Two great preamp in the test with guitar and bass. They both sounded really good. I ended up in the WA73 myself because I needed a preamp to go to the rack.
I'm wondering if the only thing I can hear here is a slight difference in the Saturation profile. The Warm feels a little more driven than the GA, I wonder if you nudged the gain up and the trim back on the GA if they would just sound almost exact.
Golden age is more focused and the Warm has more dimension. I think people think so much about coloration they forget that a sense of depth is what really makes the difference in analog. Plugins are great at coloring but they can’t 100% emulate that 3D feel.
@@georgeorwell6066 Just because he's not giving the right names to it doesn't mean he's not noticing a problem. Plugins have made a lot of headway but on any type of distortion they seem to not cut the mustard quite yet. And what gives most preamps their "sound" is a pleasing subtle reactive distortion. I don't doubt they'll get there though.
GAP sounds more present and euphonic to me, as opposed to the darker Warm which feels like it's holding back a little from 3k. I'd love to hear the WA73EQ and PREQ-73 in a shootout to see how the tone stacks affect them both.
GAP sounds great, definitely different, but I felt it sounded better on more things. Though, super subjective as sometimes I did prefer the WA on some sources.
Warm feels a little tighter in the mids and has a bit more warmth to it. In most takes I prefer the GAP but I have a Warm WA12 and really love that. The WA12 and GAP73 together, but on different instruments, is really where they shine. The mix is warm but open and has multiple layers of sound and texture. That's really what you want.
The wa12 is nice and clear. I think it shines on acoustic instruments and what not. You can of corse press the tone button to get another texture of sound. Yet the GAP seems to be more clear and open too Since you guys already have that option wouldn’t you want to get the darker / more low end warm audio pre for your more low end instruments ? I ask because I have a TB 12 I generally use it the same way the WA12 is set up with the cleaner preamps. I’d like to get the GAP yet the warm audio one is more of the opposite of what we already own. Am I wrong here fellas ?
@Doug Doan I have the DIYRE Colour modules and use that for changing the tone and saturation. They're cheap and easy to build and can be upgraded later. They make a mic pre that can take 1 colour module too. Right now I'm interested in their OLA5 opto compressor.
Hey, people! With a neutral, clear (more for the bright side) audio interface like my RME Babyface Pro FS, which of these preamps should I get? For me the ultimate result should be focused in the mix not in solo sound.
Was the air pressure and humidity the same for each note in the take? Was the current going from the mic to the preamp steady or had self-noise masked as "warmth"? What was the preamps temperature of the transformer at the exact time you plucked the strings? What test can be done to prove these were the exact preamps used? Are the manufacturing tolerances between %.000002 and %.0000015? When were they purchased and did they go UPS or FEDEX?
Interesting that others prefer the GAP. Not me, not at all. I think the coloration that the Warm offers is more Neve like, while the GAP sounds more open, a sound that I already have access to in my interface. The GAP adds nothing for me, I already have that sound. Another really important consideration, while this shootout is about the preamps, let’s be honest and factor in the shitty, and I mean shitty guitar recordings. These all sound direct, with terribly, dirty, non-musical cheap distortion. I do not hear an amp or a microphone, so that might cause some issues with this shootout. If you put a warm amp, a good guitar, and a good player, that Warm Audio might actually sound really amazing, and tame the harshness. Imagine a Gibson 335, coming out of a a Fender Princeton, into a condenser mic, clean tone. I think the Warm would really shine, and the GAP would sound like the interface mic pre. My two cents anyway.
Need to hear each in a mix. Trying to judge a pre-amp solo'ed is useless. I see too much of this already. When all is said and done, my Focusrite ISA pre-amps sound boring solo'ed but totally nail it in a mix. The solo'ed "warm" bottom kills a mix. My opinion from 40 years of recording and mixing.
