change in phase of a single channel — you only hear the difference in how that signal blends with other simultaneously playing waveforms.

Or maybe there's something I'm missing?

That's what you would think, but there is obviously a difference when some devices are placed in front of the Alix. The difference between the phase position is noticeable when I place the Effectrode LA-1A in front of the Alix. If there is nothing in front of the Alix I cannot discern any difference with the phase switch in or out.

When I place a Cali76 CB in front of the Alix there is not audible difference (at least to my ear) with the phase switch in or out.

I'm going to try a few more compressors in front of the Alix such as my Lightning Boy Audio compressor (which also has tubes) to see if I get a similar response.

 

[uwrossl]

will be affected a lot more by string type than a Grace vs Nordstrand vs Trickfish etc

Agree...When you get to this level it's just different flavors of excellence and which one not only suits your tonal goals...but the one that plays best with your existing amp, bass, & effects etc. All the string testing I've done lately I have different favorites just by switching it up between my Aggie DB212 and Berg NV212 because the cabs are voiced so differently.

 

[kkenda11]

Yea, to be fair I should have prefaced everything I said with "in an ideal world".

I can't discount the possibility that something subtle is changing as a result of how the phase reverse interacts with circuitry in the Alix and the rest of your signal chain.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Go play and quit chasing tone. And I can say that as I have been a tone chasing, gear flipping, sell it before I even receive it person.

But the minutiae is why a lot of guys are here nerding out which is fun too, especially with more time on our hands!

Would the term "cork sniffing" apply here? lol Just to be clear, it's not a slight... I'm just getting into the preamp cork sniffing, but have definitely sniffed a lot of envelope filter corks. LOL (Yes there's a joke there too. Just trying to bring some humor to everyone's day! lol)

I'm looking forward to exploring preamps when I can. I didn't know I could have Preamp G.A.S. until this thread, and the "minutiae" has been enjoyable. Previous preamp experience has been somewhat limited. Started with the Sansamp BDDI and then several happy years between the Tone Hammer and Qstrip. Until this thread. Living vicariously through you all... for now!

Getting into the weeds has helped me decide that I probably want to try the Oracle over the SLO.

5sg.

 

[jacoby75]

That's what you would think, but there is obviously a difference when some devices are placed in front of the Alix. The difference between the phase position is noticeable when I place the Effectrode LA-1A in front of the Alix. If there is nothing in front of the Alix I cannot discern any difference with the phase switch in or out.

When I place a Cali76 CB in front of the Alix there is not audible difference (at least to my ear) with the phase switch in or out.

I'm going to try a few more compressors in front of the Alix such as my Lightning Boy Audio compressor (which also has tubes) to see if I get a similar response.

Maybe they're just calling it "phase," when in reality it is doing more, or something else entirely. Though that seems illogical.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Maybe they're just calling it "phase," when in reality it is doing more, or something else entirely. Though that seems illogical.

Maybe illogical, but I can get on board with that.

The difference in @scubaduba's samples was subtle for me as well, but I suspect there's more going on there than we realize from clips on the internet. Look at pedals like the EP Booster or TC Spark Mini. No one can really put a finger on what they're doing, but how many times have you heard a variation of "you just have to try one because it just does something to your sound." I think this might be one of those cases where the ALiX probably does something more substantial/noticeable in person.

5sg.

 

[MascisMan]

 

[uwrossl]

helped me decide that I probably want to try the Oracle

Same here. Hopefully by the end of the month but by June for sure. Just seems like it's got the vintage tubey gooeyness that is that last little bit I'm after. Drive/Compression/Octave/Envelope along with Amp and Basses and Cabs are all dialed in.

 

[shaggy45]

Noble in the classifieds. No affiliation.

 

[uwrossl]

Noble in the classifieds.

Looking to trade for an Oracle no less!

 

[Bassworship1]

Noble in the classifieds. No affiliation.

I've got a brand new one coming in 2 weeks cheaper than he's wanting for one 2 years old lol.

 

[shaggy45]

Looking to trade for an Oracle no less!

Oh how the mighty have fallen

 

[Bassworship1]

I've seen 2 people wanting to trade Oracles for a SLO in the last month. Silly to look at it like that.

 

[uwrossl]

Oh how the mighty have fallen

HAHA. I think the hard pill to swallow personally on the noble is that price tag. I've really liked them in the studios I've used them in but for personal use I can pick up an Oracle and an RNDI for less than a Noble and have more tonal options.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Same here. Hopefully by the end of the month but by June for sure. Just seems like it's got the vintage tubey gooeyness that is that last little bit I'm after.

That's indeed some of the minutiae I'm talking about. I think that vintage-ness would be pretty perfect in my main project.

I'm really trying to exercise restraint and wait a bit longer than June though. I'm finding it hard to even justify spending money on new strings at the moment, with no gigs in the foreseeable future.

5sg.

 

[Ryno1330]

HAHA. I think the hard pill to swallow personally on the noble is that price tag. I've really liked them in the studios I've used them in but for personal use I can pick up an Oracle and an RNDI for less than a Noble and have more tonal options.

Noble really did a great job with marketing and getting them into the right hands to grab a lot of market share. Adding in a power supply also helped differentiate it. There's no doubt performance to value can be bettered by many other options. Especially for $1,200 used which is ludicrous.

 

[Btbp]

the upper mids seem more pronounced in the first clip. More modern The second clip seems more of a vintage vibe and was my preference. More low middy.

This is how I heard it as well.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Please make sure you are using good earphones that are flat or neutral, not something emphasizing bass. iPhone earphones aren't going to cut it. I suspect the clips will sound nearly identical with iPhone earphones or most earbuds.

How about playing back the sound samples through a bass amp? Seems like that would give a more realistic representation of the sound one might obtain on a gig than a pair of headphones...

 

[1983L2000]

How about playing back the sound samples through a bass amp? Seems like that would give a more realistic representation of the sound one might obtain on a gig than a pair of headphones...

Yes, but... what preamp will you play the recording through?