BAE sounds the thickest (that 100hz-200hz that I love Neve for), LB the most neutral, and AML the most mid forward (somewhere in the area of 500-800hz if I had to guess). All a matter of preference but I love the BAE!
great video, I liked the AMS Neve 1073 the most, it sounds the smoothest out of them all, especially on electric guitar though, no annoying frequencies or harshness.
I agree with both and wrote a lengthy reply with my own post on the subject as a former vintage unit owner. The AMS is the closest to what I used to own for sure. I think I had a bit more low end on my original Marinair units (1066's and 1272's wired into preamps), but otherwise the AMS is extremely close in vibe and tone. Early AMS models from around 10+ years ago didn't wow me however, so this test was a bit of a shock.
@@ac14081408 yeah they don't do it for me. Sorry. I know they sound appealing because of the price, but the three brands that seem to be closest to the originals are AMS Neve, AML EZ10173's (500 series), and Warm Audio.
Can't compare meaningfully like this. You need to AB switch more quickly; the human brain quickly forgets what it just heard ... having trail-offs between samples, makes it impossible ... Nice camera, tho' ...
yeah, ya just gotta strategically keep jumping around in the video. but i agree. Everyone listeneing is a/b-ing so make videos super a/b-able! :) Still extremely grateful for this video!
BAE is pretty highly regarded and is my preference here but honestly the difference is extremely subtle, it has just slightly more presence in the highs which I like. But at this price range it really comes down to personal preference and often simply experience with a brand or name, they're all good boxes.
Listen to Andra Day's album Cheers to the fall for that BAE sound, its definitely darker and more vintage and that's the point of BAE, they make Neve exactly how it was made from 1970-1975.
They all have similar character but the difference is at the rapidness of pres to transients. That changes detail in upper mids Fastest to slowest: BAE, AMS, AML Closeness to Low mid Character of NEVE 1073: AMS, AML, BAE For my taste AMS is the best all around pre in that comparison.
Using an SM57 makes people couldn't evaluate the harmonics in the hi and lo where these relatives sound the most different. Lo is tighter or not? Hi is shimmery or not? I must say this is a very bad mike choice for an acoustic guitar and great pres. Anw, good effort.
I'm looking at demos because I was wanting a 1073 sound for less $. I'm disappointed to find that only the actual AMS Neve sounds good. None of the clones can touch it. In fact I think they sound downright bad. It's like they all roll off the highs for a "warm" sound but don't capture the top end sparkle and hifi feeling that makes everything sound really... classic.... timeless and authentically vintage. Even the highly regarded vintech seems pretty off to me.
I prefer the AML in these examples, sounds more classic to me, "warmest." The BAE has some nice bright treble though, if you want that, like on the clean guitar maybe, on most of the sources it annoyed me. AMS is "cleanest" ? Cool shootout, thanks.
I think the same. Bae sounds brighter in comparison with others two. AMS sounds the most balanced. The Aml sounds more classic and vintage to me, perhaps with more lowmid freqs.
@@theblowupdollsmusic Hi Matt! I listened to this test again after reading your comment with my new headphones that I didn't have months ago. The BAE seems to me the brightest but also the one with more body. The AMS seems less bright to me but has less body, so it may seem more "skimpy" than the BAE. The AML, on the other hand, feels a little cheaper, a little boxy sound. It is also true that it costs much less ... I bought an AML (1073 038) in December and I have to say that I am really happy. It seems to me nothing short of phenomenal. However, I have never been lucky enough to get my hands on a real Neve or a BAE.
@@RobertoMilano I hope you enjoy your new piece! I'm actually shopping for a 1073 style preamp. To me, it's BAE vs AMS Neve. I really like BAE the best. I want lots of color as digital is so cold and boring. I love how BAE kills the harsh high end and kills the transient. BAE almost sounds like 15ips tape.
Its different performances each time. You can easily change the sound based on how the instruments are played. It's also so weird how in the same comment thread everyone has a different perception of "full" or "fat" or "thin" or "bright".
They all sound so different even on these crap $15 headphones the BAE has so much bass it's almost like you ran the AMS Neve version through an EQ to get it's sound.
+Rick Birmingham though-in a WAY - it's actually the worst choice of mic too - given it's very defined (and limited) character... guess i can think of reasons for and against. IMO its character is better demonstrated by using something a lot more 'transparent'....so you can get an idea of it's sonic fingerprint.... depends what the aim of the 'shootout' is though. if it's just about how it makes an SM57 sound - then fine.... i guess.
+antigen4 True BUT every engineer knows what a 57 sounds like. There's a zillion ways to record acoustic guitar with a myriad of mic choices and placements. Earthwork$ or KM84, stereo or omni... Etc. So that's why I appreciated the 57 choice.
