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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison
- Thread starter chadhargis
- Start date
Good review.
I watched a yT vid of Melvin talking about it at NAMM and he said the EQ points were 35 or 40 hz or something for the Bass control and 8 or 10 khz for the treble which seemed completely ridiculous to me. After watching this I'm interested again.
The Drive sounds quite tasty which is a big plus. It's like what the drive should have been on the Tone Hammer. (don't get me started)
Great review. Now you know why scuba and I have been talking about it. His comments on the finish texture are so true! Lol.
I posted EQ response results here New bass preamp pedal from NUX.
- John
Don't forget there as a second amp model (and they promise more) which has a more classic EQ. It's named AGL so I'll let you guess what it's based on.
I posted EQ response results here New bass preamp pedal from NUX.
- John
I really like the NUX preamp.
Earlier in this thread I said this and took some jabs for it: The Nux is incredibly good for the price. It sounds great. I am enjoying mine and have been playing through it more than my Noble if that says anything. It has a ton of desirable features too.
Regarding the frequency points, what Melvin said in the NAMM videos regarding the bass sitting at 30 hz is not correct. Actual frequency points per the NUX website are the following:
Bass : +/- 12dB @40Hz
Middle : +/- 17dB @160Hz to 1000Hz
Freq. : 160Hz ~ 1000Hz
Treble : +/- 12dB @8000Hz
The software is not yet ready for prime time. Me and @JKos have been using it and I've been sending feedback via a high level contact at NUX. Multiple software versions have been released in the last several weeks but there are a few things left to address that NUX is working on. Once that is buttoned up this little pedal will make for a killer audio interface direct with USB to computer into whatever software you want. And you can use the pedal to push amp sims tones, different amps, and with or without the noise gate feature. Pretty cool.
Earlier in this thread I said this and took some jabs for it: The Nux is incredibly good for the price. It sounds great. I am enjoying mine and have been playing through it more than my Noble if that says anything. It has a ton of desirable features too.
Regarding the frequency points, what Melvin said in the NAMM videos regarding the bass sitting at 30 hz is not correct. Actual frequency points per the NUX website are the following:
Bass : +/- 12dB @40Hz
Middle : +/- 17dB @160Hz to 1000Hz
Freq. : 160Hz ~ 1000Hz
Treble : +/- 12dB @8000Hz
The software is not yet ready for prime time. Me and @JKos have been using it and I've been sending feedback via a high level contact at NUX. Multiple software versions have been released in the last several weeks but there are a few things left to address that NUX is working on. Once that is buttoned up this little pedal will make for a killer audio interface direct with USB to computer into whatever software you want. And you can use the pedal to push amp sims tones, different amps, and with or without the noise gate feature. Pretty cool.
This comment is what actually added the NuX to my G.A.S. list. And BassTheWorld's video elevated it a notch or two. Still thinking I want to explore tube preamps first, but this one is definitely on the radar.
5sg.
There's no doubt that little pedal is loaded with features for its price point and a good practice tool. But I doubt anyone here would seriously use it over the others that have had demo tracks posted in a live or studio setting. It was easily my least favorite when listening to the demos you done.
I want to say those eq points are about what Sadowsky uses I believe. That's a good sounding preamp.
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Just looked up the Sadowsky:
- Bass Control: + 18dB Boost @ 40Hz
- Treble Control: + 18dB Boost @ 4kHz
Looks the same as the latest Aguilar preamp pedal, which I believe mimics their onboard pre.
Here's a clip of the Noble and NUX. Both preamps are set flat which means dials all the way counterclockwise on the NOBLE and centered at noon on the NUX.
Sadowsky Jazz set flat with VTC at about 50%. Bass directly into each device DI out into board to Garageband.
Which segment is the Noble and which is the NUX?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Sadowsky Jazz set flat with VTC at about 50%. Bass directly into each device DI out into board to Garageband.
Which segment is the Noble and which is the NUX?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Hmmn.... I don't know. I sure hope to use it live as I just ordered one.... (provided your post was in reference to the Melvin Lee Davis DI)?
And FWIW, I've owned and used a Noble live for IEM work but did not fall in love with it...
I'm guessing first one is the Noble (totally uneducated btw) simply due to the rounded and fatter lows. The 2nd recording sounds a lot better to me though - really nice low mids and overall balance.
I don't know. Through ATH-M50x phones I like the second better because it sounds more balanced. But through AKG K 240 DF phones, I like the first one better because the mids sound clearer.
- John
I'd like to hear them both in a mix! 
I preferred the slightly more powerful low end and the less shimmery highs of the 1st sample.
I preferred the slightly more powerful low end and the less shimmery highs of the 1st sample.
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
Ooooh! I love this game!
I think the first clip is the Noble. But if the 2nd is the Nux, if you had boosted the lows and/or low mids ever so slightly, I think they would have almost been indistinguishable. (At least listening through my mediocre Saturn Ion car stereo, lol).
Which proves a point. Regardless of which of those two clips is the Nux, if you have a great bass and solid technique, running it through a mediocre preamp (at least as indicated only by the price and market share of the Nux) will still sound good. If you have a crap bass and/or lousy technique, running it through a $1,000 Noble would still sound like crap . . . but with really creamy lows.
Ok I don't know any of those two preamps but the first one has way more hiss so I hope that's the cheaper one 
The second seems to have a bit more resolution but that resolution sounds .. maybe a bit too clean to be honest ?
Could be a trick my brain plays on me since it's hearing more mids of course.
Difficult to say, the bass tone is also rather old school, I usually find modern tones with super-extended frequency range more revealing of differences in the signal chain.
The second seems to have a bit more resolution but that resolution sounds .. maybe a bit too clean to be honest ?
Could be a trick my brain plays on me since it's hearing more mids of course.
Difficult to say, the bass tone is also rather old school, I usually find modern tones with super-extended frequency range more revealing of differences in the signal chain.
Oh, good catch. I had to crank the treble on my headphone amp all the way up to even hear it, but there is definitely a difference. I bet the quieter one is the NuX.
- John
Regarding the NUX: Since the treble control works at 8K, would turning it either way even have much effect on the tone if you're playing thru a tweeterless cab that rolls off at 4k? How wide is the Q?
