Topic: Is the Lunatec V3 still the best portable mic pre & A to D?

[mountainmusic]

After many years, putting my recording rig back together. I have an Oade Bros modded Marantz PMD661 for digital files, but want a better mic pre for my Neumanns, and of course a better A to D would help as well. I know that the V3 isn't made anymore. Is there a better solution? Thanks very much!

[jbell]

You might want to consider a Sound Devices USBpre2 or Mixpre-d, but there is also a V3 in the YS!

[mountainmusic]

Thanks JBell. I need an RCA S/PDIF digital output to feed the Marantz, which the V3 has, but not sure the Sound Devices units do. One other question, I need a good resource for a battery to power the V3 as well - and I need 48V of microphone phantom power for my Neumanns.  Thanks again!

[Marshall7]

Excellent battery here:

http://www.amazon.com/Naztech-PB15000-Universal-Charger-Extended/dp/B007URKIGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400355577&sr=8-1&keywords=naztech+battery

[jbell]

You can run the USBpre2 and Mixpre-d digi into the 661, but if you want a V3 $760 used is a great price. 

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=168178.0

Thanks JBell. I need an RCA S/PDIF digital output to feed the Marantz, which the V3 has, but not sure the Sound Devices units do. One other question, I need a good resource for a battery to power the V3 as well - and I need 48V of microphone phantom power for my Neumanns.  Thanks again!

[mountainmusic]

Thanks much. Found a V3 for $500 - given that I need ample phantom power for mics, that seems to make the most sense. But still need a good battery for it (that will also last long enough for a day of recording and providing juice for 48V phantom power mics). Used to use ECO-CHARGE lead acid batteries, and they were great. Long gone I believe...

[Ultfris101]

Thanks much. Found a V3 for $500 - given that I need ample phantom power for mics, that seems to make the most sense. But still need a good battery for it (that will also last long enough for a day of recording and providing juice for 48V phantom power mics). Used to use ECO-CHARGE lead acid batteries, and they were great. Long gone I believe...

Wow. A V3 for $500? Unusually great deal.

[mountainmusic]

I agree. Still need rechargeable battery recommends for the V3 - with enough juice for day-long phantom power. thanks!

[jbell]

Excellent battery here:

http://www.amazon.com/Naztech-PB15000-Universal-Charger-Extended/dp/B007URKIGC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400355577&sr=8-1&keywords=naztech+battery

I used this when I ran a V3!

[mountainmusic]

Thanks. Saw this link earlier... Were you (phantom) powering a pair of mics with this as well - through the V3? How many hours did you get on a charge? thanks again...

[DiggerinVA]

I use that battery running P48 on a pair of LD Sony's from the 1970's and a V2. I get about 11-12 hours should not be much different those are hogs.

[kindms]

When I ran a V3 with my 414s and an ecocharge 12v i would usually only get about 4-6 hours on the 12v SLAs.

The 414 + V3 was a pretty big power hog

[H₂O]

It's all personal opinion on which is best but IMO the only mic pre top notch AD's that are 24bit are:
V3
Sound Devices USBpre2
Sound Devices MixPre-D
Apogee MiniME

Only the sound devices are still in production

If your looking for just an AD there is the:
Mytek AD192

Some other 24bit Mic pre AD's include:
Modded UA-5's
Mic2496 v2 by Core sounds

[perks]

Me like the sound of the Metric Halo ULN-2 but its not as easy to get around as the V3.

[jazzgtrl4]

There's also the Benchmark AD2K+ 

for just another single AD

It's all personal opinion on which is best but IMO the only mic pre top notch AD's that are 24bit are:
V3
Sound Devices USBpre2
Sound Devices MixPre-D
Apogee MiniME

Only the sound devices are still in production

If your looking for just an AD there is the:
Mytek AD192

Some other 24bit Mic pre AD's include:
Modded UA-5's
Mic2496 v2 by Core sounds

[dnsacks]

After many years, putting my recording rig back together. I have an Oade Bros modded Marantz PMD661 for digital files, but want a better mic pre for my Neumanns, and of course a better A to D would help as well. I know that the V3 isn't made anymore. Is there a better solution? Thanks very much!

Looking back at the OP's post, it's important to point out that the PMD661 is a pretty nice sounding uint out of the box.  The Oades' mod makes its analog/mic pre section even nicer sounding (and, if I recall, uncolored, like a v2/v3).  One of the more "controversial" elements of the V3 is its a>d section. 

The OP might want to consider getting his current Neumann>oade mod pmd661 rig dialed in first and evaluate what specific qualities of that setup need improvement, as he might find himself wanting a colored pre like a oade M148 or psp2 to warm it up.  Almost seems a waste of the oade mods to turn the pmd661 into a bit bucket . . .

[Fried Chicken Boy]

After many years, putting my recording rig back together. I have an Oade Bros modded Marantz PMD661 for digital files, but want a better mic pre for my Neumanns, and of course a better A to D would help as well. I know that the V3 isn't made anymore. Is there a better solution? Thanks very much!

Looking back at the OP's post, it's important to point out that the PMD661 is a pretty nice sounding uint out of the box.  The Oades' mod makes its analog/mic pre section even nicer sounding (and, if I recall, uncolored, like a v2/v3).  One of the more "controversial" elements of the V3 is its a>d section. 

The OP might want to consider getting his current Neumann>oade mod pmd661 rig dialed in first and evaluate what specific qualities of that setup need improvement, as he might find himself wanting a colored pre like a oade M148 or psp2 to warm it up.  Almost seems a waste of the oade mods to turn the pmd661 into a bit bucket . . .

What I was thinking, too.  To add, what pre-A/D would be considered the "best" is a matter of opinion and hot topic of debate around these parts.

[DigiGal]

There's also the Benchmark AD2K+ 

for just another single AD

It's all personal opinion on which is best but IMO the only mic pre top notch AD's that are 24bit are:
V3
Sound Devices USBpre2
Sound Devices MixPre-D
Apogee MiniME

Only the sound devices are still in production

If your looking for just an AD there is the:
Mytek AD192

Some other 24bit Mic pre AD's include:
Modded UA-5's
Mic2496 v2 by Core sounds

All true, however...

I've found the SD MixPre-D serves as an ideal pairing with a PMD661, it also provides confidence and playback monitoring via a tape return connection and the excellent HP amp on the MixPre-D none of the other pre's offer this feature and the HP amp built in the PMD661 is quite lacking at best. With the tape out connected to the return input all you do is push a button to toggle HP monitoring between MixPre-D and PMD661. MixPre-D can also perform an on-the-fly SBD/mic recording if sacrifice the confidence monitoring for 3/4 inputs instead.

That said it looks like the OP picked up a great deal on a V3 so I post for others considering outboard pre's to utilize the PMD661 (any variety) as a digital bit bucket. My only "dis" on the MixPre-D is it does not offer level trim pots to reduce a hot signal.  This is easy to work around though if you are using very sensitive mic's with a over the top LOUD performance but I mention it as something to be prepared for if you plan to record such shows.