Rick Birmingham yes - though it doesn't tell us SQUAT about what the preamps will sound like with OTHER mics... i think most people fail to appreciate the interaction with mic and preamp. often its' a question of how a mic and preamp react to the respective impedance or load of the other at a given frequency - i think 'character' is much more complex than we often think...
Every video of the 1073 comparisons I think the same thing. The bae seems like the harmonics will build up & get muddy after a few tracks. I’d rather prevent that issue in pre. 🤷♂️
The AMS sounded thinner and more shrill on all sources. The BAE consistently had this low-mid girth to it. It flattered the snare and crunch guitar. The AML has a high mid clarity/speed which helped on clean & acoustic guitar, but hurt on the others. Given these are Neve-type preamps, I think the BAE gave the most vibe in that direction. For a crystal clear pre, one could use any of the more modern pre (Grace, Jim WIlliams, Millenia, etc.) I realize some people did not like the use of a 57 here. However, many great rock records have used 57s + Neves + tape on all sorts of stuff (like acoustic guitar.) This can result in a very punchy, forward track. If it sounds good it is good...
Finally, someone who actually knows what he's talking about. I agree on everything you have said. 57 is a classic and has been on many snares that made the hot 100. 421 is another good one for distorted guitars. all these pre amps are good it just depends on what you are going for. I really was digging the AML on all the instruments. However, what tracks I want to use them on and what I am looking for in my sound is my tastes. Yes! If it sounds good it sounds good. Hey, I like gourmet dinners but I also love the taste of a good burger. same concept if it tastes good it tastes good!!
+Sean Kennedy the test tells us NOTHING about the relative character of the respective preamps EXCEPT how they 'sound' with the 57. Those are not separate issues - just to be clear. One cannot use such a test to indicate the character of the preamps in any absolute terms. that's all i wanna say.
+antigen4 yes a great mic used on snares and guitar amps on real records that you hear presently in the hot 100. amazing for $89. I also like a stereo pair of 414's I am thankful for this video. If can't say something nice then.....
AML has better conditions for working with EQ ,,, BAE has a bit sharper sound. the risk of losing some soul with the rattling of EQ to bring down the hardness.
Wow, great comparison, you can clearly hear the difference. I'm a fan of the AMS one. AMS unit handles low end better in my opinion and has more tamed highs than the BAE.
That's what I thought, so I liked the BAE on acoustic and snare, AMS on bass, toss up between AML and AMS o electric. Subtle differences of course, but noticeable.
AMS Neve on everything but the bass, In which case I favored the AML by quite a bit. The BAE although great, lost out with distracting frequencies. All were fine on the snare.
Sorry yall, but I hear a extremely minimal difference in all these preamps. You would hear a much bigger difference in microphone choice. Listening in a treated room with Focal twins and a Symphony I/O
replying to 2 year old comment; disagree hugely. These differences are quite large for 1073 gear, and i've heard other 1073 comparisons where the differences were much less and you could still hear the difference.
I think I like the AMS the best. Years and years ago I wasn't liking a lot of their first productions into 19" rack gear, and I kind of avoided them for a long time as a result. Then I heard a Genesys console in person last year and absolutely loved it. I'm someone who has owned vintage 1066's and vintage 1272's which were racked by Brent Averill in the 90's prior to his unfortunate passing. I also have had lengthy debates on Gearslutz about transformer differences in versions of the originals (Marinair St. Ives Vs. modern Carnhills used in most clones for example). The truth is the AMS "rounds" out the transient response in a musical way which makes pick attack less annoying in all of the guitar examples and has a more pleasing harmonic distortion going on than the others overall. I liked the AML second best, and I know Collin does great work. If budget is your limitation it becomes the first pick easily since it will save you a lot of money Vs. the others. But it's way more musical to me than the BAE stuff. I know they have great build quality and they're expensive units, but I always feel like the wrong frequencies are being emphasized...and the pick attack becomes annoying in all guitar examples as well. I'm instantly out of the music. The AML is kind of in-between, and a bit harder sounding than the AMS, however...it's not to the point where it's unmusical, or where notching a tiny bit of 7kHz out wouldn't soften the pick attack even a bit further. I just feel like I'd have to EQ the snot out of the BAE.
wow. I don't have Bae, but I had Ams neve 1073 Dpa preamp 19" rack. And sound was kinda too sharp, hard and edgy. With laser beam upper mids. I expected smooth sound, but it was the opposite. (I record male vocals.) I thought maybe Bae is smoother in the high-mids? Only thing i don't like, based on shootouts, Bae has kinda slow sound and muddy low mids. with washed out attacks.. don't even know what to think .. have you tried Ams neve 1073 Reissue classic modules ? Maybe their reissues sounds smoother??
