absolutely will need to run the calpots, Trey. the settings on the eaa are a little odd, but at zero gain, with -35 mic sens, that translates into about 20 db or so. You *can* run at +6 or +12 gain, but I think you'd run a danger of clipping at +12, and you'd have to fine adjust the mme anyway. I really love both the sound of the eaa and the m148. The oade is a little more balanced throughout the range, a little less warm, I think the bass on the eaa is a little looser, m148 bass, very tight but a little less pronounced.