Topic: SD USBPre 2 + Sony D50 vs SD 702

[dogmusic]

SD USBPre 2 + Sony D50 vs SD 702. Which set-up would give better sound quality? Or are they about equal?

I would go digital out from the USBPre 2 into the D50.

I don't do many concert recordings -- having the extra Pre plus a battery for it is no big deal -- so I'm just looking for the best quality.

Anybody have experience with both? Is the Pre as good a front end as what is in the 702?

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks.

[page]

SD USBPre 2 + Sony D50 vs SD 702. Which set-up would give better sound quality? Or are they about equal?

I would go digital out from the USBPre 2 into the D50.

I don't do many concert recordings -- having the extra Pre plus a battery for it is no big deal -- so I'm just looking for the best quality.

Anybody have experience with both? Is the Pre as good a front end as what is in the 702?

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks.

The usbpre2 uses the same A/D chipset as the 702, and the preamps, while in the digital domain, are comparable. The one difference in the preamps is that the usbpre2's preamps are the same as what is used in the 788 units while the 702 is the same as the 702/722/744. The difference is how they are controlled and a few other nuances, but they sound very close/the same as each other.

What the big differences come in is in powering. The 702 has a failover power system where you can go from external power to 7.2v power while recording, while the ubspre2 is a single usb power only. If you already have the usbpre2, it's a no brainer IMHO, get the D50. Otherwise you're looking at a difference of maybe $300 (in favor of the usbpre2/d50) if purchasing everything on the used market. If brand-new the difference is even more so in favor of the pre2/d50 setup.

[rastasean]

I don't do many concert recordings

What would you be recording?

[dogmusic]

I don't do many concert recordings

What would you be recording?

I record mostly solo piano at home but also do a lot of field recording of local sounds (I live in a rural area).

[dogmusic]

SD USBPre 2 + Sony D50 vs SD 702. Which set-up would give better sound quality? Or are they about equal?

I would go digital out from the USBPre 2 into the D50.

I don't do many concert recordings -- having the extra Pre plus a battery for it is no big deal -- so I'm just looking for the best quality.

Anybody have experience with both? Is the Pre as good a front end as what is in the 702?

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks.

The usbpre2 uses the same A/D chipset as the 702, and the preamps, while in the digital domain, are comparable. The one difference in the preamps is that the usbpre2's preamps are the same as what is used in the 788 units while the 702 is the same as the 702/722/744. The difference is how they are controlled and a few other nuances, but they sound very close/the same as each other.

What the big differences come in is in powering. The 702 has a failover power system where you can go from external power to 7.2v power while recording, while the ubspre2 is a single usb power only. If you already have the usbpre2, it's a no brainer IMHO, get the D50. Otherwise you're looking at a difference of maybe $300 (in favor of the usbpre2/d50) if purchasing everything on the used market. If brand-new the difference is even more so in favor of the pre2/d50 setup.

Actually, I already own the D50. I was going to buy the USBPre2 when a used 702 came up, and I wondered if it would be a big leap in quality to buy that instead. From what you say, there would be no difference. But I can see that the 702 is definitely more convenient.

Thanks for your help.

[page]

SD USBPre 2 + Sony D50 vs SD 702. Which set-up would give better sound quality? Or are they about equal?

I would go digital out from the USBPre 2 into the D50.

I don't do many concert recordings -- having the extra Pre plus a battery for it is no big deal -- so I'm just looking for the best quality.

Anybody have experience with both? Is the Pre as good a front end as what is in the 702?

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks.

The usbpre2 uses the same A/D chipset as the 702, and the preamps, while in the digital domain, are comparable. The one difference in the preamps is that the usbpre2's preamps are the same as what is used in the 788 units while the 702 is the same as the 702/722/744. The difference is how they are controlled and a few other nuances, but they sound very close/the same as each other.

What the big differences come in is in powering. The 702 has a failover power system where you can go from external power to 7.2v power while recording, while the ubspre2 is a single usb power only. If you already have the usbpre2, it's a no brainer IMHO, get the D50. Otherwise you're looking at a difference of maybe $300 (in favor of the usbpre2/d50) if purchasing everything on the used market. If brand-new the difference is even more so in favor of the pre2/d50 setup.

Actually, I already own the D50. I was going to buy the USBPre2 when a used 702 came up, and I wondered if it would be a big leap in quality to buy that instead. From what you say, there would be no difference. But I can see that the 702 is definitely more convenient.

Thanks for your help.

yeah, the difference is one of convenience and durability. Both machines are durable, but you've got an optical cable going between the d50/pre2 that isn't an issue with the 702. Unless you have a specific reason/environment to by a 7 series, I generally don't think it's worth the expense anymore. Best of luck!

[hi and lo]

Imo, the pre and a/d in the d50 are plenty good, especially for the cost of a usbpre2 or 7xx recorder. That money can almost assuredly be better spent on a mic upgrade.

[dogmusic]

Imo, the pre and a/d in the d50 are plenty good, especially for the cost of a usbpre2 or 7xx recorder. That money can almost assuredly be better spent on a mic upgrade.

Good point, but I need some way of going XLR with phantom into the D50. My mics are okay -- Beyer 930 -- but of course could be better. Perhaps DPA's someday, which I read here in these forums and elsewhere are particularly good on piano.