@@phillipphillip367 I've tried them all. Currently I'm using a Warm Audio WA273. I feel the bottom end and low mids are virtually identical to my old 1066's with Marinairs and the upper mids/highs are smoother like you want. The other advantage is it's cheaper. The "sharpness" of the AMS is present in all versions I've heard (but it's a little worse on the new 8 channel unit that lacks output transformers). However there were vintage Neves which were sharp like that, as well as vintage units that were a little softer like the Warm. So keep in mind that hand built units varied a little. The BAE just sounds wrong in the low mids and bottom end, and is too mid focused. I really dislike it.
Have to agree. I dropped big $ on a pair of 1U BAEs a couple years ago and I’ve been struggling to like them. Everything I track sounds harsh, tinny, and hollow. Think I’m going to sell and get the AMS Neves
The BAE is a full db louder (RMS) than the AMS which skews the results a little. I own the and AMS and love it, but I'll concede that the BAE sounded far fuller on acoustic guitar. That said, the BAE sounded slightly veiled on the snare and didn't seem to handle the transient as well. I also found the BAE sounded a tad "boxy" on the distorted electric (I would still choose it over the AMS though because I liked the fullness). I scoped 'em both. The BAE rolls off like CRAZY at about 14k, while the AMS descends smoothly around 19.5k. In fact, without matching the volumes even, the AMS is 13db louder at 19.5k (electric guitar samples. Great test though.
Too me, it sounds like the gain structure is a little different on the various recordings. A few of the recorded samples, sound as if the mic is being pushed harder. It gives an uneven impression of the preamps sound... If you push the gain, it changes the noise floor (in comparison) from one preamp to another.
I don't think everyone knows what it sounds like on acoustic guitar, though. If available KM 184s would have made more sense. like I said: Nice vid otherwise. Both my comments aren't meant offensive at all. (Just to keep hate to a minimum)
i think it's actually a GREAT choice of mic for this - considering just how much the 1073 type pres are able to change the character of even the humblest of mics. In my experience using one of these doubles the number of mics in your locker... and allows you to re-explore your mic collection under a whole new light.
+Bassilicious Well no, it's a good choice because everyone knows what a 57 sounds like, and it's a shootout designed to test the preamps themselves, not "how good can we make this recording sound"
+antigen4 exactly. I have two ams 1073's and had so much fun relistening to my mics. Even a crappy CD player sounds good when you put it through the Neve transformers on line level.
How did you connect the bass to the AMS? What settings were on the ams? Lo Z? Did you connect it to the front panel and switched it to the line live side of it? I'm having trouble running bass in to my AMS. Thank you
People who like natural tones and nice even harmonics without any over boosted frequency should like the AMS Neve 1073LB, if you like the gross heavy electric gtr stuff he was playing and the Bass Chops then of course you will like the BAE or the AML. They are hyped in the mid and low mid range making them more aggressive. Of course just a sonic opinion. Also, who cares if its a 57? Positioned correctly and eq'd a bit with a great guitar and an awesome player and you have a hit record. Lot of hits recorded using 57s on vocals, drums, etc..... It would be nice to actually hear a full trio recorded with all the same pre and have a comparison that way. You could really hear the sonics of the overall picture if they could do that.
That BAE sounds good. The AML seems to have a bite that could really work on the right source too. I'd like to hear Don Classics, Sound Skulptors, JLM, and some other clonies get in on this. Buy some more preamps, James. haha Thanks for taking the time.
The comments crack me up. Some people saying, "I'd buy X, but I wouldn't waste a thought on the other." Arrogant...Any one of those could be used on any source on any project.
@Larry LOL, all of these are high quality and if you're lucky enough to have one of these in your studio you will have professional quality audio no matter which one.
Gtfoh! I can hear the volume turned down slighty on the NEVE it is the *1st* one on each try & you can hear the volume/velocity "slightly" go up after the NEVE plays! No way that the clones sound better then the original! How??
With such microscopic differences, are you *really* going to be able to hear it in a mix when it's basically inaudible even soloed and listening intently? Especially when you're paying such an enormous premium, it just seems a bit silly to be honest.
A agree with those who suggest that the BAE has sonically not so much in common with the AMS. But in terms of authenticity and transparency the BAE is a good choice for acoustic sources, Its superior dynamic range results in more clarity. The AMS is superior in terms of its time response. It is the preferred choice for female vocal recordings because it highlights the slow consonant transient attack. For acoustic guitar and male vocals there are many alternatives though,.
I'm not sure about this preamp business, lol. I need to hear them next to my built in mic pres in my clarett which sound pretty good to me. Not sure if spending 1,500 bucks is going to be worth the difference or not.
Hey there @Harv Video/Audio Stuff - did you build your AML pre? If so, can I ask how you calibrated it? The instructions are a tad unclear in the manual, thanks!
