The 1073 Clone Shootout

In this video, I compare 3 different Neve 1073 hardware clones, the Warm Audio WA73-EQ, the Golden Age Project Pre73 linked with the EQ73 and the BAE 1084, as well as the Waves Scheps 73 plugin, to see how they all stack up as a preamp and as an insert EQ.
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[@davidmaraisthecampfireguit2596]

Great video, my friend - and, wow, what a beautiful studio. Deeply envious! Awesome.

[@gardencreamery]

great content, this is exactly what i was looking for -- keep pushing!

[@dccarsonmusic]

I look at it this way. Cost of diminishing returns and an accurate sound, vs a useful sound. That would lead me to the WA-73 which is why I bought it. The sound is ABSOLUTELY useful and the cost is reasonable.

[@KordTaylor]

Thank you so much for this. 👏🏻

[@dafxtone]

Golden : 4:07 WA73 4:38 Neve 5:11 Golden : 15:21 WA73 16:18 Neve 17:16

[@jason.martin]

Any plans to do the shootout with drums as that is where we can really hear preamps and their differences come through

[@driptorchmedia7865]

That eq on the BAE sells it for me. I dont wanna spend the money on 2 of them but I guess I signed up for this.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

They’re not cheap but they will definitely do what you need them to do

[@brianknight8195]

I think the gap was showing its transformer and cap choices with that 1.2 - 3 khz bump, little nappy sounding, the BAE had the silkiest highs with no eq and the best adjustments, the warm was for me the winner for budget over all, BAE if no budget.

[@fabtastic.]

Great Video 🤘🎸🎧 Tranks a lot

[@TomCourtneyMusic]

Thanks Man The BAE hands down. Just softer more clarity. All great units at the end of the day. BAE gets my vote. Better transations.

[@lightafluident.9950]

Warm Audio sounds great.

[@pashakrezh4209]

More similarities, than not. With proper gain staging, and finding sweet spot with each, imo you will be hard pressed to make a preference. Go make music with whatever you have)

[@thebrunoserge]

Seriously they all sound the goddam same - none of it justifies the exhorbitant ultra-luxury cost of the BAEs

[@nilaontintain]

cheers for the video! i think ill go with wamr audio! its 799 euros compared to the BAE 3699! wow thats an insane difference!

[@tonebonemarone3089]

Right? I love my WA73, it’s quite possibly the best investment I’ve made for my home studio

[@nilaontintain]

@@tonebonemarone3089 yup its great. im gonna get a nice compressor with my savings i think the kush audio tweaker!

[@mikewhiteman23]

NICE VID

[@ErikWagler]

Wow this is such a useful video for me. I am looking at 1073 clones, and trying to decide if I need one / can use one / even have the experience to hear the difference, to be honest I am not sure how much I can, but then again these are all designed to sound similar. Would you recommend the Waves for someone who uses software a lot and isn't sure they even have the ear (yet : ) to hear the difference between these pre-amp and the one in my USB audio interface (focusrite)? Basically as an amateur, I try to reduce the amount of gear that I buy, for the most part its not necessary for someone like me, and I have learned early on the importance of getting good takes over thinking there is some editing magic that can make me sound great. However on the other hand, I have also had a few pieces of hardware that really took my sound to the next level. This is mostly guitar pedals, but I am wondering how much of a difference in sound a pre amp can make to vocal takes and DI guitar. I want saturation, over drive the vocal, to color the sound as much as possible, at least in a somewhat suble way (I know the pre amp is not a distortion pedal). is a 1073 + EQ the wrong place to look for this kind of thing? I know I can get actual saturation modules or plugins, or just use other editing techniques to get color / saturation alternatively. There is definitely something to be said about having some go to hardware though.To give you the tiniest idea of the vibe I go for, I'm a home studio amateur and could categorize music as 'psychedelic', not concerned about crystal clear sound, if things are over driven, warped etc that could all be good things.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

Erik Wagler In your situation, I would recommend getting the waves plugin to start before investing in the hardware. The plugin has a “drive” function that adds distortion/saturation (depending on how hard you hit it) which might works for your needs. I would certainly recommend getting a hardware 1073 at some point (I use mine for everything) but Focusrite has fine preamps on their units so if you don’t think you can hear the difference yet then your money might be better spent somewhere else. Hope that answer helps!

