Topic: UA-5 or denecke AD-20????

[mikesalvo]

anyone own/used to own both? what are your preferences other than the UA-5 supplies phantom power.....

[tfrench]

anyone own/used to own both? what are your preferences other than the UA-5 supplies phantom power.....

PS2/AD20 - small footprint / 16 bit

UA5 - 24 bit

Also note you can purchase a plain UA5 and send it off to Busman for mods or you can purchase one of the Oade flavors.

Todd

[Javier Cinakowski]

I think the UA5 is all around a better preamp, regardless of 24bit...

[rastasean]

PS2/AD20 - small footprint / 16 bit

UA5 - 24 bit

Also note you can purchase a plain UA5 and send it off to Busman for mods or you can purchase one of the Oade flavors.

Todd

Todd,

Please advise. What are these busman mods everyone is talking about and the oade mods/pre amps everyone talks about?
Also, what is the purpose of having a pre-amp in the field with USB? This is not to criticize anyone, I just don't understand what a USB preamp would do. I know that I would take a ua5 over a MMP because of a $600-700 price difference, though.

[Javier Cinakowski]

I just don't understand what a USB preamp would do.

It wouldn't do anything for you in the field.  We don't use the USB feature.  The stock UA5's must be modified to work as a stand alone preamp without being connected to a computer via USB.  This is typically called the digi-mod and is included on many of the other modifications (busman and oade)...

The other modifications enhance the performance of the preamp and also add some flavor.  Be it warm or transparent....

[NOLAfishwater]

Another cool feature of the UA-5 is the RCA input that allows for on the fly mixing of Mics + SBD feed, or if you have some mini mics with battery box, you can run out of the battery box with 1/8mini to dual RCA's into the back of the UA-5 and get a 4 mic mix.

[herrmann2burn]

Ive run both.  My 1st pre was the AD-20 and then i moved to the UA-5 Pmod (Oade) then i purchased a Wmod ua-5 also.
From my recollection of the AD-20, a few of the downsides were functionallity.
1) It had smaller knobs to control the gain, and no peak level warning.
2) Only digital out is an Optical outIt has both Digital outs. It does have a COaxial 1/8" out.  Dont know if i knew that at the time. i then  purchased an M-Audio CO2 converter (which i happen to have for sale here: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,98585.0.html    Thanks Jason for correcting me 
3) Power supply (runs on 9V so i would always have to change it)
5) 44.1 sample rate maximum
6) 20 bit maximum
7) XLR Inputs only

Some positive things i found about the AD-20
1) Price.  I think it cost about $200-250.
2) Size.  Good for Stealthing, or smaller footprint.

As for the UA-5's that i owned.
Positive:
1) 96 sample rate (although i never ran it higher than 48.
2) 24 bit.
3) easier knobs to control gain.
4) Peak level LED, although it was still not as precise to monitor exact levels. I believe the flashed at -3
5) Multiple Digital outs (Coaxial and Optical) which were both active, enabling to run 2 digital outs at the same time.
6) Mulitple Inputs: XLR's and RCA's which enabled me to make "On the fly" matrix recordings with SBD and Mics.
7) Phantom Power

Negative:
1) Gain knob for 2nd input is located in a bad spot on the rear of the unit, which makes it difficult, but not impossible to adjust.
2) Price $550.  *Not that its expensive, but if you are comparing it to the AD-20, it is almost double.  I however thought they are worth every penny.

I liked the UA-5 so much, and thought they were very reasonably priced that i purchased a WMod version, and would decide based on the band, which i would run...the Pmod or Wmod.

I believe the UA-5 is a perfect and logical upgrade from the AD-20.

Hope this helps.

[Belexes]

I don't do a lot of open recording, but if I did, I would definitely move to the UA-5 with a mod from my AD-20.  Still, I like what I have been getting with the PS-2 > AD-20 given the money spent. (bought the gear used in the yard)

[JasonSobel]

just to clarify.

Ive run both.  My 1st pre was the AD-20 and then i moved to the UA-5 Pmod (Oade) then i purchased a Wmod ua-5 also.
From my recollection of the AD-20, a few of the downsides were functionallity.
1) It had smaller knobs to control the gain, and no peak level warning.
2) Only digital out is an Optical out, which i then had to purchase an M-Audio CO2 converter.

while the AD-20 only has digital otus (no analog outs), the AD-20 has both optical out and an S/PDIF out.  The non-optical S/PDIF output is over a mono 1/8" jack (TS), instead of the standard RCA connection.  But it's not that big of a deal to get an S/PDIF cable with a 1/8" plug (TS) on one end and an RCA plug on the other.

[herrmann2burn]

just to clarify.

Ive run both.  My 1st pre was the AD-20 and then i moved to the UA-5 Pmod (Oade) then i purchased a Wmod ua-5 also.
From my recollection of the AD-20, a few of the downsides were functionallity.
1) It had smaller knobs to control the gain, and no peak level warning.
2) Only digital out is an Optical out, which i then had to purchase an M-Audio CO2 converter.

while the AD-20 only has digital otus (no analog outs), the AD-20 has both optical out and an S/PDIF out.  The non-optical S/PDIF output is over a mono 1/8" jack (TS), instead of the standard RCA connection.  But it's not that big of a deal to get an S/PDIF cable with a 1/8" plug (TS) on one end and an RCA plug on the other.

Yeah, you right!

[Cheesecadet]

Busman's BM2P+ UA-5 is the shit!!!  Love it Love it Love it.....

[mikesalvo]

+t all around guys! thanks. so my next wuestion is can someone please explain these mods i see everywhere??? also, what am i looking at cost wise for powering this thing???

thanks again ya'll!

~mike

[SmokinJoe]

I've had both...  My AD-20 seems "crisper" than my UA-5, but can be too bright at times.  AD-20 can run off a small 9V battery for a show, which is something a UA-5 can't do... you really need an external battery for that.

MODs (aka Modifications) are changes made to the electrical circuitry to suit a particular need.  A "warm mod" will make a mic which sounds "bright" less so, etc.  Generally it involves cleaning up the signal path and replacing some cheap components that the manufacturer used with some better ones to lower the noise floor.

A Stock UA-5 needs a computer via USB.  Someone figured out you could do a "digi-mod" by cutting a wire here, and adding a wire there, and wahoo! it doesn't need a computer any more.

[mikesalvo]

  Someone figured out you could do a "digi-mod" by cutting a wire here, and adding a wire there, and wahoo! it doesn't need a computer any more.

+t joe. doesnt need a computer for what??? what elsewould you use a USB port for on a pre???

also, how bout these other mods???

[willndmb]

i have used both and like the ua-5 better overall - basically for the reasons listed above
some of the keys for me...
ad20 uses 9v, easy but the low power light would come on and then die fast so it was easy to miss that the battery was low
small, belt clip if you want to stealth it
ua5 multi inputs and outs
matrix can be done

i currently am selling my BM2p+ ua5 too http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,97330.0.html
$350 shipped

[herrmann2burn]

Hey Mike.
If you do upgrade to a UA-5.  let me know. I have 2 batteries from when i ran them, that i will kick down to you.

[sunjan]

  Someone figured out you could do a "digi-mod" by cutting a wire here, and adding a wire there, and wahoo! it doesn't need a computer any more.

+t joe. doesnt need a computer for what??? what elsewould you use a USB port for on a pre???

also, how bout these other mods???

Time for you guys to get back to the FAQ:
http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,14389.0.html

/J