Topic: UA-5 vs. AD-20

[T-90]

I think you have 2 options regarding this:
DL XXX mic > PS2 > AD20 sources as well as C4 > XXX sources from Llama and compare.  If you sell your AD20>PS2 and add some loot, you can have a UA5 or nicer Pre>AD.  See how that sounds to you, there are lots of these sources around.  The C4s are a great starter mic, worth keeping for a while until you upgrade your Pre>AD.  But then again, you might decide to go with better mics into the PS2>AD20 depending on what you hear in your comps. 
I would suggest upgrading your preamp, then your mics...
Terry

this is my current train of thought as well....the c4's seem to be able to hold their own, and since im not really hung up on 24 bit yet, i could easily work with my c4's and jb3 while replacing the ps-2/ad-20 with something more like a ua5, which is what i really wanted anyway but I got a very nice deal on the ps2/ad20 from a ts.com member and ended up with them....they have kept me happy for a while but i want something different to play with and maybe enhance my recordings at the same time and this thread may have pushed me over the edge

[dennisrtyler]

this is an easy one...sell the ps2>ad20>jb3 and get an Oade ACM Marantz PMD660. your ears will thank you.

[cgrooves]

I liked the sound from the C4's paired with the AD-20 when I got a patch from Haleyscomet at the GRAB show in the ATL.  Now that I have an AD-20 and a digi mod UA-5 at my disposal I plan on doing a comparison at the next show I tape just to see how they pair up with my AT mics.  I'll run set 1 with one pre/AD and set 2 with the other so that it will be an 'apples to apples' comparison.  Now that I've gotten some more gear I'm already thinking about a mic upgrade.  I'd like to get my hands on a SP LSD-2, but can't justify dropping that kind of cash right now.  LSD-2>digi mod UA-5>h140 would be a nice sounding compact rig I bet.  I know where some schoeps have been sitting in a closet for about 9 years, so that may be my best option financially speaking.

[cgrooves]

I was able to run some tests this weekend with a local band.  Friday night, set one I ran the AD-20 and set two I ran the digi mod UA-5.  The levels were run a little hotter on the AD-20, but other than that it was an 'apples to apples' comparison.  Mics were set up FOH in a very shity spot (i.e. stage right of the stage right stack) running DIN, but I was just trying to compare the pre / AD's.  Result: I liked the sound of the AD-20 better because it sounded warmer.  The UA-5 probably captured a better dynamic range, but sounded a bit thin to my ears.  Saturday night, I ran a matrix with the UA-5 and placed the mics in a much better spot.  Result: Probably the best sounding recording I have ever done.  I had planned on getting rid of one of them, but I think I will hang on to both for now and compare them again in a different setting.

[poorlyconditioned]

I was able to run some tests this weekend with a local band.  Friday night, set one I ran the AD-20 and set two I ran the digi mod UA-5.  The levels were run a little hotter on the AD-20, but other than that it was an 'apples to apples' comparison.  Mics were set up FOH in a very shity spot (i.e. stage right of the stage right stack) running DIN, but I was just trying to compare the pre / AD's.  Result: I liked the sound of the AD-20 better because it sounded warmer.  The UA-5 probably captured a better dynamic range, but sounded a bit thin to my ears.  Saturday night, I ran a matrix with the UA-5 and placed the mics in a much better spot.  Result: Probably the best sounding recording I have ever done.  I had planned on getting rid of one of them, but I think I will hang on to both for now and compare them again in a different setting.

Thanks for the comments/tests...

If you get a chance, could you put up some samples?

  Richard

[dennisrtyler]

I was able to run some tests this weekend with a local band.  Friday night, set one I ran the AD-20 and set two I ran the digi mod UA-5.  The levels were run a little hotter on the AD-20, but other than that it was an 'apples to apples' comparison.  Mics were set up FOH in a very shity spot (i.e. stage right of the stage right stack) running DIN, but I was just trying to compare the pre / AD's.  Result: I liked the sound of the AD-20 better because it sounded warmer.  The UA-5 probably captured a better dynamic range, but sounded a bit thin to my ears.  Saturday night, I ran a matrix with the UA-5 and placed the mics in a much better spot.  Result: Probably the best sounding recording I have ever done.  I had planned on getting rid of one of them, but I think I will hang on to both for now and compare them again in a different setting.

who did you tape Shane? you going over to ATL wed. for Bela/Umphrey's/Adrian Belew?

[cgrooves]

Dennis-
I taped a local act in H'ville just to run a comparison.  They were kind of perplexed by me wanting to tape, but I brought them a copy of Friday's show the next night.  Only hitting up weekend shows for a while, gotta miss Bela.

Poorly-
I don't upload shows because of the shitty nature of my PC at home.  I would upload some samples from my connection at work though, if it's an easy process.  PM me instr.

[poorlyconditioned]

Dennis-
I taped a local act in H'ville just to run a comparison.  They were kind of perplexed by me wanting to tape, but I brought them a copy of Friday's show the next night.  Only hitting up weekend shows for a while, gotta miss Bela.

Poorly-
I don't upload shows because of the shitty nature of my PC at home.  I would upload some samples from my connection at work though, if it's an easy process.  PM me instr.

Actually, don't worry about the samples.  I'm waiting for someone to do a side-by-side comparision, that is, split the mics and do both at the same time.  That will answer our questions.

  Richard

[T-90]

Actually, don't worry about the samples.  I'm waiting for someone to do a side-by-side comparision, that is, split the mics and do both at the same time.  That will answer our questions.
Richard

ok, i now have a stock ua5 on the way and then its going to bussman2 for the mod....im not sure if im gonna sell the ps2/ad20 or sell my firebox to help pay for the ua5 and mods but im gonna have to keep the ps2/ad20 at least until i get the ua5 back and test it out, so i will get a pair of splitters and run this test with spc4's....the question is should this test be done with the ua5 just as a dmod next to the stock ad20? will the bm2mod compromise the integrity of the test? 

[cgrooves]

....the question is should this test be done with the ua5 just as a dmod next to the stock ad20? will the bm2mod compromise the integrity of the test? 

Yeah, I was actually talking about a digi mod UA-5 / AD-20 comparison.  I'm pretty sure that the bm2mod UA-5 / AD-20 comparison would go in favor of the UA-5.

[paullySC]

this is an easy one...sell the ps2>ad20>jb3 and get an Oade ACM Marantz PMD660. your ears will thank you.

Agreed! It's 16 bit at its best.