[page]

Imo, the pre and a/d in the d50 are plenty good, especially for the cost of a usbpre2 or 7xx recorder. That money can almost assuredly be better spent on a mic upgrade.

Good point, but I need some way of going XLR with phantom into the D50. My mics are okay -- Beyer 930 -- but of course could be better. Perhaps DPA's someday, which I read here in these forums and elsewhere are particularly good on piano.

I support your choice (I use the 930s and 950s with mine). 

[dogmusic]

Imo, the pre and a/d in the d50 are plenty good, especially for the cost of a usbpre2 or 7xx recorder. That money can almost assuredly be better spent on a mic upgrade.

Good point, but I need some way of going XLR with phantom into the D50. My mics are okay -- Beyer 930 -- but of course could be better. Perhaps DPA's someday, which I read here in these forums and elsewhere are particularly good on piano.

I support your choice (I use the 930s and 950s with mine). 

I've been very happy with them. Smooth, warm, natural sounding -- everything I read about them before buying.

What are you using for a pre?

[mterry]

Imo, the pre and a/d in the d50 are plenty good, especially for the cost of a usbpre2 or 7xx recorder. That money can almost assuredly be better spent on a mic upgrade.

Good point, but I need some way of going XLR with phantom into the D50. My mics are okay -- Beyer 930 -- but of course could be better. Perhaps DPA's someday, which I read here in these forums and elsewhere are particularly good on piano.

I support your choice (I use the 930s and 950s with mine). 

I've been very happy with them. Smooth, warm, natural sounding -- everything I read about them before buying.

What are you using for a pre?

I'm not sure if Page uses anything else, but he was running a SX-M2 the other day.

[page]

Imo, the pre and a/d in the d50 are plenty good, especially for the cost of a usbpre2 or 7xx recorder. That money can almost assuredly be better spent on a mic upgrade.

Good point, but I need some way of going XLR with phantom into the D50. My mics are okay -- Beyer 930 -- but of course could be better. Perhaps DPA's someday, which I read here in these forums and elsewhere are particularly good on piano.

I support your choice (I use the 930s and 950s with mine). 

I've been very happy with them. Smooth, warm, natural sounding -- everything I read about them before buying.

What are you using for a pre?

I'm not sure if Page uses anything else, but he was running a SX-M2 the other day.

yeah, that came into my possession via unique circumstances so I bring it out to play like I would a borrowed stepchild; I feel bad if I don't include it in the fun, but I drag it around like a 3rd wheel sometimes... 

Every now and then I get burned by the sound signature of the sx-m2, but it can really add a nice touch to some recordings, where as for a long time I ran everything straight into the 722 and got more consistant results. The 7 series preamps are clean enough (and have a deep enough gain range) that I'm content to use it for nature recording whenever I'm visiting rural areas with time to burn. On that note, I'm rather preturbed that beyerdynamic wouldn't issue a set of ck910s, I'd have snatched a set for both nature and concert recording.

As noted above, in a perfect world, I'd grab a set of DPA omnis for nature recording and short of the new nagra preamp, I'd run them straight into the 722, but I've been happy with my beyers the few times I've gone out and setup and I suspect you'll be happy with the results.

I'm biased since I have that setup (and as such, sunk the cash to get it), but I like it. ymmv. 

[dogmusic]

Imo, the pre and a/d in the d50 are plenty good, especially for the cost of a usbpre2 or 7xx recorder. That money can almost assuredly be better spent on a mic upgrade.

Good point, but I need some way of going XLR with phantom into the D50. My mics are okay -- Beyer 930 -- but of course could be better. Perhaps DPA's someday, which I read here in these forums and elsewhere are particularly good on piano.

I support your choice (I use the 930s and 950s with mine). 

I've been very happy with them. Smooth, warm, natural sounding -- everything I read about them before buying.

What are you using for a pre?

I'm not sure if Page uses anything else, but he was running a SX-M2 the other day.

yeah, that came into my possession via unique circumstances so I bring it out to play like I would a borrowed stepchild; I feel bad if I don't include it in the fun, but I drag it around like a 3rd wheel sometimes... 

Every now and then I get burned by the sound signature of the sx-m2, but it can really add a nice touch to some recordings, where as for a long time I ran everything straight into the 722 and got more consistant results. The 7 series preamps are clean enough (and have a deep enough gain range) that I'm content to use it for nature recording whenever I'm visiting rural areas with time to burn. On that note, I'm rather preturbed that beyerdynamic wouldn't issue a set of ck910s, I'd have snatched a set for both nature and concert recording.

As noted above, in a perfect world, I'd grab a set of DPA omnis for nature recording and short of the new nagra preamp, I'd run them straight into the 722, but I've been happy with my beyers the few times I've gone out and setup and I suspect you'll be happy with the results.

I'm biased since I have that setup (and as such, sunk the cash to get it), but I like it. ymmv. 

Yes, I'd get DPA omnis which apparently are also good for sticking inside a piano.

But your description of your easy setup makes the idea of running straight into a one-piece 702 seem interesting again....

Hmm.

[rastasean]

The DPA in the sd702 would be simple but the sd722 has dual recording mediums. :-D

[page]

The DPA in the sd702 would be simple but the sd722 has dual recording mediums. :-D

correct, in a lot of ways they have setup a nice price/feature point systems. The pre2/d50 setup is the cheapest, with some convenience for the 702, redundancy in recording with the 722, and an extra 2 line-in channels for the 744, each more $ than the prior.