Topic: Preamp Comp: Naiant littlekit vs. Grace Lunatec V3 (page 2 is a spoiler)

[Chuck]

** Grace Lunatec V3 vs Naiant littlekit (INA111) pre-amp comparison **


Source (AUD):  AKG C 480 B comb/ CK61-ULS > Segue Dogstar cables > splitter feeding (2) iRiver recorders.
Microphone configuration:  DINa, center, 7' up

The exact same pair of microphones were feeding both pre-amps and were split with a passive microphone splitter cable.

Phantom power was turned OFF on the V3.
48v phantom power was turned ON on the littlekit.
Two iRiver iHP-1x0 recorders were the bit buckets.

The analog files(s) were recorded LINE OUT from the V3 & littlekit pre-amps to iRiver recorders set at 0 gain.
The digital file(s) were recorded OPTICAL OUT from the V3 to an iRiver recorder at 44.1kHz, 16 bit, stereo.

These are the raw files exactly as I recorded them, with no post editing or processing done.
I tried to get the best levels and balance set in the field.

File01.wav
File02.wav
File03.wav
File04.wav

Each of the audio files are one of these configurations:

mics > V3 *analog out* > iRiver
mics > V3 *digital out* > iRiver
mics > littlekit *analog out* > iRiver

Notes on the Naiant pre-amp...
My littlekit pre-amp is a little different than the littlebox pre-amps Jon is selling now.
The pre-amp is powered with (5) 9v NiMH batterys. So, there are no DC converters used to power the instrumention amps. The (5) 9v batteries also supply 48v DC phantom power to the microphones without DC conversion. My littlekit pre-amp has the Burr Brown INA111 instrumention amp chips in it.

Download the file V3_littlekit comp.zip here:

http://www.filesavr.com/v3littlekitcomp


Thanks to ToddR for advice and doing this similiar comparison:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,124895.0.html


I'll give it a few days before revealing the identities of the files on this thread. 



edit to add photo

Don't go past page 1, if you want to listen to the files unbiased... 

[Chuck]

Ooopppsss... forgot to name the source material  ...

Phish at Red Rocks 08-01-2009

[OOK]

WOW again I just can't really tell much of a difference....oh yeah I have to remind myself again $1300+....

I will have one of these once the final version is set in stone.....

Thanks for the comp.......

Peace OOK

[intpseeker]

I'm not hearing a whole lot of difference. That's pretty amazing.

[cottle]

I've got both set up side by side, and I keep clicking over from one to the other.  I'm having a hard time telling which is which.  Samples 1 and 3 sound slightly less cluttered, if that makes any sense...just a little tighter somehow.  Can't wait to find out the results.

[bhadella]

1st of all.....great sources!  Phish at RR sounds spectacular.  I noticed a little "airy"-ness on the 3rd source that made it more preferable on HH.   On Antelope I heard a similar "airy" quality to 2nd source.   But damn if they don't sound very close.  Wicked preamp at that price!

[Jammin72]

Oh wow, this should be fun.  I'll have to play on a night when all the neurons are firing.  This is either a test of gear or hearing depending on how you view things.  I hope to get things grossly wrong to further confuse myself so that I can get over gear and get back to taping... well perhaps not.

[rjp]

Apparently, Filesavr doesn't like Firefox... the file wouldn't download.

[bhadella]

Apparently, Filesavr doesn't like Firefox... the file wouldn't download.

Works fine for me.

[Chuck]

Apparently, Filesavr doesn't like Firefox... the file wouldn't download.

PM me and I will get you the files, if you can not DL from the link I provided.

Also check out my Phish C-481 > littlebox source:

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,125313.new.html#new

[Jhurlbs81]

Nice comparison.  I like 2 and 3, but they both do sound pretty similar.  Great tapes!

Jesse

[taperj]

I would say that files 1 and 4 seem to have a more rigid, stiff sounding bass. My guess would be these are from the same preamp?

2 & 3 seem to have a bit warmer but slightly less accurate sound.

I'm finding it hard to decide since objectivity recognizes the merits in both, but if pressed I would say I prefer 2&3, the sound may not be as accurate sounding but it seems truer to life for some reason.

They're both quite nice, that Naiant pre certainly is holding its own whichever samples it produced. I'll be interested to see if I'm even right about which 2 came from the same pre.

I did the comparison on a Bose "Companion 5" computer speaker system which in general I find to be extremely neutral sounding.

Oh and... nice pull

J

[Chuck]

I'm going to hold out on revealing the results for one more day.
Just to make sure that everyone who wants to listen without being biased by knowing the file identities gets a chance to listen.

...but, if you PM me and swear not to tell, I'll give you the the file identities.

[jbell]

I liked source 2 the best!  I really couldn't hear that much difference between the other 3 sources.  Sounds great regardless and solidifies that fact that I want a littlebox.  They sound great for the money!  Nice job chuck and I look forward to finding out what is what.

[taperj]

Thanks for the offer on revealing the identities via PM but I can wait for the official curtain to raise. Cheers