WTB - Telefunken V72 or similar

[rowmat]

I'm looking for a preamp in the Telefunken V72/V76 style (though probably not a V76 due to their current prices!)

We have a Flea 47 and Neumann U77 as our main LDC's along with a number of ribbons, AEA R84, Rode NTR's (actually very good).

The Neumann U77 is especially detailed and can be a little too microscopic with a clean preamp.
We have the following selection of pres, Heritage Audio 8173's, Neve 3114, SCA N72's (Neve 1290), SCA J99's (Hardy Twin Servo'ish), SCA C84 (Millenia), CAPI VP28's (API'ish), plus an AEA RPQ.

In the valve department we have a Sebatron Axis 200VU valve pre which is very clean for a valve pre and also a UA 610 MKII which I find rather 'woolly' and not reminiscent of any recordings I've heard that were supposed to have been tracked through an original UA 610 console.

If possible I'd like to try a V72/V76 out before I purchase one.
Does anyone know where in Melbourne I could hire one or a studio to try one out with a couple of our mikes for an hour or so?

Cheers Rowan

[gigpiglet]

hi rowan
just and FYI on your UA (and why you dont like it)
the mk1 was great... proper piece of kit, sounds lovely, lots of people use them
the mk2... was... well.. not the same.
take the top off and have a look.
totally different bit of kit - shouldnt have the same name/ numbers at all.

[rowmat]

The UA 610 MKII belongs to a friend and when I first tried it out about 18 months ago I really wanted to like it but figured something must have been wrong with it. I first thought maybe the valves were sick.
I checked many online reviews and although most were good several seemed to parallel with my experience.

Then I found this...
http://www.foxaudioresearch.ca/LA610.htm

If UA's MKII standard valve choice was so wrong then what did UA think they were doing?
It doesn't makes sense.

Unless they were attempting to convince people that 'woolly' = 'vintage' and, if so, it appears UA quite literally 'pulled the wool' over people's ears with the MKII.

However I didn't notice our unmodified UA 610 MKII displayed any brightness as referred to in the above article.
To my ears it sounded somewhat murky and lacking in focus and switching in the compressor just made it kind of 'choked' even with relatively small amounts of gain reduction.

Plugging a bass into the MKII's DI input and experimenting with the compressor has never given me a sound I like.
As soon as the compressor begins to grab you can hear it. If the pre is 'woolly' I would describe the compressor action as 'rubbery'.

The JLM500A Opto compressor produces far nicer results than the compressor in the MKII.

Our MKII has had very little use and would be surprised if the valves are shot.
I'm also somewhat dubious that replacing the valves with different versions will magically turn the MKII into a 'genuine' 610.

The MKII may look great but I would actually rate our MKII as by far the worst sounding preamp we have.

However maybe there is something wrong with it but I'm reluctant to spend time on it without any schematics which it seems UA don't make available.

Before I give up on it I'll stick a CRO on it and see if I can find anything.

I have to say I'm becoming more wary of manufacturers reissuing products they say are accurate recreations of the originals when they are obviously not.

hi rowan
just and FYI on your UA (and why you dont like it)
the mk1 was great... proper piece of kit, sounds lovely, lots of people use them
the mk2... was... well.. not the same.
take the top off and have a look.
totally different bit of kit - shouldnt have the same name/ numbers at all.

[gigpiglet]

to be clear - im not talking vintage vs re-issue
i mean reissue Mk1 vs reissue Mk2

[gigpiglet]

scroll down this one and look at the photos of the insides

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much ... -mkii.html

[rowmat]

Yes I figured you meant the re-issue MK1.
Releasing schematics of both the MK1 and MK2 would end the debate but I can't see UA doing that.
Not sure what the guys that like the MK2 are hearing?

to be clear - im not talking vintage vs re-issue
i mean reissue Mk1 vs reissue Mk2

[Risto]

Maybe the U77 simply isn't floating your boat.
My U77 is on its way back from Andreas Grosser at the moment. If you like, I can put it through my V72 and send you some recordings. It sounded great through my V376 and V676a and V72. Maybe I won't like it after it comes back and is working optimally (God forbid)!

[rowmat]

I would appreciate hearing your U77 through your V72, thanks.

Don't get me wrong I like the U77 very much.
I meant by "microscopic" that it doesn't tend to smooth over or hide anything.
It has the ability to extract a lot fine detail from a source.

I'm thinking something like a V72 maybe actually compliment the U77 by sweetening it a little while still retaining plenty of detail and air but without getting edgy especially on some female vocals.

Maybe I'm hoping the U77 through a V72 will sound like an ELAM 251!

Maybe the U77 simply isn't floating your boat.
My U77 is on its way back from Andreas Grosser at the moment. If you like, I can put it through my V72 and send you some recordings. It sounded great through my V376 and V676a and V72. Maybe I won't like it after it comes back and is working optimally (God forbid)!