Topic: Sound Devices 688

[hi and lo]

The used 664 market is already starting to reveal itself. Two of them posted for sale on JWSound in just the last few hours. I'm sure we'll see a huge sell-off of 664s and maybe 788Ts.

I think SD might have really screwed over 664 Users that spent a ton of cash on a new unit only, what, two years ago?

I also forgot to mention in my rage.. That 744T with Firewire 400 output is FOUR FRIGGING THOUSAND DOLLARS.

[AB52]

I wonder how many tracks it will do at 96K?  I assume 12?  more?

[H₂O]

The 702/722/744 should have been refreshed 5 YEARS AGO or PULLED - FIREWIRE IS DEAD and these units have not had a hardware update in 10 years

If you don't believe this then you are smoking crack!!!

All they need to do is take the 788 feature set - have a few track options (software upgradable in most cases) and put into a 970 chassis (keep the 970's large color touch screen)

They obviously are focusing on the Pro Sound market only - but rightfully so as that is where the money is at

This unit is perfect for pro-sound - but for us the Aeta 4minx and Sonosax R4+ are top dog.

Even the Tascam HS-P82 smokes the 7xx series - by feature set and sound quality plus you can get 8 channels of pre's all at a cost of 1/2 a 744

[voltronic]

The 702/722/744 should have been refreshed 5 YEARS AGO or PULLED - FIREWIRE IS DEAD and these units have not had a hardware update in 10 years

If you don't believe this then you are smoking crack!!!

All they need to do is take the 788 feature set - have a few track options (software upgradable in most cases) and put into a 970 chassis (keep the 970's large color touch screen)

They obviously are focusing on the Pro Sound market only - but rightfully so as that is where the money is at

This unit is perfect for pro-sound - but for us the Aeta 4minx and Sonosax R4+ are top dog.

Even the Tascam HS-P82 smokes the 7xx series - by feature set and sound quality plus you can get 8 channels of pre's all at a cost of 1/2 a 744

From what I've read several places (including on SD's on site) the 7 series still have the best pre's, especially the 788 which is considered the top of the line preamp circuit.  That's why they still sell, and why I still would want one - I think they are beautifully neutral sounding.

I'm right there with you on the FireWire issue though, and I have a FireWire card in my PC.  For the 702 it doesn't matter because you just pop the card out into a reader, but for the others you're stuck with FW and that is really outdated at this point.

[jbell]

The 722, 744T also take CF cards!

The 702/722/744 should have been refreshed 5 YEARS AGO or PULLED - FIREWIRE IS DEAD and these units have not had a hardware update in 10 years

If you don't believe this then you are smoking crack!!!

All they need to do is take the 788 feature set - have a few track options (software upgradable in most cases) and put into a 970 chassis (keep the 970's large color touch screen)

They obviously are focusing on the Pro Sound market only - but rightfully so as that is where the money is at

This unit is perfect for pro-sound - but for us the Aeta 4minx and Sonosax R4+ are top dog.

Even the Tascam HS-P82 smokes the 7xx series - by feature set and sound quality plus you can get 8 channels of pre's all at a cost of 1/2 a 744

From what I've read several places (including on SD's on site) the 7 series still have the best pre's, especially the 788 which is considered the top of the line preamp circuit.  That's why they still sell, and why I still would want one - I think they are beautifully neutral sounding.

I'm right there with you on the FireWire issue though, and I have a FireWire card in my PC.  For the 702 it doesn't matter because you just pop the card out into a reader, but for the others you're stuck with FW and that is really outdated at this point.

[2manyrocks]

I think someone would have to be very, very committed to SD to fork over the asking price for a new 744T especially when you'd have to add an external pre to use two of the channels for mics.  And then I'd worry what would happen to my investment when SD releases a new model. 

By the time you buy a new 788 and mics for all 8 channels, you could easily spend $15-16,000.

If you have clients paying for all this from your billing them, then it's a different story than paying for it out of your own pocket.     

[jbell]

I'd buy a sonosax r4+ at that price

[AB52]

Is there any more information available on the new Sonasax unit for comparison?

[H₂O]

From what I've read several places (including on SD's on site) the 7 series still have the best pre's, especially the 788 which is considered the top of the line preamp circuit.  That's why they still sell, and why I still would want one - I think they are beautifully neutral sounding.

I'm right there with you on the FireWire issue though, and I have a FireWire card in my PC.  For the 702 it doesn't matter because you just pop the card out into a reader, but for the others you're stuck with FW and that is really outdated at this point.

IMO the 7xx (not including the 788 which is a different topology) suck!!!  I cannot stand them at all!!  They do not pair well with Schoeps and that's pretty much all I run!  The hs-p82 pre-amps are much better, as are sonosax and aeta - It it pretty much widely understood that although SD make rock solid units but their Pre-Amps are second notch - top notch are Nagra, Sonosax, Aeta, and Aaton Caton - sorry but SD pre's are ok but not the best

If they where so great then no one would be running external pre-amps any more - but everyone I know that got an SD722/744 ended up upgrading to external pre-amp units after a short time with the unit.

[hi and lo]

I couldn't disagree more. To each their own, but I think the 7xx preamps are perfectly fine and I own basically every portable preamp ever seen in a gear signature.

[thunderbolt]

I couldn't disagree more. To each their own, but I think the 7xx preamps are perfectly fine and I own basically every portable preamp ever seen in a gear signature.

Totally agree.

I'm just hoping this tanks the used 788T market.

It's already starting.     Seems like the 788s have been relatively immune to the price drops that happened to the 744.  Until now.

[H₂O]

I couldn't disagree more. To each their own, but I think the 7xx preamps are perfectly fine and I own basically every portable preamp ever seen in a gear signature.

I have owned or run basically every popular pre-amp as well - Grace, EAA, Aeta, Apogee, Schoeps, Tascam, Sound devices, etc - I liked the sound of all but the SD Pre's, including the MixPre and 702 - I find the SD pre-amps rather brittle and stale sounding and I tried them with mk21, mk41, mk4, etc all in various environments

Maybe newer designs are better but I definitely do not like the 702/722/744 nor MixPre pre-amps with all my Schoeps (tubes, FETs, etc)
 

[thunderbolt]

I'm getting a sneaking suspicion that you perhaps don't like SD preamps?  I could be wrong....

 

 

[404 Not Found]

I have no problem with the SD products I have used.  I have never run schoeps, so I can not cast opinion there.   I have run other microphones such as Sennheiser, Neumann, Miktek, DPA, Shure and Audix through a 552 & a MixPre-D with great results. I have not recorded on any SD 7XX series recorders, as I use other recorders for my use.

Maybe it's the Mic's ? 

Running them with the Neumann's, Telefunken's and Miktek's have been extremely warm and full for me. 

Can't speak for the others.  It's all good.  The 688 goes way beyond what most would need or use here, but t is always interesting to read up on new product-technology and drool a bit at new options.  Would be real cool if it had Bluetooth capability! What's next to hit the market? Pretty interesting past years with what's been hitting the market. I'm looking forward to what's coming up next in this market.

[jbell]

Several 644 popping up on Ebay.