AM >> BAE > AMS. There's something about the ez1073 that makes it sound more detailed, like I'm right inside the instrument observing it's intricacies.
Great Comparison! Probably an expensive one for me hahaha... for me: BAE AMS AML The AMS seemed a little bland at first but brought out a lot, but I think the BAE sounded perfect!
Listened carefully and to my ears, the Neve kills it, here and there. It's subtle on the first sample (although listen to the low strings on the acoustic guitar), but on the electric guitar in the first samples, it's cleaner, brighter, much more defined than the BAE. The AML was close enough to catch my attention. All in all, since BAE is just crazy expensive, my money would be to get the Neve.
I thought the others had less character and dimension than the BAE, on acoustic. The 1073LB was just a little more predictable or bland sounding, to me. They all sound good, I just thought the BAE had real dimension to it, or depth. I will admit, the BAE sounded a little more punchy or aggressive than I would like on the acoustic, but maybe with a less bright sounding acoustic (this is a Taylor after all), it would sound perfect.
I dislike the AML, have the DMP and prefer the AMS ! DMP have the best low end but the AMS have better transients and sound more modern. In fact, it sound more like the 512 than the DMP which like original 1073 (because you can't choose the PS in an API LB). So i would end with a 512 ^^.
The aml can keep up with the other preamps on acoustic guitar but it doesnt come close to the others on the snare or on the electric guitars or even the bass. The bae sounds the best on bass and distortet electric guitar. BUT the ams is the most balanced and overall best sounding one of all three in my opinion. It just never sucks (tone)!
When the Neve is played first I recognize how defined or cleaned up the low mids and lows sound because as soon as the BAE or AML play the low mids and lows sound quite a bit messy.
Acoustic
Ams 0:26
Bae 0:57
Aml 1:28
Snare
Ams 1:58
Bae 2:12
Aml 2:25
Electric Clean
Ams 2:38
Bae: 3:09
Aml 3:40
Electric Dirty
Ams 4:12
Bae 4:27
Aml 4:42
Bass
Ams 4:57
Bae 5:16
Aml 5:37
It drives me crazy when shootouts don't keep the labels up the whole time...
... And don't leave a sticky with time stamped links.
@@XChristianNoirX You should make one to help us all out.
BAE sounds the thickest (that 100hz-200hz that I love Neve for), LB the most neutral, and AML the most mid forward (somewhere in the area of 500-800hz if I had to guess). All a matter of preference but I love the BAE!
great video, I liked the AMS Neve 1073 the most, it sounds the smoothest out of them all, especially on electric guitar though, no annoying frequencies or harshness.
I agree with both and wrote a lengthy reply with my own post on the subject as a former vintage unit owner. The AMS is the closest to what I used to own for sure. I think I had a bit more low end on my original Marinair units (1066's and 1272's wired into preamps), but otherwise the AMS is extremely close in vibe and tone. Early AMS models from around 10+ years ago didn't wow me however, so this test was a bit of a shock.
@@TheCarymiller have you had a chance to look at the GAP line?
@@ac14081408 yeah they don't do it for me. Sorry. I know they sound appealing because of the price, but the three brands that seem to be closest to the originals are AMS Neve, AML EZ10173's (500 series), and Warm Audio.
Can't compare meaningfully like this. You need to AB switch more quickly; the human brain quickly forgets what it just heard ... having trail-offs between samples, makes it impossible ... Nice camera, tho' ...
yeah, ya just gotta strategically keep jumping around in the video. but i agree. Everyone listeneing is a/b-ing so make videos super a/b-able! :) Still extremely grateful for this video!
immediately heard the difference. Neve topped the other two, AML was second, and I probably wouldn't spend money on the BAE.
BAE is pretty highly regarded and is my preference here but honestly the difference is extremely subtle, it has just slightly more presence in the highs which I like. But at this price range it really comes down to personal preference and often simply experience with a brand or name, they're all good boxes.
Surprised how dark the BAE was
Listen to Andra Day's album Cheers to the fall for that BAE sound, its definitely darker and more vintage and that's the point of BAE, they make Neve exactly how it was made from 1970-1975.
I liked AMS the most, but i liked BAE on snare :D
Honestly the difference is subtle in all source. But AMS did shine in my ears. Fuller and warmer.
They all have similar character but the difference is at the rapidness of pres to transients. That changes detail in upper mids
Fastest to slowest: BAE, AMS, AML
Closeness to Low mid Character of NEVE 1073: AMS, AML, BAE
For my taste AMS is the best all around pre in that comparison.
Using an SM57 makes people couldn't evaluate the harmonics in the hi and lo where these relatives sound the most different. Lo is tighter or not? Hi is shimmery or not? I must say this is a very bad mike choice for an acoustic guitar and great pres. Anw, good effort.
