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ANT W695b, anyone know who can rack these up for me?

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:40 am
by heathen
Hey everyone, I just bought these on ebay and was wondering who would be the best tech to rack them for me? I've found racks in Germany which will house them but they are bloody expensive racks though very good quality and the modules will fit straight in. Though the cases are 600 euro.

Can anyone recommend somebody to do this?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0233188846

Cheers
Heath

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:54 am
by chris p
.......Kkkkrrrttt .... Ah, this is Houston Ground Control calling Rob Squire, Howard Jones, Gunter Wagner, Joe Malone, Howard Jones .... is there anybody out there? Over .......

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:54 am
by TimS
Rob Squire might do them - he does a lot of reracking.
Joe Malone does it too..
No harm in asking them - both guys will do a superb job regardless..

They look sweet too Heath..

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 12:07 pm
by heathen
Yeah they sure do, they hav'nt even been used before, should be a relatively simple job I guess as they share the same dimensions and specs as other similar units. Can't wait to get them up and running and see what they are like, all in good time though.

I'll call around when they arrive.

Cheers

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 5:42 pm
by rick
rob would be your guy for them , but i bet they are the same width as your 500 series gear, and would run on the same volts , just a matter of a filler plate of some kind ( maybe a bypass switch ) and if your really lucky the right depth at the back for the plugs and.....

yeah now i got you thinking ...., but it just maybe be cheaper to rack them side by side in a 1 unit rack, they should be the same specs as the nuemann version of the same eq which are excellent eqs

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:27 pm
by heathen
Hey thanks Rick, I will try calling Rob when they arrive, I thought I was making a good purchase, glad you think they are excellent eq's, can't wait to run some sounds through them.

Yeah I was thinking a 19" rack would be the go, but they would look pretty good in a nice wooden lunchbox too, but yeah a 1 u rack would probably be more practical.

Cheers

PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2008 7:11 pm
by rob
i've a funny feeling that i've racked some of these in the past...but can't find any photos to verify this

different volts to 500 series rack, so no chance to slip one into these

i think the width of these is 40mm which makes putting them into a 1U case ( 44mm ) difficult, but not necessarily impossible

Rob

PostPosted: Sat May 17, 2008 7:41 pm
by heathen
Hey Rob, yes your right, dimensions are 40/95/117mm and the nominal operating voltage is 24vDC. If you can do the job I'll get you to do it for sure, if you don't mind of course?

I found some racks in Germany but I'd rather get you to do it so you can test them also and make sure they are in top working condition.

I've got a manual in pdf format which has all the connector pin info and other specs and they seller said he had other documentation also.

If you think they would be better sitting in a 2u rack that would be fine.

When they arrive I'll give you call, hopefully should be early next week. I'm keen to get these up and running as I've been reading some really good things about them. Got em for a bargain too.

Cheers
Heath

PostPosted: Mon May 26, 2008 11:24 am
by heathen
Yay, they arrived safe and sound, look like they were made yesterday, no rust on the panels they are as shiny as a mirror, these are still brand new. Got some weight to them as well, pretty cluttered front panel but hey thats no prob. Consecutive serials too.

Hmmmm this could be the start of a reasonably expensive addiction to vintage German audio gear.

Keen to get them racked now.

PostPosted: Mon May 26, 2008 12:40 pm
by heathen
Image

PostPosted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:53 pm
by heathen
rick wrote:yeah now i got you thinking ...., but it just maybe be cheaper to rack them side by side in a 1 unit rack, they should be the same specs as the nuemann version of the same eq which are excellent eqs


All done and yep they sound great and in a 1u rack, Rob did a really nice job on them (thanks again Rob), can't wait to get the others I bought racked up now which are a pair of Lawo w995-10, hope they are good eq's also, very similar looking to the ANT's but with hp/lp filters as well.

These little ANT units are as punchy as hell in the bottom end, slightly coloured and very precise sounding though still warm and slightly thick sounding, all round very nice. I'm happy.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:47 am
by jkhuri44
All done and yep they sound great



he's right, he's not deaf, or anything, or lying...hahaha...processing the bass of one of my tracks through those today...Dayam....very niiiiiice.


:)

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:00 am
by Bent my VU
How are the 2dB steps?

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:49 am
by heathen
jkhuri44 wrote:
All done and yep they sound great



he's right, he's not deaf, or anything, or lying...hahaha...processing the bass of one of my tracks through those today...Dayam....very niiiiiice.


:)


Not deaf yet, heh.

Yeah the 2db steps are no big deal though yeah in the end I probably will get the gains modded for 1 db steps, but not this year, Gotta get the others racked first then I'll probably get them all done at once.

Gotta master an ep today, so that will be a good test for them.

Hmm they play very nicely with the Avalon eq.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:34 pm
by TimS
C'mon Heath - some porno shots PLZ!!!!
Waiting, waiting.....

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:13 pm
by heathen
Image

There ya go, came up well hey, though the modules are so small I'm gonna need glasses to read the settings, ummm bugger that my ears get better the worse my eyes get. :)

These are some others I'm waiting for, hopefully they should be here next week.

Image

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:28 pm
by Bent my VU
Very nice!

PostPosted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:32 pm
by TimS
oh yeah baby!! schweet!!
Oh Peter, no german porn commments either!! ;-}

Heath, they look fab.. Rob's excellent handywork too..
Tim..

PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 9:11 am
by heathen
Thanks guys yeah I really dig these units, Rob did a superb job at a very reasonable price.

They are heavy little beasts as well, lucky I forget to ask for a stein holder and a big pair of funbags attached to it, woulda been way to heavy.