[@ErikWagler]

@@tonebonemarone3089 totally helps, as well as this video. I dont think a more comprehensive one exists on the subject

[@factorjay2100]

@@tonebonemarone3089 Great honest advice - appreciate it

[@IntheDAW]

Great video! I do wonder why you didn't test the new version of the golden age 73 clones they are supposed to be way veyyer than the older ones

[@tonebonemarone3089]

This is all I had access to at the time. I would like to try out the newer versions (or even mod the GAP with some carnhills and see how much closer they sound to the others) but until I have more of a budget to work with, all I can test is what I already have around

[@cripesalmighty4744]

In my experience the BAE sound better than the OG Neve Pre's

[@EandVEntertainment]

Nice video.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

Thanks!

[@Erigorn]

Huh, I've seen your studio ads on kijiji before lol :p

[@mapletree2009]

Thanks for doing this shootout. Really informative. To my ears, the GAP up against the BAE did not even come close. The BAE is in another league. It sounds like the records that I want to listen too. The GAP sounds dull, but only because of the A/B. Alone otherwise, I might like it. The Warm Audio was nice, although again, not as smooth as he BAE. What about the BAE 1073MP, they are selling for $1200 on Sweetwater. It does not have the EQ, but is it still the same pre? That would be a better purchase over the Warm Audio, in my opinion. Perhaps match it with the GAP eq, could be interesting. Any thoughts?

[@krissheehy]

So with your knowledge and practice using the BAE units, would you shop for the WA237EQ or would you grab (2) BAE 1073 if you had to buy new pre-amps today?

[@tonebonemarone3089]

You can’t go wrong either way, but if it’s in your budget the BAE units have a much sturdier construction and a purer tone. Whether that’s worth the extra $4,000 is up to you

[@burkevilleproduction]

I would like to record at your studio.

[@thedayones4918]

Is it gain matched?

[@slushedpuppy8044]

I really wish this would have included the Heritage Elite as well.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

Slushed Puppy One of these days I’ll do another with some different clones and hopefully a real Neve too!

[@evolmavros4906]

Hey I bought the Neve clone which is the wa73 without the EQ would you think it'll be a good idea to just buy the Golden age needs style 73 EQ to go along with it or just go ahead and buy the wa73 with the EQ on it

[@tonebonemarone3089]

You can’t really go wrong either way but seeing as you already have the pre73, I’d say go with the eq73

[@spotithere6848]

I've had a GAP 73 (mk I) and did not like it, seemed wooly. I much preferred a Warm TB12. Maybe I just prefer the API-style preamp. But in this shootout the mic technique on the GAP73 was clearly inferior, so it's hard to compare the preamps. As far as EQ, I'm surprised how well the GAP EQ performed against much higher priced units.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

You’re probably right on the mic technique there, that one slipped by me on the day of filming. I do find that if you expect the GAP preamp to sound like a 1073 then you will be disappointed however if you drop all expectations of it, it is a rather nice preamp on some sources. The pre73 with a Røde nt5 on acoustic guitars is pure bliss to my ears. And yes, that EQ punches way above its price point. I currently own 3

[@PaulEubanks]

Would have been nice to hear the UAD plugin version compared to these rather than the Waves plugin. I've heard UAD makes a much better sounding version.

[@MOSHAEMUSIC]

I’ve owned the BAE and Warm Audio.. haven’t tried the Golden Age but from what I hear on here my ears like the BAE and Warm. The GAP sounds a bit thinner to me.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

Jay and I found the same thing. He actually said that he felt he had to sing a little harder when we were using the GAP. I have been told that the new GAP Premier line is much closer in sound to the BAE and Warm gear, but I haven’t tried it out yer

[@music.corner]

I had a gap-73 and I thought it was really good for spoken words (radio and that sort of stuff), but as soon as you wanna record music it's just very 1-dimesional.

[@late4suppa1]

I just bought the Golden Audio Pre Amp and EQ. I had a Presonus Tube Pre amp and it sucked. Super noisy. Waiting for my new gear.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

I hope you like it!

[@alvincornistamusic8754]

Did you like it?

[@late4suppa1]

@@alvincornistamusic8754 I love it! Couldn't be happier.

[@joegoosebass3958]

Awesome, i just picked up a 500 series GAP eq

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

In this context they seem more similar than they are different.

[@TruenorthmtGod]

You have a lot of the same gear I have.