I'm looking at demos because I was wanting a 1073 sound for less $. I'm disappointed to find that only the actual AMS Neve sounds good. None of the clones can touch it. In fact I think they sound downright bad. It's like they all roll off the highs for a "warm" sound but don't capture the top end sparkle and hifi feeling that makes everything sound really... classic.... timeless and authentically vintage. Even the highly regarded vintech seems pretty off to me.
What's that awful clicking noise?! Can't concentrate on sound.
I prefer the AML in these examples, sounds more classic to me, "warmest." The BAE has some nice bright treble though, if you want that, like on the clean guitar maybe, on most of the sources it annoyed me. AMS is "cleanest" ? Cool shootout, thanks.
I think the same. Bae sounds brighter in comparison with others two. AMS sounds the most balanced. The Aml sounds more classic and vintage to me, perhaps with more lowmid freqs.
@@RobertoMilano I actually thought the BAE was the darkest. It's my favorite. The AMS was the brightest to my ears.
@@theblowupdollsmusic Hi Matt! I listened to this test again after reading your comment with my new headphones that I didn't have months ago. The BAE seems to me the brightest but also the one with more body. The AMS seems less bright to me but has less body, so it may seem more "skimpy" than the BAE. The AML, on the other hand, feels a little cheaper, a little boxy sound. It is also true that it costs much less ... I bought an AML (1073 038) in December and I have to say that I am really happy. It seems to me nothing short of phenomenal. However, I have never been lucky enough to get my hands on a real Neve or a BAE.
@@RobertoMilano I hope you enjoy your new piece! I'm actually shopping for a 1073 style preamp. To me, it's BAE vs AMS Neve. I really like BAE the best. I want lots of color as digital is so cold and boring. I love how BAE kills the harsh high end and kills the transient. BAE almost sounds like 15ips tape.
Its different performances each time. You can easily change the sound based on how the instruments are played. It's also so weird how in the same comment thread everyone has a different perception of "full" or "fat" or "thin" or "bright".
They all sound so different even on these crap $15 headphones the BAE has so much bass it's almost like you ran the AMS Neve version through an EQ to get it's sound.
PRS guitars look soo ugly
for me:
1 aml
2 ams
3 bae
AMS has the magic
They all sound great. :P
The 57 was a great choice IMO, for it's eternal consistency
+Rick Birmingham though-in a WAY - it's actually the worst choice of mic too - given it's very defined (and limited) character... guess i can think of reasons for and against. IMO its character is better demonstrated by using something a lot more 'transparent'....so you can get an idea of it's sonic fingerprint.... depends what the aim of the 'shootout' is though. if it's just about how it makes an SM57 sound - then fine.... i guess.
+antigen4 it's just a bit of fun, lets put this to rest shall we?
James Harvey sure... just musing over the issues - well you brought it up... :)
+antigen4 True BUT every engineer knows what a 57 sounds like. There's a zillion ways to record acoustic guitar with a myriad of mic choices and placements. Earthwork$ or KM84, stereo or omni... Etc. So that's why I appreciated the 57 choice.
Rick Birmingham yes - though it doesn't tell us SQUAT about what the preamps will sound like with OTHER mics... i think most people fail to appreciate the interaction with mic and preamp. often its' a question of how a mic and preamp react to the respective impedance or load of the other at a given frequency - i think 'character' is much more complex than we often think...
Every video of the 1073 comparisons I think the same thing. The bae seems like the harmonics will build up & get muddy after a few tracks. I’d rather prevent that issue in pre. 🤷♂️
The BAE is my favourite
The AMS sounded thinner and more shrill on all sources. The BAE consistently had this low-mid girth to it. It flattered the snare and crunch guitar. The AML has a high mid clarity/speed which helped on clean & acoustic guitar, but hurt on the others. Given these are Neve-type preamps, I think the BAE gave the most vibe in that direction. For a crystal clear pre, one could use any of the more modern pre (Grace, Jim WIlliams, Millenia, etc.)
I realize some people did not like the use of a 57 here. However, many great rock records have used 57s + Neves + tape on all sorts of stuff (like acoustic guitar.) This can result in a very punchy, forward track. If it sounds good it is good...
Finally, someone who actually knows what he's talking about.
I agree on everything you have said.
57 is a classic and has been on many snares that made the hot 100.
421 is another good one for distorted guitars.
all these pre amps are good it just depends on what you are going for.
I really was digging the AML on all the instruments. However, what tracks I want to use them on and what I am looking for in my sound is my tastes.
Yes! If it sounds good it sounds good. Hey, I like gourmet dinners but I also love the taste of a good burger.
same concept if it tastes good it tastes good!!
