Quad Eight AM-10 preamps -AGAIN!

[rob]

chaps..
I have taken some Quad Eight AM-10 amplifier modules and output transformers and cobbled them together into a 2 channel preamp. Usual facilities, phantom, pad, phase, high Z instrument input and VU meters.
These preamps follow the classic straightahead topology as used in API preamps and certainly as used by Quad Eight in the Coronado series. 60dB max gain, buckets of headroom ~ +30dBu out and low noise, freq response flat out to 70kHz.

AM-10 front.jpg

AM-10 close.jpg

all yours for $1,600

[The Tasmanian]

I know very well how good these guys sound - the top end is so open and alive on these pre's .

[rob]

yes chaps I have another unit ready to go exactly the same as the first one listed.

This unit is all yours for $1,300

coming soon will be a pair of Auditronics 110A modules ....

[mylesgm]

Lets see the inside...

[The Tasmanian]

Myles - your a perv!

[rob]

here he is with his top off!

enjoy

AM-10_inside.jpg

[jkhuri44]

.... nice rack.

*sorry...i'll get my coat.

[The Tasmanian]

There's something about those output transformers - they certainly have a sound.
Ive had people try to do AM10 mic pre's without them - even using earlier Q8 ones /MCI /Neve ones... and they all ask why dont mine sound as good as your ones?
The only diff is the output transformers.
Gold!

[rob]

yeah ... there is something going on there ... they are 1:2 step up transformers, coupled with the 56V rails the amp modules run off they spit out over +32dBu. More importantly than that, they are flat to over 100kHz. Certainly these are one of a few transformer based preamps that have this incredibly extended high frequency response.
The topology of the preamp is identical to the API so they certainly share the API characteristic but I reckon the transformers are better and are certainly less strained than the APIs.

[mylesgm]

The Tx's look like jensens, correct?

[ChrisW]

I'm using Q8's (thanks Rob) alongside API 512's and the Q8's sound bigger, fatter.
Both sound good, but the API's are tighter, more restrained.
Mind you I'm doing synths and stereo buss summing mostly, not using mics very often.

[Bent my VU]

How quiet are the Quad Eights, similar to the API 512's as far as noise goes?

[rob]

yep, around -125dB EIN. ie with a gain of 60dB the noise floor is -65dBu unweighted

Rob

[ChrisW]

In my studio, Q8's are as quiet as API.

[The Tasmanian]

I used 28 of them for 17 years at BJB - many many times over the years people brought in Neve 1073's/ API's etc thinking that the Q8's would lack in some way - but to everyone's surprise, the Q8's sounded much more open in the top end than anything.
Not a subtle difference either!
Especially on drums/guitars etc - so vibey/nothing even comes close.
Made the Neve's sound dull and boring.
I still liked them more than the older Q8s too - its when Q8 reached the pinnacle of their designs.
Of course the Neve EQ is much better - hands down - but these pre's/and line amps are the bomb for an open vibey top end.

[tunetown]

I'm a recent convert to the Q8 pre's. I usually track through 1073 or API, but more recently I bought the Star Wars triplet off Kristian (RIP) and been tracking bass, acoustic and electric guitars through it. I really like it. Especially the bass recorded with a CS-1 mic in front of an old B15n and purple MC77. Sounds amazing with very little to no eq. Just sits beautifully.

Whilst I wont get rid of the other stuff the QA's are awesome.