Topic: What's so great about the UA5?

[hexyjones]

First of all...let me say - I'm the kind of person who gets worried when I see too many people agreeing on things...

I'm still trying to understand what is so great about this device. It seems a bit clumsy...the knobs are tiny. No metering to speak of. I cant find a THD spec. Yes, it has "all" the features one might have on their checklist.

But - I cant help but wonder if this device's reputation has been manufacured by Oade. The guy offers 4 mods to the thing...he is doing a nice business. Is it possible that Oade picked this device simply because of the oppourtunity to mod? Maybe the parts used in the UA5 are more common and have more alternative parts available.

For all we know the M-Audio DUO may sound better but not offer as many "mod oppourtunities" to Oade...so he pumps up the UA-5 instead...

Sound possible...?

As for the mods themselves...I really hate to "hear" my equipment...I have no doubt his mods do what they say...But do they sound better, or just different? My opinion...they just sound different...not "better." And for Oades purposes...different is good enough to sell.

Not really trying to criticize Oade...I would do the same...and I would conciously seek products that I could offer pricey mods to...it's not a crime...just something to consider...

[rdptha2nd]

I understand some of your concerns, and in some ways I agree.  I think there are probably a lot of people like me that got one (as a noob) used it and like the results even as we emerge out of our noob status.  When I listen to recordings with the same mics and the UA5 vs. the $1500 preamp options I tend not to feel that the difference in sound is worth $1000 more.  I also think the modifications do make a qualitative difference to the sound of the UA5 and not just a quantitative difference, but that is just my opinion.  I do not have my UA5 modded yet, but I plan on it and I guess what it comes down to for me is that it was noob friendly and cheap.

[JasonSobel]

First off, let me preface this with this - I have never run a ua-5 (modded or otherwise)...  but I have had experience with Doug Oade, and I used to run an Oade mod SBM-1...

For all we know the M-Audio DUO may sound better but not offer as many "mod oppourtunities" to Oade...so he pumps up the UA-5 instead...

I'm pretty sure (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) that the M-Audio DUO runs on AC power.  which pretty much eliminates it for our purposes, because it can't be easily powered by batteries.  So regardless of the fact that it might be better than the ua-5, the ac power requirement means that a lot of people here won't even consider it.

But - I cant help but wonder if this device's reputation has been manufacured by Oade. The guy offers 4 mods to the thing...he is doing a nice business. Is it possible that Oade picked this device simply because of the oppourtunity to mod? Maybe the parts used in the UA5 are more common and have more alternative parts available.

yes, but Oade was modding units long before the ua5 came out.  I used to run an Oade mod SBM-1.  He's also been making pre-amps for a long time, and I think he understands the circuitry that goes into our equipment very well.  I think he offers so many mods for the ua5 because there is demand for it, not the other way around.  Many people think that the modded units sound a lot better, and they trust Doug to work on their gear.

I cant find a THD spec.

regardless of the specs of the unit, or even if the specs are published, a lot of people like the way their recordings sound when they use a UA-5.  I agree with you to an extent about not wanting to "hear" my equipment.  I use a V3, because I feel that the recording is much closer to what my mics "hear" (compared to the mod SBM-1 that I was running previously).  Now, I'm just waiting for an easy way to record at 24-bit, because I feel that that will be an even better representation of what my mics "hear." (and I love the way Neumann mics sound).

So that's what I think about it.  I don't think Doug is creating a market for this unit, I think he sees the demand for a good preamp/AD combo unit that costs less than the V3 or MiniMe.

[hexyjones]

I'm not suggesting Oade is doing anything sinister here...I think he is clearly knowledgeable and trustworthy...He made his rep filling in the gaps in sony's DAT line and his preamps. But he may also be a good businessman and saw an oppourtunity with the UA-5. Notice he doesn't offer any mods to the MiniMe and V3? It would be a lot harder to suggest that a 1500 dollar preamp needs new opamps to sound "better." I think he saw that there was a gap in price points - so why not offer a 500 dollar version of the UA-5? Again - I think the UA-5s popularity may be due more to economics than sound.

If you dont need DC power/portability...then perhaps all of the UA5 advice may be a bum steer...something to remember when picking gear. My "A" rig is totally reliant on AC power...I record mostly in bars and clubs. On the rare occasion that I need a DC setup...I can beg or borrow something for the evening.

[Craig T]

I had the opportunity to compare a stock to a wmod UA5 and the wmod was an obvious improvement.  I also compared the wmod to a stock DUO, no question the wmod was better all around - not even close.

I think the mod UA5's have been around long enough to have proven they offer very good performance for the price.  No need to fluff them, the recordings speak for themselves.

[eric.B]

just going by the A>D stage in the ua5....  it is good, better than the one in my DAP1.

[Swampy]

Here is why the UA-5s are so popular in the field:
-Price
-They sound pretty good for the price
-Easily powered in the field
-Pre and A>D
-Coax and optical out with simple mod
-XLR & RCA imputs

In the price range there is really nothing thats that good. I think by now that the Oade mods are not a scam. So many people use them, people wouldnt keep getting them modded if the mods did nothing...

[hexyjones]

Here is why the UA-5s are so popular in the field:
-Price
-They sound pretty good for the price
-Easily powered in the field
-Pre and A>D
-Coax and optical out with simple mod
-XLR & RCA imputs

In the price range there is really nothing thats that good. I think by now that the Oade mods are not a scam. So many people use them, people wouldnt keep getting them modded if the mods did nothing...