+Sean Kennedy the test tells us NOTHING about the relative character of the respective preamps EXCEPT how they 'sound' with the 57. Those are not separate issues - just to be clear. One cannot use such a test to indicate the character of the preamps in any absolute terms. that's all i wanna say.
What?? It is what it is.
yes - and what it IS is an SM57.
+antigen4 yes a great mic used on snares and guitar amps on real records that you hear presently in the hot 100. amazing for $89. I also like a stereo pair of 414's
I am thankful for this video. If can't say something nice then.....
Was the BAE set to 300Ω? It should be set to 1200Ω unless you're using a ribbon mic, otherwise it sounds midrangy and less 3D IMO.
I have the AML, really amazing!! I have compared the AML EZ1073 and the AMS Neve and in my opinion the AML is better.... and WAY BETTER PRICE!
Thank you for taking the time to do this comparision.
i liked the AMS neve the most :T the warmth yet aggressive sound is awesome
AML has better conditions for working with EQ ,,, BAE has a bit sharper sound. the risk of losing some soul with the rattling of EQ to bring down the hardness.
1) AMS Neve (felt more like the real deal)
2) AML (great for the price)
3) BAE (couldn't help but also note that it was a bit noisier too)
Hi! Did you record and mixed the song in the intro? If so, what did you use?
Wow, great comparison, you can clearly hear the difference. I'm a fan of the AMS one. AMS unit handles low end better in my opinion and has more tamed highs than the BAE.
That's what I thought, so I liked the BAE on acoustic and snare, AMS on bass, toss up between AML and AMS o electric. Subtle differences of course, but noticeable.
AMS Neve - first
AMS most natural plus tames harsh frequencies here.
AML sounded great
BAE was nice but a bit of unpleasant resonance harshness
I like the BAE. Just a preference.
like AML for isolated instrument here, but I think BAE will cut through the mix perfectly.
Wow that BAE is incredible.
AMS Neve on everything but the bass, In which case I favored the AML by quite a bit. The BAE although great, lost out with distracting frequencies. All were fine on the snare.
I prefered the AMS Neve on acoustic guitars. On snare, electric guitar & bass it was more subtle though and could see myself going either way.
Sorry yall, but I hear a extremely minimal difference in all these preamps. You would hear a much bigger difference in microphone choice. Listening in a treated room with Focal twins and a Symphony I/O
which pre out of these would you prefer for the u87 ai?
replying to 2 year old comment; disagree hugely. These differences are quite large for 1073 gear, and i've heard other 1073 comparisons where the differences were much less and you could still hear the difference.
AMS Neve best of all.
I think I like the AMS the best. Years and years ago I wasn't liking a lot of their first productions into 19" rack gear, and I kind of avoided them for a long time as a result. Then I heard a Genesys console in person last year and absolutely loved it. I'm someone who has owned vintage 1066's and vintage 1272's which were racked by Brent Averill in the 90's prior to his unfortunate passing. I also have had lengthy debates on Gearslutz about transformer differences in versions of the originals (Marinair St. Ives Vs. modern Carnhills used in most clones for example). The truth is the AMS "rounds" out the transient response in a musical way which makes pick attack less annoying in all of the guitar examples and has a more pleasing harmonic distortion going on than the others overall. I liked the AML second best, and I know Collin does great work. If budget is your limitation it becomes the first pick easily since it will save you a lot of money Vs. the others. But it's way more musical to me than the BAE stuff. I know they have great build quality and they're expensive units, but I always feel like the wrong frequencies are being emphasized...and the pick attack becomes annoying in all guitar examples as well. I'm instantly out of the music. The AML is kind of in-between, and a bit harder sounding than the AMS, however...it's not to the point where it's unmusical, or where notching a tiny bit of 7kHz out wouldn't soften the pick attack even a bit further. I just feel like I'd have to EQ the snot out of the BAE.
wow. I don't have Bae, but I had Ams neve 1073 Dpa preamp 19" rack. And sound was kinda too sharp, hard and edgy. With laser beam upper mids. I expected smooth sound, but it was the opposite. (I record male vocals.) I thought maybe Bae is smoother in the high-mids? Only thing i don't like, based on shootouts, Bae has kinda slow sound and muddy low mids. with washed out attacks.. don't even know what to think .. have you tried Ams neve 1073 Reissue classic modules ? Maybe their reissues sounds smoother??
@@phillipphillip367 I've tried them all. Currently I'm using a Warm Audio WA273. I feel the bottom end and low mids are virtually identical to my old 1066's with Marinairs and the upper mids/highs are smoother like you want. The other advantage is it's cheaper. The "sharpness" of the AMS is present in all versions I've heard (but it's a little worse on the new 8 channel unit that lacks output transformers). However there were vintage Neves which were sharp like that, as well as vintage units that were a little softer like the Warm. So keep in mind that hand built units varied a little. The BAE just sounds wrong in the low mids and bottom end, and is too mid focused. I really dislike it.
