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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: Justinasia on January 28, 2009, 11:48:27 PM

Title: UGLY vrs SONY PCM-D50 pre
Post by: Justinasia on January 28, 2009, 11:48:27 PM
As some of you know, I am wanting to get gear for recording quiet-sounding Japanese flute, around Japan. I need my gear to be portable and want it good enough for making a commercial CD. I made another thread here http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,115987.0.html (http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,115987.0.html) but this question is now rather specific so hope it's OK to make this new thread:

How does the CA UGLY compare with the pre in the SONY PCM-D50? I have been recommended the UGLY because I am thinking to use DPA 4060 pair and the D50 can't power them. But until now I have not heard any opinion of whether or not the UGLY is a better pre. If it isn't, wouldn't it make more sense to use a power supply only (no pre) for the DPA 4060?

My other question is, how would the sound quality compare for these two:
CA UGLY>SONY PCM-D50
vrs
CA UGLY>microtrack

Thanks a lot
Justin
Title: Re: UGLY vrs SONY PCM-D50 pre
Post by: jlykos on January 29, 2009, 02:38:31 PM
My other question is, how would the sound quality compare for these two:
CA UGLY>SONY PCM-D50
vrs
CA UGLY>microtrack

Thanks a lot
Justin

There is no question that UGLY > D50 would result in higher-quality recordings than UGLY > Microtrack.  I used both and there is simply no comparison between the two units.  The line / A/D stage in the Microtrack is harsh and brittle.  The D50 has a very nice A/D and line stage.
Title: Re: UGLY vrs SONY PCM-D50 pre
Post by: guysonic on January 29, 2009, 03:33:28 PM
My other question is, how would the sound quality compare for these two:
CA UGLY>SONY PCM-D50
vrs
CA UGLY>microtrack

Thanks a lot
Justin

There is no question that UGLY > D50 would result in higher-quality recordings than UGLY > Microtrack.  I used both and there is simply no comparison between the two units.  The line / A/D stage in the Microtrack is harsh and brittle.  The D50 has a very nice A/D and line stage.

The D50 also has excellent MIC input especially in the 20 dB input sensitivity mode, but still very, very good in boosted gain (0 dB) mode; this is panel slide switch operated on the D50. 

Boosted gain mode is where the Ugly likely operates 100% of the time regardless of where its level knob is positioned, so most likely Sony MIC input has better gain mode (choice) than Ugly even when going LINE input to D50.
Title: Re: UGLY vrs SONY PCM-D50 pre
Post by: sunjan on February 01, 2009, 05:08:55 PM
There is no question that UGLY > D50 would result in higher-quality recordings than UGLY > Microtrack.  I used both and there is simply no comparison between the two units.  The line / A/D stage in the Microtrack is harsh and brittle.  The D50 has a very nice A/D and line stage.

Just for the sake of clarification, are you referring to legacy Microtrack or the MTII? Or maybe they're both just as bad going analog in?