Yes, but lot of people records solo instruments, piano, classical guitars, solo violin, cello suites ... It is good to know how it works soloed, in a mix you can fit and "hide" little things. In soloist it becomes explicit and spotted 100x100
@@marianoolivera Any preamp will work on soloed instruments. Pick your favorite one in that instance. But MOST people will not buy a preamp for strictly solo performances. THAT is where the sound in a mix matters. There are outliers in everything in the universe. Look at any used equipment sites/stores. You are unlikely to find many high-end preamps for sale. There will be 1000 Behringers in there.
@@ColSandersFORPRESIDENT I agree, but Behringer is crap and in general everybody knows you get what you pay. Neve preamps are state of the art electronics so even if somebody wants to sell it will be expensive. I can tell you that for a Classical guitar not any preamp will suite. You need clear quiet sound, you have an instrument that is not loud, that has lot of harmonics and attack information plus you can have vibrato in six strings... Acoustically very complex. So, it is good a have a preamp that is clever for that situation. If you record or mix rock you will find other challenges, and different problems, but I just tell why this is important
I'm wondering if the only thing I can hear here is a slight difference in the Saturation profile. The Warm feels a little more driven than the GA, I wonder if you nudged the gain up and the trim back on the GA if they would just sound almost exact.
Golden age is more focused and the Warm has more dimension. I think people think so much about coloration they forget that a sense of depth is what really makes the difference in analog. Plugins are great at coloring but they can’t 100% emulate that 3D feel.
Most underrated and noteworthy comment here. Becomes especially apparent with the bass tracks.
So for warm rich rapping vocals, which would you choose?
Warm Audio wins. I would prefer the Warm Audio sound on a professional recording. Return the Golden Age.
“Focus” 😂
“Dimension” 😂
Pure audiophool buffoonery.
Entirely arbitrary and subjective terms.
Science eludes you
@@georgeorwell6066 Just because he's not giving the right names to it doesn't mean he's not noticing a problem. Plugins have made a lot of headway but on any type of distortion they seem to not cut the mustard quite yet. And what gives most preamps their "sound" is a pleasing subtle reactive distortion. I don't doubt they'll get there though.
GAP sounds more present and euphonic to me, as opposed to the darker Warm which feels like it's holding back a little from 3k. I'd love to hear the WA73EQ and PREQ-73 in a shootout to see how the tone stacks affect them both.
I’m hearing the Warm sounding a little more open, and the Gap with more punch and presence.
Iike the GAP! Sounds cleaner and more precise yet still round:)
I think GAP sounds more general color, Warm Audio sound more focused although not as wide as GAP. Both are great in their own functionality
Thanks for video. I go with Premier. Good comparison.
Thanks for the video. I like them both, but to my ears, the GAP sounds better, remember it's a matter of taste.
The gap is indistinguishable from my neve 1073's
GAP sounds great, definitely different, but I felt it sounded better on more things. Though, super subjective as sometimes I did prefer the WA on some sources.
Warm feels a little tighter in the mids and has a bit more warmth to it. In most takes I prefer the GAP but I have a Warm WA12 and really love that. The WA12 and GAP73 together, but on different instruments, is really where they shine. The mix is warm but open and has multiple layers of sound and texture. That's really what you want.
The wa12 is nice and clear. I think it shines on acoustic instruments and what not. You can of corse press the tone button to get another texture of sound. Yet the GAP seems to be more clear and open too Since you guys already have that option wouldn’t you want to get the darker / more low end warm audio pre for your more low end instruments ?
I ask because I have a TB 12 I generally use it the same way the WA12 is set up with the cleaner preamps. I’d like to get the GAP yet the warm audio one is more of the opposite of what we already own. Am I wrong here fellas ?
@Doug Doan that’s a great idea I think I may look into that , thanks. What’s your favorite op amp you got so far ?
@Doug Doan I have the DIYRE Colour modules and use that for changing the tone and saturation. They're cheap and easy to build and can be upgraded later. They make a mic pre that can take 1 colour module too. Right now I'm interested in their OLA5 opto compressor.
Hey, people! With a neutral, clear (more for the bright side) audio interface like my RME Babyface Pro FS, which of these preamps should I get?
@@hubaperget the gap, the warm is shit
Comparison would be more fair of the gap dlx with eq was used. That being said I liked the gap on more sources than I did the warm.