@@TheCarymiller Useful information! Thank you!
Have to agree. I dropped big $ on a pair of 1U BAEs a couple years ago and I’ve been struggling to like them. Everything I track sounds harsh, tinny, and hollow. Think I’m going to sell and get the AMS Neves
BAE was my favourite for this song by far.
I liked the AML on snare. The AMS Neve on Bass and the BAE for guitars
The BAE is a full db louder (RMS) than the AMS which skews the results a little. I own the and AMS and love it, but I'll concede that the BAE sounded far fuller on acoustic guitar. That said, the BAE sounded slightly veiled on the snare and didn't seem to handle the transient as well. I also found the BAE sounded a tad "boxy" on the distorted electric (I would still choose it over the AMS though because I liked the fullness).
I scoped 'em both. The BAE rolls off like CRAZY at about 14k, while the AMS descends smoothly around 19.5k. In fact, without matching the volumes even, the AMS is 13db louder at 19.5k (electric guitar samples.
Great test though.
Point of the 1073 preamp is that it's slow and removes harsh transients.
Too me, it sounds like the gain structure is a little different on the various recordings. A few of the recorded samples, sound as if the mic is being pushed harder. It gives an uneven impression of the preamps sound... If you push the gain, it changes the noise floor (in comparison) from one preamp to another.
They all sounded exactly the same to me
Are you using a separate DI with the AML?
Really? An SM57 on a solo acoustic guitar for a pre-amp comparison? Bad choice imo. Nice video otherwise. =)
Yeah, I wouldn't choose a 57 to record acoustic guitar either (duh!). We chose it because everyone knows what one sounds like
I don't think everyone knows what it sounds like on acoustic guitar, though. If available KM 184s would have made more sense.
like I said: Nice vid otherwise.
Both my comments aren't meant offensive at all. (Just to keep hate to a minimum)
i think it's actually a GREAT choice of mic for this - considering just how much the 1073 type pres are able to change the character of even the humblest of mics. In my experience using one of these doubles the number of mics in your locker... and allows you to re-explore your mic collection under a whole new light.
+Bassilicious Well no, it's a good choice because everyone knows what a 57 sounds like, and it's a shootout designed to test the preamps themselves, not "how good can we make this recording sound"
+antigen4 exactly. I have two ams 1073's and had so much fun relistening to my mics. Even a crappy CD player sounds good when you put it through the Neve transformers on line level.
How did you connect the bass to the AMS? What settings were on the ams? Lo Z? Did you connect it to the front panel and switched it to the line live side of it? I'm having trouble running bass in to my AMS. Thank you
People who like natural tones and nice even harmonics without any over boosted frequency should like the AMS Neve 1073LB, if you like the gross heavy electric gtr stuff he was playing and the Bass Chops then of course you will like the BAE or the AML. They are hyped in the mid and low mid range making them more aggressive. Of course just a sonic opinion. Also, who cares if its a 57? Positioned correctly and eq'd a bit with a great guitar and an awesome player and you have a hit record. Lot of hits recorded using 57s on vocals, drums, etc.....
It would be nice to actually hear a full trio recorded with all the same pre and have a comparison that way. You could really hear the sonics of the overall picture if they could do that.
That BAE sounds good. The AML seems to have a bite that could really work on the right source too.
I'd like to hear Don Classics, Sound Skulptors, JLM, and some other clonies get in on this. Buy some more preamps, James. haha
Thanks for taking the time.
AND Seventh circle audio!
Hi Harv ! Could you say if the AML unit was paired with its eq or just the single unit of aml 1073 500 module ? Thanks
Excellent comparison! Thanks
Acoustic Guitar:
AMS Neve 1073 LB 0:26
BAE 1073 DMP 0:58
AML EZ1073- 500 1:28
Snare:
AMS Neve 1073 LB 1:58
BAE 1073 DMP 2:12
AML EZ1073- 500 2:25
Electric Guitar:
AMS Neve 1073 LB 2:40
BAE 1073 DMP 3:13
AML EZ1073- 500 3:43
Electric Guitar Overdrive
AMS Neve 1073 LB 4:11
BAE 1073 DMP 4:27
AML EZ1073- 500 4:44
Bass:
AMS Neve 1073 LB 4:58
BAE 1073 DMP 5:17
AML EZ1073- 500 5:37
The comments crack me up. Some people saying, "I'd buy X, but I wouldn't waste a thought on the other." Arrogant...Any one of those could be used on any source on any project.
To be honest, I do not hear any difference :-/
That's awesome cause then u can get the cheapest one of them.
