Topic: WMod+ UA5 or other Pre>AD combo???

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

So I'm thinking about getting a WMod+ UA5.  Right now I have a DMod from Oade, and they've quoted me $365 for the upgrade.  That's going to end up being about $700 total for the thing.

I'm wondering what other pre>ad combos other people use that is in this price range.  I've seen SBM-1s going for about $350, so its made me wonder if I shouldn't just go with something else...  I have a Hosa, so no need for optical, though it would be nice.

Maybe I should just stick with what I got and go for the mod???

Thanks,

Terry

ADK A51S LEs > UA5 > Nomad 3

[JackoRoses]

I was going through the same as you on this.
Dish out 700 for a wmod+ or look around for something in the price range.
You can find a apogee 500 for around 300 possibly. You still need your preamp though..
Or save up some more money and try and find a used v3 for 1200+
You can also get a minime for 700-900$ ..
Not sure what else is availabe in the sub 1k$ range though.
I decided I can go without food for the next year and bought the v3.
I just did not see getting a UA5(*)mod+ for that much and expect to get a
good resell value on it.  Especially since I wanted to upgrade to a v3 anyway...
There is the grahm pattern dmic 20 that I believe does preamp and A/D for 500$
and you could find one on here for well under that I believe.
Good luck in your decision

[nickgregory]

the regular, non mod'ed SBMs go for $350, trust me you wouldnt want that.  The mod is a huge improvement over the stock unit and goes for around $500-525

[neumannkid]

Damn 365 for the upgrade, it would probably be cheaper for your to sell the Dmod and then buy a Wmod used or new.

[Chris K]

i was told by jim oade that to upgrade my digi mod to the warm mod would cost $230. I guess the difference between the $230 & $365 is for the + (plus) modifications which seems legit and reasonable ($135 for the +)

[neumannkid]

Ahhhh....now that makes more sense I missed that little + pn the end of the wmod.....doh!

[dnsacks]

I was going through the same as you on this.
Dish out 700 for a wmod+ or look around for something in the price range.
You can find a apogee 500 for around 300 possibly. You still need your preamp though..
Or save up some more money and try and find a used v3 for 1200+
You can also get a minime for 700-900$ ..
Not sure what else is availabe in the sub 1k$ range though.
I decided I can go without food for the next year and bought the v3.
I just did not see getting a UA5(*)mod+ for that much and expect to get a
good resell value on it.  Especially since I wanted to upgrade to a v3 anyway...
There is the grahm pattern dmic 20 that I believe does preamp and A/D for 500$
and you could find one on here for well under that I believe.
Good luck in your decision

Guess it all depends on what your goal is.  I run a tmod-plus ua5 and LOVE the sound I get out of it.  I'm not as fond of its ergonomics, but can live with that and intend to keep this for the foreseeable future.  If you intend to upgrade to a v3, etc. at some point soonish, then I agree, you'll likely take a loss on the wmod plus and you may as well hold off 'till you can drop the $$$ on a v3.  However, if you can live with the ua5's ergonomics and like the warm mod's sound, I say go for it -- I don't think either an ad500, a dmic20 or a unmodded sbm-1 comes close to what doug's been able to do with these modded ua5s sound-wise.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

i was told by jim oade that to upgrade my digi mod to the warm mod would cost $230. I guess the difference between the $230 & $365 is for the + (plus) modifications which seems legit and reasonable ($135 for the +)

Yep, I was quoted $225 for the Warm, $125 for the Plus and then $15 for s&h and insurance.

But my thinking is this:  I think I paid over $350 for the digi-mod brand new.  Adding another $350 for the mod and I'm up to $700.  Thing is, a WMod brand new form Oade is $550, add the Plus and that $675 - and a free battery pack.

I gotta get those guys to come down on the price...

T

[JackoRoses]

Guess it all depends on what your goal is.  I run a tmod-plus ua5 and LOVE the sound I get out of it.  I'm not as fond of its ergonomics, but can live with that and intend to keep this for the foreseeable future.  If you intend to upgrade to a v3, etc. at some point soonish, then I agree, you'll likely take a loss on the wmod plus and you may as well hold off 'till you can drop the $$$ on a v3.  However, if you can live with the ua5's ergonomics and like the warm mod's sound, I say go for it -- I don't think either an ad500, a dmic20 or a unmodded sbm-1 comes close to what doug's been able to do with these modded ua5s sound-wise.

I agree I don't think either unit comes close to a ua5 sound or a v3.
Each one has their own sound. My goal was to get a v3 in a year.
I could not see buying a w+mod for 700 and then spinning around and getting a V3.
If you plan on keeping the UA5 for over a year I think it is a good investment for what you get.
On the other hand find a store that will extend credit and buy the V3
It was a hard decision but on the other hand it was quite simple

[bagtagsell]

Generally speaking, don't sink a lot of money into an entry device.  The resell just won't be there.

The UA-5 has a great sound imho, but for 700 I would expect something more.  For example better meters, less sensitive gain knob, things like that.  I know its small and doesn't effect the sound, but it drove me nuts.