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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: OOK on November 19, 2014, 08:21:37 PM

Title: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: OOK on November 19, 2014, 08:21:37 PM
Millennia HV-32p (http://www.mil-media.com/HV-32P.html)

Looks interesting.  Good company...fair price for quality...  So far the only online retailer carrying it seems to be fullcompass (http://www.fullcompass.com/product/475392.html)....

Peace OOK

Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: pohaku on November 19, 2014, 09:54:19 PM
Nice.  I have a pair of their TD-1s and really like them.

I wonder how efficient these are with batteries and phantom?
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: carlbeck on November 22, 2014, 07:41:19 AM
This looks really interesting, I'm curious to hear this "sheen" that was mentioned in one of the reviews. The one thing I don't appreciate in a preamp used for field recording is variable gain or more specifically gain that doesn't offer detents to lock in place. My Shure FP24 doesn't have detents & I'm always concerned the gain can change if my bag is bumped or moved, I much prefer the detent knobs on my V2 but otherwise this preamp looks pretty good. Who's going to be the first guinea pig?
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on November 22, 2014, 09:00:40 AM
http://www.mil-media.com/pdf/HV-32P%20User%20Guide.pdf
http://www.mil-media.com/pricelist.html

$1200!?!



Terry
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: DSatz on November 22, 2014, 09:29:16 AM
Millennia has been building top-quality rack-mounted (i.e. not so portable) professional preamps for a long time. They're used by many classical engineers, studios and broadcasters. Ultra-quiet, ultra-low-distortion, ultra-reliable with no fads or gimmicks. I own one of their older two-channel preamps, and would use it more often if it didn't weigh as much as the rest of my usual setup put together.

Does anyone know what kind of outputs this preamp has? I couldn't see any pictures of the sides or back of the unit.

--best regards
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: audBall on November 22, 2014, 09:38:54 AM
I can't find any sites that show a picture of the back or list the input/output features of the unit.

Full Compass (http://www.fullcompass.com/product/475392.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=CNaf69e3jsICFcRafgodXI0ADw) has them for $1,080 shipped.

edit -
This page (in Japanese) shows the rear of the HV-35 (single channel preamp). My guess is the 2-channel would be somewhat similar.
http://www.miroc.co.jp/show-report/aes2014/archives/714
HP-35 Image link: http://www.miroc.co.jp/show-report/aes2014/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014AES_LA_2DayA_183.jpg
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: pohaku on November 22, 2014, 10:40:40 AM
I have a pair of the TD-1s, and while they are "portable", that mostly means they have a handle on top.  Basically a half rack space box, but 2U high. Very high quality pre.  In the case of the TD-1, kind of a Swiss Army knife of pres, since it has a Millennia's EQ, direct box, reamp and solid state and tube topology also wrapped in.  The lights are kind of festive as well.  Two channels for @ $1080 is pretty good for Millennia.  Now if only they had a digital out as well.  Given that Millennia comes out of the studio recording milieu, I would bet that ins and outs are XLR. It is not a tiny box.

Edit:  the first full size picture in audBall's AES link, above, shows a TD-1 sitting on a counter to the left.  As I noted, portable, but not in the sense that the denizens of this Board would typically appreciate.
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: F.O.Bean on November 22, 2014, 01:15:05 PM
Ahh, thats nothing. It looks like it only weighs 100+ pounds lol ;D
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: StuStu on November 22, 2014, 02:22:57 PM
It says: Dimensions/Shipping Weight   5.67" W x 1.69” H x 8.19” D, 2 lbs..
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: pohaku on November 22, 2014, 02:51:14 PM
It says: Dimensions/Shipping Weight   5.67" W x 1.69” H x 8.19” D, 2 lbs..

Yup, as I said, not a tiny box.
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: ArchivalAudio on March 19, 2015, 01:18:09 AM
I can't find any sites that show a picture of the back or list the input/output features of the unit.

Full Compass (http://www.fullcompass.com/product/475392.html?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=googleps&gclid=CNaf69e3jsICFcRafgodXI0ADw) has them for $1,080 shipped.

edit -
This page (in Japanese) shows the rear of the HV-35 (single channel preamp). My guess is the 2-channel would be somewhat similar.
http://www.miroc.co.jp/show-report/aes2014/archives/714
HP-35 Image link: http://www.miroc.co.jp/show-report/aes2014/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2014AES_LA_2DayA_183.jpg

I just now opened my first print copy of Tape Op in over a year, somehow I was only getting PDF downloads, now I am back to paper- they way I like to read a magazine....
anyway I just saw this pre and I am sur eit's sweet not chap or tiny but compact and nice.
back photo here:
(http://www.proaudioeurope.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/m/mm_hv32p_back.jpg)

and on the Sweetwqater site: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HV32P (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HV32P) they also have a 360° spin view


has  anyone tried one of these out
12-15v dc makes it doable in the field... too bad its not usb powered.
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: noahbickart on July 14, 2016, 03:41:23 PM
I'm bumping this in the hopes of getting more info from any users.

