AMS Neve 1073SPX REVIEW: Is it BETTER than the Warm Audio WA73-EQ?

[@AtmosphereAudio]

Guys let me know how I can improve for future videos

[@InternationalBassStation]

Stop it with the autotune! I want to hear what you sound like, it also allows me to hear what the preamp sounds like. All I can hear our autotune artifacts!

[@anualphonse]

This was helpful - you’re right the Neve 1073 is smoother in this A/B. Love the vocals too.

[@dannyharpermusic]

Thank you so much for this video. I just purchased The Neve 1073SPX yesterday,, should be getting it this week. I also have a LA 610B which I love,

[@YOLO-pj3hh]

Which one sounds better for you? The LA 610B or the Neve 1073SPX? Do you recommend it for specific genres or multi genres?

[@AtmosphereAudio]

I love the 610! It seems to get a lot of hate but on bass it sounds great!

[@stevenrayphoto1280]

Awesome review!!! I would have liked to have heard how the eq sounded when used. Everything else was perfect including your final thoughts. Only suggestion, as an audio engineer, I think you should have a close mic so your voice is pristine with out the room acoustics. Thanks again, this was very helpful!

[@jacksp8de]

Sounds smoother than the wa73, there’s a sharpness to the warm I don’t like, I have the ha73 but I like the Neve 5211 much better. I just got the Neve Newton Channel in. I like the modern clean sound and the silk. You should try it.

[@QTheShooter352]

How are you liking the Newton channel? I cant make up my mind on whether to get the SPX Newton or 5211

[@jacksp8de]

@@QTheShooter352 The Newton channel is amazing. I never had a real Neve 1073 but it’s definitely a better thicker more detailed sound than the HA73EQ. Remember the Newton is just a 5211 preamp with eq and compressor. Best bang for your buck. I can’t say enough good things about it.

[@QTheShooter352]

After some more research I ended up going with the 1073SPX to later chain with the WA-1B compressor(haven't purchased the comp yet). I figured I'd go with the classic preamp design and would need another compressor anyways down the line to be able to handle any and everything. Also, I believe I saw that the SPX has a broader EQ band range when it comes to pinpointing certain frequencies. Now... that saturator silk function seems to be the only feature id be lacking sadly, but hopefully some plugins can do the trick. @@jacksp8de

[@WIIMTheMusician]

@@QTheShooter352I’m selling my Newton if you’re interested. Only used a few times

[@charliekey2979]

Nave has more sound definition, the warm 1073 is quite cloudy to me ears. I had both for testing back to back and i kept the NEVE 1073. It's a beast!

[@Sbproducer1]

you have an amazing voice! :)

[@pixelwash9707]

Definitely kept the sparkle on Neve that was lost with the Warm Audio.

[@AtmosphereAudio]

It’s so subtle too! I agree with you though, the Neve preserves a bit more of the richness

[@AnwaarAliOfficial]

What would be the difference in sound quality between the preamp and going directly into audio interface?

[@AtmosphereAudio]

Great question! This question really has two part answer. The first part is that most audio interfaces (converters) don’t really impart any “life” into the incoming signal. The preamps on an interface are meant to be as clean as possible, which is what you want in most cases. However nowadays there are companies making “colored” preamp and interface combos which is great for some people. MOST people would want to separate the functionality for redundancy , such as myself. Preamps like the Neve 1073 are not clean, they saturate the sound. The circuitry creates harmonic distortion. This in turn gives less life to an otherwise lifeless signal. So to answer your question, the reason you buy a preamp apart from your interface is to introduce your signal to harmonic distortion (color), take the stress off of your converters of driving the mic, and redundancy.

[@garyshirinian]

Thx for sharing. A question. You have 500 series rack, why not get AMS NEVE LB, to save space and what's the deference. I do realize it the EQ, however as preamp what do you think.thx.

[@AtmosphereAudio]

The 500 series is a choice too for me and for the way my setup is. I plan on getting some mix bus processing units. For example SPL BIG, Rupert Neve Design 542

[@louisg3598]

Could you comment on what audio interface you used when using a mic pre? I know if I used an AI I'd need to be able to bypass the internal mic pres so in that case, how good are the converters? Should I consider an AD/DA box with the mic pre instead of an AI?

[@priiintplayzz6219]

I have the nerve 1073spx and what exactly does the output trim knob do ? Is it recommended to have it cranked to the max ?