[@charlessmyth]

How do they compare with an actual Neve 1073 ??

[@larrysentelle1244]

imho having used both, the BAE is the way to go. The vintage Neve preamps often sound different from one another, The tolerances in the electronic components were not as close as they are today. Buy 2 BAE 1073 and they will sound identical. Buy 2 vintage Neve preamps and the differences might shock you. BAE rocks. BAE makes no compromises. Less money? Chameleon Labs 7603.

[@dzamusic]

This is not fair for the GAP pre because there's an option to buy the GAP pre with Carnhill input and output transformers and tantalum capacitors built in out of factory.

[@brianknight8195]

I agree, thatshould have been the shootout to get apples to apples comparison, but its still a good comparison, just not really the right gap 73.

[@righteousone8454]

BAE 1084 sounds best for "in-music" sound Golden Age sounds the cleanest and in your face WA73-EQ sounds the least defined and least liked for his voice. Looks like Neumann U87ai, correct me if I am wrong, and this mic sounds so dull through WA73-EQ That's some type of feat honestly, considering how bright it is.

[@AnimAHipHopTV]

Keep trying to convince myself to get the WA73 but every time I hear it.. it's just.. lacking.

[@superlunar8647]

Lacking what? What are you comparing it to? Compared to UAD Unison / Waves / anything ITB, it's really good. And if you fiddle the knobs enough and engage the 'tone' section - really good. But if you're comparing it to units double the price, well....

[@AnimAHipHopTV]

@@superlunar8647 The one I've really been liking the sound of is the Great River ME-1NV

[@nunu9849]

Yeah i think the same.

[@vminator]

I've had one for a few years and its great. Revive audio does a mod to "correct" the voltages if you want something just like a NEVE. I had it done on one and its good but great but still like the stock unit as well. Saturates nicely as well.

[@cozmovox]

I'm going to put some carnhill transformers in my gap's....But so far they've done a great job !

[@Zarabozo]

Dude... when you take sun baths, take the sunglasses off. 😀

[@atellezniemeyer]

Golden Age Premier PRE73 It is the closest to the Neve1073

[@beigela]

lol, good one!

[@joegoosebass3958]

I agree, GAP wins hands down

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@shaft9000]

At first it's subtle, but the BAE i$ more money because - the WA is obviously trying too damn hard to sound bigger in the low-mid and bass for no apparent reason, and so it sounds off the mark both tonally and dynamically. It doesn't sound like a 1073 at all imho. - the GA's depth of field and dynamics are flattened, missing the transient 'bounce' and push-pull energy exhibited by the BAE.

[@NaceK84]

poor gap and warm didn't stand a chance...

[@nicholasriley4729]

Lol! I was thinking the very same thing

[@dzamusic]

because this shootout isn't fair. I own the GAP pre with Carnhill input and output transformers built in out of factory. It's an complete different league.

[@iamcookbook]

The Warm is definitely.... warmer... but in a 73 design I would expect it to be more like the original. I guess that's their thing though. GAP seems a little brighter than the BAE, which is consistent with other GAP comparisons I've seen and my experience with it. Would be interesting to see how the Golden Age Premier 73 compares with the upgraded components, especially the Carnhill transformers. I believe they're a bit warmer and more like the BAE.

[@tonebonemarone3089]

I would be interested in doing that comparison one day when I can get my hands on a GAP 73 premier. The carnhill transformers make all the difference in getting that 1073 sound in my experience

[@m-media9747]

1 BAE 2 WA 3 GE

[@joegoosebass3958]

GAP wins hands down

[@kmj5088]

volume difference

[@benedwards1047]

I always find it funny when people moan about 'you should have compared it to xyz module, not the ones you chose', etc. People - he was comparing what he had available to him at the time, he does not have an endless supply of preamps in a back room somewhere just in case he left out the one YOU wanted him to use. Make your own damn comparison videos or shut up!

[@newman2374]

heritage is more better then warm

[@music.corner]

the BAE is so far superior it probably shouldn't even be compared to the other units. it has so much body and sounds way more 3-dimensional. also it sounds much clearer. the gap-73 was by far the worst, it just sounded muddy and boring, the warm audio at least opened up a bit more, but is not anywhere near the ballpark of the bae. although I think the prices are to expensive for bae, neve or other high quality units, I still think that the price difference between the units is justified.

[@miguelpessanha]

BAE > GAP > WARM