One thing about the Germans is they know how to build things right, I've been pleased with just about everything in my life which has been manufactured there. Thier broadcast rules are as strict as thier beer making rules.

Hope the Lawo's are as good as the ANT's, I was pretty keen on them because they have the hp/lp filters as well.

I guess buying this older gear is a hit and miss affair, the reason I bought the ANT's was because they had never been used/abused, but I guess even if they need recapping or other easy repairs they'd still be worth it.

Oh yeah, they sounded great on the job I did yesterday, they added a really cool vibe, bloody nice bottom end and bit of a slightly bitey midrange but not real harsh at all added a nice presence in the midrange for sure. The mixes were all digital soft synths, samples and the like, edgy electro type stuff, so yeah they really nailed it, brought it to life.

I'm going to collect a few more pairs of units and see how they go, should be a few real gems.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:17 pm
by Luke Garfield
Ahh very nice indeed. I had considered buying some neumann or telefunken EQ years ago.

Actually not that I was planning to make this matter a public post but when Heath mentioned taking a risk with buying old gear I thought I would share my tale.

few years back bought some TAB 376's originally 2 but ended up with 4 but I'm certainly not complaining. Finally got them racked by a mate who did a good job but .. anyhow got some good use out of them. Put them in a flight case to get over here to the states in July last year and I haven't used them since..

They got very miss handled in the "fragile objects" section of baggage and I went to fire them up (on a job too - let that be a lesson to me - one I had bloody already learnt too) and nothing. Put them into the shop and knew there was a bit of a wait - 5 MONTHS LATER I get a quote of $1050 to recap the 4 units - $95 an hour. Anyway I have just been telling my tale of woe to Rob who (as always) has been very helpful and told me that that price is quite steep.

Anyhow that was the news today and I'm still in shock... I'm not even going to start to go into the tale about my 2 LOMO 19a9's

BUT - very glad to see Rob's awesome work and a very inspired and satisfied Heath. Good stuff.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 2:34 pm
by heathen
Hey Luke, bummer about the mishandling of your gear I think they look for the fragile signs for stuff to drop, I reckon you could maybe get them done a bit cheaper, but you have to ask yourself if it's worth it or not, I think if they are great units then it probably is worth it, $250 a unit isn't too bad, maybe just get 2 at a time done.

How did they sound, I've been seeing lots for sale?

Yeah I'm only looking for units in good condition though I'm sure I'm bound to come across something thats buggered, hope not.

I've got an ANT v676 solid state pre on the way, hope it's in good condition, will need phantom power installed too.

The way I see it is if I just buy pairs of things, get them racked and make sure they work well, then if anything dodgy comes it won't leave me broke fixing it.

I'm mainly after eq's though I think, atm though I'm pretty sure I want to get one of the Mercury m76 pre's, they are very nice.

2 or three more good pairs of eq's for cheap and I'll be happy.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:50 pm
by TimS
Luke's story is like the opening scene in Ace Ventura, Pet Detective!!
The UPS dude!! YIKES!!!!

PostPosted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:10 pm
by rob
If only you'd asked for a pair of funbags before i did the racking i could have included them at only a small additional cost.....oh well, next time

although i doubt i could have squeezed them into the 1U case

Rob

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:52 am
by Luke Garfield
I think your right Heath - I might try two at a time.

As far as sound goes I think they sound API-ish (whatever that really means). Regardless I am missing them and would like them back asap. I am exploring other options..

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:05 am
by heathen
rob wrote:If only you'd asked for a pair of funbags before i did the racking i could have included them at only a small additional cost.....oh well, next time

although i doubt i could have squeezed them into the 1U case

Rob


Yeah not the size I like anyway, heh. Have to think about a 4u case next time. :)

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 9:15 am
by heathen
Luke Garfield wrote:I think your right Heath - I might try two at a time.

As far as sound goes I think they sound API-ish (whatever that really means). Regardless I am missing them and would like them back asap. I am exploring other options..


Yeah if you miss them get them fixed, you'll feel heaps better. They are worth a fair bit too racked, I can only see them rising in value. Once they are fixed and tested they should give you no trouble you'd think.

Would'nt mind getting a pair of those myself eventually too.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:27 pm
by heathen
Latest arrival, only problem is now I need another 1.

Image

PostPosted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:27 pm
by TimS
Bastard!! ;-}
You have a secret stash somewhere, don't you Heath?
I'm gassing for a pair of B & B Audio EQF-1 at the moment..
Trying to find a schematic for Rob so he can mod the pinouts to a standard API lunchbox..
Tim..

PostPosted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:37 pm
by rick
ok i guess the time is now, i have had all the german stuff i will ever need
so here goes ....

umm ....err.. why dont you all look on
german ebay !
ebay.de
forget the fact that you cannot speak german we can all speak neumann

typei neumann into it once a week and see what gives

every german broadcast mic pre and eq and comp
will flash up before your eyes and sane prices happen about every two weeks. most guys will ship worlwide but the listing just dont make it to the usa ebay unless they are in english .
over the years i have done very well but i have moved on to even more curious places to look for things so get in while you can still afford to


and to anybody that did not know about german ebay , i apoligise in advance its going to take up lots of your time and its going to cost you next weeks rent
its just like ebay in the good old days

PostPosted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:56 pm
by jkhuri44
and to anybody that did not know about german ebay , i apoligise in advance its going to take up lots of your time and its going to cost you next weeks rent
its just like ebay in the good old days



have fun boys....

*tosses last piece of chip to hungry seagulls...