[@nocuelatio9798]

You serious? output trim does what and output trim is suppose to do my bro.. if you want clean sound you lower the input and compensate with the output to have enough signal going to your audio interface, if you want more saturation then get more input gain and lower the output so you don't saturate your converters

[@AtmosphereAudio]

You can output as much as you need to get a health volume for your recording using the output trim. In the case of almost all amps with an input and output knob, the idea is that the input drives more signal into the circuitry creating more color, saturation, distortion, and or fuzz. The issue would be that you wouldn’t be able to get that new sound you created by driving the input at a healthy level unless you have an output trim. You can saturate on the input as much as you want and “trim” the volume on the output to get it to the volume that you need

[@stevenrayphoto1280]

You didn't show the warm saturation sample???

[@wyrlismike]

if thats you singing you have a nice voice, great for pop and r and b

[@AtmosphereAudio]

It is, I’m flattered, thank you so much for the compliment! 🙏🏼

[@breadmakingplays716]

How does your signal sound that clean at -80db my vocal sound distorted to oblivion at that level even when I turn the output level down to not clip

[@023GC]

AMS NEVE 1073 DPA and 1073 SPX ，how to choose？Thx

[@78awhite]

Great video! The title should read "Is it better THAN the Warm Audio WA73-EQ?"

[@AtmosphereAudio]

Thank you for watching! will make that correction, I appreciate the feedback

[@eitanariel]

Great video! I found it very helpful. I just wanted to add something here though. I'm not sure what the title said before, but I'm going to guess it said 'THEN'. If so, the correction this person suggests is accurate . However, I will say it threw me off that the word 'THAN' was in caps. If you're going to have a word in caps, I feel like it would make more sense to have made the word better in caps (like BETTER). Because that's more like how you would say it in real life. I can't imagine why anyone would put emphasis on the word "than". But these are just logistics, it was still a great video!

[@AtmosphereAudio]

@@eitanariel Thank you and I will make that change. That makes total sense to me. I’m glad that you enjoyed the video!

[@pikeysrock]

What interface or converter did you use?

[@TheRemizinho]

How do you run the mix through those mono units, one channel at a time?

[@AtmosphereAudio]

Apologies that it wasn’t clear but the vocals were somewhat mixed in that example. I figure people would want to hear how it sounds in a song context

[@christopherdunn317]

The heritage audio followed spec, used the good 3 inductors ,for the eq warm did not ! and did there own thing and added more freq to the highs but heard its not as good !

[@AtmosphereAudio]

The EQ on the Neve is for sure “sweeter” though it lacks the versatility that the warm unit has. I haven’t used the EQ on the Heritage, I just used to own there table top pre which didn’t have an EQ

[@jason.martin]

I can hear a mid range thickness that the arm does not have at all

[@Moses658]

What desk is this

[@AtmosphereAudio]

The desk is by a company called Bazel Studio Desk. The model I have is called the Raystag - 18. The desk is not necessarily the most comfortable because it’s very shallow but it’s a decent quality. My main complaint is the lack of desk space and knee room.

[@crescentsoundstudios]

Anything is better than Warm Audio. BAE is the best 1073 period!

[@AtmosphereAudio]

I love the BAE 1073, they’re built like tanks too. I chose the Neve because I wanted to see what the deal was with Marinair Transformer and I like that it had a meter. I would’ve went BAE or Vintech otherwise. Might get a BAE 1084 in the future

[@crescentsoundstudios]

@@AtmosphereAudio do you have an opinion between Neve and BAE? What was the difference?

[@AtmosphereAudio]

@@crescentsoundstudios Haven’t compared them side by side to be honest. The biggest difference between them is in architecture. The BAE is meant to be a recreation of the a vintage Neve 1073 but the AMS Neve is made on a PCB board and uses more modern practices, and uses the Marinair transformer. I think at this point it really comes down to which brand you prefer. I will say that I think the BAE feels more boutique. I chose the Neve because having the meter is useful for me and I wanted to see if the marinair transformer is the real deal

[@TrapBoiFuse561]

@@crescentsoundstudios BAE is the best deal for that prices BUT AFTER PLAYING WITH A FEW preamps 1073 style pre are trash 🗑️ shelford knocking that mf off even v402 is a monster sound with low noise

[@nicefish10]

Anything is better than Warm Audio.

[@deandresmith5761]

Use what you can afford

[@brandonleroy9295]

I sold my wa2073 its wack compared to neve 1073 spx and i know my gear 28 years in

[@Realtalkyou08]

Nothings beating the 1073 its the standard really

[@brandonleroy9295]

Hahah of course it bette neve is hard to beat people stop pretending warm eq is better