Hey, people! With a neutral, clear (more for the bright side) audio interface like my RME Babyface Pro FS, which of these preamps should I get? For me the ultimate result should be focused in the mix not in solo sound.
Do you think eq version isnt that necessary on WA?
Thanks for posting this. I have the Pre-73 already. The WA73 sounds like an upgrade. Much warmer!
😂 i'll take it off your hands for free!!
Warmer, I hear mids
Great work.I'd love a vocal comparison
I want both
Were you micing an amp with the guitar or going di?
can u compare acoustic n vocals?
Just got the eq version of the gop 73 l do love the la3a of gop can't wait for warm to make a version
Were these the same takes recorded through both boxes at the same time?
Was the air pressure and humidity the same for each note in the take? Was the current going from the mic to the preamp steady or had self-noise masked as "warmth"? What was the preamps temperature of the transformer at the exact time you plucked the strings? What test can be done to prove these were the exact preamps used? Are the manufacturing tolerances between %.000002 and %.0000015? When were they purchased and did they go UPS or FEDEX?
Prefered the gap on all
Interesting that others prefer the GAP. Not me, not at all. I think the coloration that the Warm offers is more Neve like, while the GAP sounds more open, a sound that I already have access to in my interface. The GAP adds nothing for me, I already have that sound. Another really important consideration, while this shootout is about the preamps, let’s be honest and factor in the shitty, and I mean shitty guitar recordings. These all sound direct, with terribly, dirty, non-musical cheap distortion. I do not hear an amp or a microphone, so that might cause some issues with this shootout. If you put a warm amp, a good guitar, and a good player, that Warm Audio might actually sound really amazing, and tame the harshness. Imagine a Gibson 335, coming out of a a Fender Princeton, into a condenser mic, clean tone. I think the Warm would really shine, and the GAP would sound like the interface mic pre. My two cents anyway.
"The GAP adds nothing for me" this is completely irrational.
Crank the gain to get “something”
the gap almost completley nulls with my 1073 lb
@@strobelightstrobelight If you already have that sound from your existing setup, it would add nothing for you. What is so hard to get?
@@josefdepovic8495 So anything that nulls is great? The sounds of silence explained. 😀
Would you still turn on the chainsaw ...
Converter?
Yes)
1:37 1:50
Both great GAP better
Warm more musical and reminds me more of my BAE which is superior to both. Golden age sounds more flat and boring by comparison.
Need to hear each in a mix. Trying to judge a pre-amp solo'ed is useless. I see too much of this already. When all is said and done, my Focusrite ISA pre-amps sound boring solo'ed but totally nail it in a mix. The solo'ed "warm" bottom kills a mix. My opinion from 40 years of recording and mixing.
yeah, i have this expereience as well. my isa one was sound so lame on solo. but when i mixed it with another track, everything starts to make sense.
Yes, but lot of people records solo instruments, piano, classical guitars, solo violin, cello suites ... It is good to know how it works soloed, in a mix you can fit and "hide" little things. In soloist it becomes explicit and spotted 100x100
@@marianoolivera Any preamp will work on soloed instruments. Pick your favorite one in that instance. But MOST people will not buy a preamp for strictly solo performances. THAT is where the sound in a mix matters. There are outliers in everything in the universe. Look at any used equipment sites/stores. You are unlikely to find many high-end preamps for sale. There will be 1000 Behringers in there.
@@ColSandersFORPRESIDENT I agree, but Behringer is crap and in general everybody knows you get what you pay. Neve preamps are state of the art electronics so even if somebody wants to sell it will be expensive. I can tell you that for a Classical guitar not any preamp will suite. You need clear quiet sound, you have an instrument that is not loud, that has lot of harmonics and attack information plus you can have vibrato in six strings... Acoustically very complex. So, it is good a have a preamp that is clever for that situation. If you record or mix rock you will find other challenges, and different problems, but I just tell why this is important
In a mix the GAP would achieve better results than the Warm? What you think. Thanks.