I love my mod dr-70d setup, but external preamps might take the Schoeps tapes to the next level. The Audioroot femto is another option, of course, but Millennia's reputation precedes them.
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: voltronic on July 14, 2016, 04:24:45 PM
I'm bumping this in the hopes of getting more info from any users.

I love my mod dr-70d setup, but external preamps might take the Schoeps tapes to the next level. The Audioroot femto is another option, of course, but Millennia's reputation precedes them.

Another good option is the SD MixPre / Shure FP-24 on eBay (and here) every so often for under $400.  But I find my modded 70D equal in quality to the FP24 preamps until I need very high gain levels, since where the 70D starts to get noisy.  But even recording 100% acoustic / classical music, I never need to go there.  The 70D is always set to MID or even LOW gain.   The FP24 only gets used when I need 6 channels going, and it's feeding into the M10.

I'm sure this Millennia is outstanding, but I think we're now getting to the point where a lot of built-in preamps are plenty good enough and externals are not needed.  If you are recording highly detailed music in a quiet hall which will allow you to hear those fine differences (i.e. not stack taping) then maybe you will hear the benefit from an external pre.  But at that highest level of performance, it would probably make more sense to have a one-box professional solution from SD, Nagra, Sonosax, etc.
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: voltronic on July 14, 2016, 04:27:36 PM
Here's a review of the HV-32P and also the single-channel HV-35P, with good internal shots of the PCBs:
http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/millennia-hv-32p-hv-35p (http://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/millennia-hv-32p-hv-35p)

The DAV BG1 (http://www.davelectronics.com/bg1.htm) mentioned at the end as a lower-cost alternative is a favorite of many classical people on GS.  I only see UK dealers for it, priced around £500 so quite a bit less than the HV-32P.  But it appears to be AC power only.
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 15, 2016, 06:12:58 AM
Noah, while I FN LOVE my VMS02IB, I'm not upset at ALL that I couldn't run the VMS for Phish this past Sunday! I just ran mk41>pfa>70d for PH/Syracuse, and IMO, it sounds as good as my VMS02IB probably would've! I think my mk41>70d sounds pretty good compared to Andy's mk41v>sxr4! And now that I saw you and Andy's setups from Portland, I'm jealous and now I want some 41v caps and a single bar setup lol ;D Anyway, what about a Schoeps VMS preamp if you can find one? The 02IB is smaller than the 32ub/52ub and a good bit smaller than the 5u!

I don't know what I'm trying to say? I guess I'm just trying to say that the grass isn't always greener on the other side ;) I really liked your mk22/mk3>Busman 70d stuff the most, from what you did this summer's tour, and thought it already sounded dank! That said, if you aren't happy with the way your rig sounds, then it definitely makes sense to switch things up and maybe get an external preamp 8)
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: lsd2525 on July 18, 2016, 11:48:33 AM
I'm bumping this in the hopes of getting more info from any users.

I love my mod dr-70d setup, but external preamps might take the Schoeps tapes to the next level. The Audioroot femto is another option, of course, but Millennia's reputation precedes them.

Another good option is the SD MixPre / Shure FP-24 on eBay (and here) every so often for under $400.  But I find my modded 70D equal in quality to the FP24 preamps until I need very high gain levels, since where the 70D starts to get noisy.  But even recording 100% acoustic / classical music, I never need to go there.  The 70D is always set to MID or even LOW gain.   The FP24 only gets used when I need 6 channels going, and it's feeding into the M10.

I'm sure this Millennia is outstanding, but I think we're now getting to the point where a lot of built-in preamps are plenty good enough and externals are not needed.  If you are recording highly detailed music in a quiet hall which will allow you to hear those fine differences (i.e. not stack taping) then maybe you will hear the benefit from an external pre.  But at that highest level of performance, it would probably make more sense to have a one-box professional solution from SD, Nagra, Sonosax, etc.

Volt, I forgot - which mod does your 70 have? Thanks!
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: voltronic on July 18, 2016, 12:03:14 PM
I'm bumping this in the hopes of getting more info from any users.

I love my mod dr-70d setup, but external preamps might take the Schoeps tapes to the next level. The Audioroot femto is another option, of course, but Millennia's reputation precedes them.