@Larry LOL, all of these are high quality and if you're lucky enough to have one of these in your studio you will have professional quality audio no matter which one.
I loved the BAE for everything except the Snare and distorted guitars, I preferred the Neve on those.
bae wins...
Gtfoh! I can hear the volume turned down slighty on the NEVE it is the *1st* one on each try & you can hear the volume/velocity "slightly" go up after the NEVE plays! No way that the clones sound better then the original! How??
With such microscopic differences, are you *really* going to be able to hear it in a mix when it's basically inaudible even soloed and listening intently? Especially when you're paying such an enormous premium, it just seems a bit silly to be honest.
A agree with those who suggest that the BAE has sonically not so much in common with the AMS. But in terms of authenticity and transparency the BAE is a good choice for acoustic sources, Its superior dynamic range results in more clarity. The AMS is superior in terms of its time response. It is the preferred choice for female vocal recordings because it highlights the slow consonant transient attack. For acoustic guitar and male vocals there are many alternatives though,.
Is the Workhorse phantom power on while working with the 1073lb? i have the exact same setup, think i have a problem with mine..
I'm not sure about this preamp business, lol. I need to hear them next to my built in mic pres in my clarett which sound pretty good to me. Not sure if spending 1,500 bucks is going to be worth the difference or not.
BAE is dense detailed and dimensional but I don't like the spiky upper mids. Toss up for me between it and the AMS.
bae wins
neve sounds complete
MATIAS TRENTO exactly.
There is no difference.
Hey there @Harv Video/Audio Stuff - did you build your AML pre? If so, can I ask how you calibrated it? The instructions are a tad unclear in the manual, thanks!
All 3 units sounded great, but the AML just has more 3D/sense of space to my ears.
The Bae sounds a touch brighter than the AMS on what i am listening on, bit more low mid in the AML. I would go the AMS
Nice job! Do you prefer the 1073lb over the BAE 1073dmp?
They will all sound the same, exactly same circuit and components.
Great, helpful comparison. Thanks!
you didn't had a condenser to be able to hear a bit what's the real deal?
specially for the ac guitar
I really liked the PRS!
Great job - proves the point that at that price point - using any of the 3 will have no effect sales on anyway, shape or form.
BAE wins hands down
BAE much more clarity
I used to own the AD30 combo and it was really wonderful.
Good enough !
This is a weird comparison since one has an eq and the other doesn't
AM >> BAE > AMS. There's something about the ez1073 that makes it sound more detailed, like I'm right inside the instrument observing it's intricacies.
no difference in sound quality, imagine with everything else !!!!!!!
0:32 NEVE
1:04 BAE
Great Comparison! Probably an expensive one for me hahaha...
for me:
BAE
AMS
AML
The AMS seemed a little bland at first but brought out a lot, but I think the BAE sounded perfect!
Listened carefully and to my ears, the Neve kills it, here and there. It's subtle on the first sample (although listen to the low strings on the acoustic guitar), but on the electric guitar in the first samples, it's cleaner, brighter, much more defined than the BAE. The AML was close enough to catch my attention. All in all, since BAE is just crazy expensive, my money would be to get the Neve.
shure sm57...
AML is slightly brighter
sweet video
5:17 4:57
57 on acoustic sounds pretty good too
Nice
Oh my.... BAE 1073.
I thought it sounded bad with the acoustic
I thought the others had less character and dimension than the BAE, on acoustic. The 1073LB was just a little more predictable or bland sounding, to me. They all sound good, I just thought the BAE had real dimension to it, or depth. I will admit, the BAE sounded a little more punchy or aggressive than I would like on the acoustic, but maybe with a less bright sounding acoustic (this is a Taylor after all), it would sound perfect.
AML
Was Bass DI or mic'd?
I dislike the AML, have the DMP and prefer the AMS ! DMP have the best low end but the AMS have better transients and sound more modern. In fact, it sound more like the 512 than the DMP which like original 1073 (because you can't choose the PS in an API LB). So i would end with a 512 ^^.
stfu. You couldn't tell in a blind shootout. smh
LOVE IT!!! =)
The aml can keep up with the other preamps on acoustic guitar but it doesnt come close to the others on the snare or on the electric guitars or even the bass. The bae sounds the best on bass and distortet electric guitar. BUT the ams is the most balanced and overall best sounding one of all three in my opinion. It just never sucks (tone)!
1. Bae = most musical
2. AML - most clarity
3. AMS Neve - eh (had one sold it for Bae)
i totally agree! a perfect description :D
Me too
BAE every DAE
When the Neve is played first I recognize how defined or cleaned up the low mids and lows sound because as soon as the BAE or AML play the low mids and lows sound quite a bit messy.
Shocker, they all sound exactly the same.