Right - and 2 of those things (that make it so popular) are based Oade's services. Bear in mind - he sells new already modded units...it's not as if everyone is just sending their UA5 to be modded...

And again - I'm not suggesting this is a scam...but I do think there is heathy dose of marketing and economics involved...

[Swampy]

None of them are. The coax mod is easily done at home, he just offers it... What other one is he responsible for?

[BJ]

Right - and 2 of those things (that make it so popular) are based Oade's services. Bear in mind - he sells new already modded units...it's not as if everyone is just sending their UA5 to be modded...

And again - I'm not suggesting this is a scam...but I do think there is heathy dose of marketing and economics involved...

I dont agree...im sending my used in to be modded soon...If you look thru the post in last week..you will see several inquiries about sending their ua5's "back in" to be modded....its not only new ones...its a cost issue for most...great sound for cheap...start with a ua5(can be stock) from oade...when you save enough...send it in for mods....the digi mod...still sounds gr8!  esp for a 250$ unit that is both pre and a/d....and for an additional 350 later..you cna have a + mod to help the line in..AND a sound mod of your preferance....
versatility is key for me here...ANYTIME in the future...if I switch mikes..i could pay 65$ for a mod "change" to go from warm to transparent or vice versa....

[Ed.]

yeah, you can do the digimod yourself.

throw onto swampy's list the fact that it has usb so you can easily do lappy taping with it too.

the optical out is nice for jb3 tapers, which a lot of us are.  oade's not modding the jb3...

plus, you have to figure, you can get a new one off ebay for $250, do the mod yourself, and you then have a decent preamp/adc with xlr/rca/digi in and coax/optical/rca out.  it does 24bit, the knobs are easy enuf to work with, the peak light, although not awesome does help with levels.

theres a lot there for your money without even getting oade involved.

edit:  don't forget about the matrix capabilities it can do.

[urobouros]

And again - I'm not suggesting this is a scam...but I do think there is heathy dose of marketing and economics involved...

There very well may be a bit of suggestions as much true improvements.  I know I'm a noob but it seems to me that if it sounds good to you then it's good.  I'm taping for me ultimately, whether I spread the show around or not, and if it sounds good to my ears I'm happy.  I'm generally of the mind that you get what you pay for but expensive doesn't always equal better.  With all the varieties of rigs and sounds, the best you can hope for is to be happy with what you have rather than envious of what you don't.  Though I, as I'm sure many others here, have a hard time not lusting for that new piece of gear.

[krebsy]

+T for sparking a good conversation. Having run a stock UA-5 and recently had the T-Mod Plus done to it, IMO the sound quality is greatly improved.  It's a much quieter unit now, and is closer to just lettling what the mics hear come through.  The various flavors of mod's just seem to be a way to tailor it to what the individual is going for. I think that's where the just sounding different part comes in.  Oh, and Oade Bros. Audio makes a little cash along the way.  Cool by me, and it's still cheaper than a V3.  And, all the Mod UA-5 pimping I've heard has come from users in the field who don't have a vested interest in Doug and Co. making some coin.

All that being said, there are still a few things about the usability of the UA-5 that could be improved, but that's prob the stuff that would drive this unit to a $1000 plus solution.  By then we'd all prob just get V3's...

[Todd R]

In some ways, I think you are answering your own questions and in some ways it seems you've got your mind made up and nothing is going to change it.

Yes, to some extent Doug is creating and capitalizing on a market for the UA5.  But the box has a lot to offer at a very good price which is why it is popular.  Some people might be happy with AC powered gear, but the bulk of us in this hobby want the flexibility and portability of DC powered gear.  Once you make DC a requirement, there really isn't all that much that suits our needs.  Especially if you want an all in one box, and even if you didn't.  After all, there really aren't many A/D only converters to choose from if you want to go with separates.  Old and unsupported AD500s and SBM/modSBM1s, and I guess the AD2k.  But presuming you're interested in an all-in-one box and want to keep the costs down there's really only the DMic20 and the UA5.  Minime and V3 do it, but cost alot more.  In-box doesn't have phantom.

So the UA5 is popular due to cost, performance, sound, and completeness of the package.  The mods make it nicer since it sounds better and fills the gap between very low cost (digi-mod UA5 and Dmic20) and higher end (MMe and V3).  The mods put the UA5 into a mid-range class of cost/performance where there is little to no other competition.

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

I think people get it because it is the least expensive all-in-one.  The PS2>AD20 is cheaper, but its separates and doesn't sound as good.  The Graham Patten stuff is nice, but only the DMIC20 is an all in one, and it doesn't have the features the UA5 has. 

The MiniMe and V3 are the only other all-in-ones I can think of off the to of my head - and considering the price, it no wonder the UA5 is more common.

I think it is a combination of Oade pushing and word of mouth driving the UA5.

When I first got interested, I asked the few tapers I knew what they recommended.  As I got an idea of what I needed and wanted, I realized that I could never afford everything I would need that the UA5 could already do.  It wasn't until I actually bought the UA5 that I thought about the mods.  Now that I'm a little more into it, I'm curious about them.  Sure many of us want transparent sound from our equipment, but the mods do offer us a few more choices...

I run LD ADKs usually 30 feet back and my low-end is lacking.  So I thought about a WMod.  Sure I don't want my Pre and AD to color the music.  But if my mics aready color one way, what's wrong with coloring back to compensate??? 

I love my UA5.  I do wish the RCA volume knob was on the front and that there were better meters, but considering the Tmod is half the price of a V3, it may be worth it to deal without...

Terry