Another good option is the SD MixPre / Shure FP-24 on eBay (and here) every so often for under $400.  But I find my modded 70D equal in quality to the FP24 preamps until I need very high gain levels, since where the 70D starts to get noisy.  But even recording 100% acoustic / classical music, I never need to go there.  The 70D is always set to MID or even LOW gain.   The FP24 only gets used when I need 6 channels going, and it's feeding into the M10.

I'm sure this Millennia is outstanding, but I think we're now getting to the point where a lot of built-in preamps are plenty good enough and externals are not needed.  If you are recording highly detailed music in a quiet hall which will allow you to hear those fine differences (i.e. not stack taping) then maybe you will hear the benefit from an external pre.  But at that highest level of performance, it would probably make more sense to have a one-box professional solution from SD, Nagra, Sonosax, etc.

Volt, I forgot - which mod does your 70 have? Thanks!

Jim Williams mod.  He does not do the mod himself, but provides the full details for free.  You just have to be comfortable working with surface mount components (or find a shop that does).  Details at the bottom of the 70D FAQ (http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=172795.0).

To my knowledge, the only other TS member who has that particular mod is Cheesecadet. 
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: lsd2525 on July 18, 2016, 12:52:54 PM
Duh......if I had looked at your signature line, I would have seen it :facepalm: Going to see Steve Miller and imbibing too much on a school night makes for a bad Monday. Thanks!
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: noahbickart on August 31, 2016, 10:12:36 PM
...if you aren't happy with the way your rig sounds, then it definitely makes sense to switch things up and maybe get an external preamp 8)

I'm not unhappy with the way my rig sounds.

I just have the same insatiable drive for more and better gear like the rest of you sluts.

The truth is, I think the transducers make most of the difference.

Nonetheless, the Millennia seems like the kind of thing tapers would be into these days- 4 separate preamp flavors into a f8
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: noahbickart on March 26, 2017, 11:11:33 PM
I'm having trouble between deciding which preamp to spring for. I think I've narrowed it down to the following three:

1. https://www.mil-media.com/HV-32P.html
2. http://rupertneve.com/products/portico-5012/
3. http://www.puebloaudio.com/isleta---battery-preamp.html

Any thoughts?
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: pohaku on March 27, 2017, 12:26:08 AM
Tough decision to make.   ;D

FWIW, here are some random thoughts in no particular order.

The Portico and the Millennia are very different sounding preamps (keeping in mind that, IMHO, the sound distinction between preamps has been somewhat oversold).

See the mic preamp graph from the listening sessions:

http://www.prostudioreviews.com/mic-preamp-graph.html

Millennia and Neve Portico inhabit opposite ends of the graph.

I don't know where Pueblo falls on this graph, but knowing some of the users of the current Pueblo preamp line from GS and what they record, I would expect it to fall on the transparent end.

I have one old converted module Neve preamp (not the more modern Portico line) and I would say it is certainly not a "clean" pre.  I have a couple Millennia TD-1s (which have the HV-3 preamp), which are just great, but really too large and heavy for location recording of the type that we do here.  I really like the sound (and having Millennia EQ and DI is a bonus), so I would not be at all averse having that type of clean/transparent preamp in a smaller more portable package.

More bells and whistles with Millennia and Neve.

More gain with Pueblo.

I don't know what the Pueblo will weigh in at, but the Millennia is significantly lighter than the Neve (3 pounds compared to 8 pounds) - and smaller too.  A 5 pound weight differential is pretty significant to me.

Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: noahbickart on March 27, 2017, 07:54:20 AM
See the mic preamp graph from the listening sessions:

http://www.prostudioreviews.com/mic-preamp-graph.html

Millennia and Neve Portico inhabit opposite ends of the graph.

I suspect the Neve is rated "colored" assuming the "silk" mode is engaged. One of the things that I find attractive about that unit is the ability to both use and defeat that mode (though in general, I think it's better to add "color" in post with DSP).

Thanks for the other comments, though, weight is always an issue.
Title: Re: New PRE Alert: Millennia HV-32P
Post by: yug du nord on March 27, 2017, 09:50:23 AM
I've never run one..  but the Portico is sweet!!  Normal mode is more transparent than the silk mode IMO, but the silk mode has that Neve smoothness.  The thing is a beast though..  big and heavy compared to most "portable" units these days.  It sounds great with Schoeps IMO. 
The sonic "color" of Neve is a preference...  either you like it or don't.  Somewhat similar in the way that the Apogee pre amps have a sonic "color".  Either you like the Apogee sound or you don't.
There are a number of people on TS that use the 5012..  ask around for opinions on it.
.....but you WILL need a bigger gear bag!