1073 vs 1081

[rydan]

Hello!

Don't know if this has been discussed, but anyway...

I was pretty damn close to buying the 1073 the other day, then, all of a sudden, it hit me, won't the 1073 be kind of redundant when the 1081 hits the street, ehm, webb... On paper at least, the 1081 seems to be able to do everything the 1073 does, and a fair bit more. If I don't \"neeeeed\" the 1073 right now, but want \"that\" sound eventually, would it be better to just wait for the 1081?

 

[lordward]

Hello!

Don't know if this has been discussed, but anyway...

I was pretty damn close to buying the 1073 the other day, then, all of a sudden, it hit me, won't the 1073 be kind of redundant when the 1081 hits the street, ehm, webb... On paper at least, the 1081 seems to be able to do everything the 1073 does, and a fair bit more. If I don't "neeeeed" the 1073 right now, but want "that" sound eventually, would it be better to just wait for the 1081?

That is what some of us think here as well....... Even better, wait till the compressor comes out as well and get the whole bundle for a special price.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

UA gave special discounts on the Roland bundles to people who bought the individual plug-ins earlier so they didn't lose out.

 

[rydan]

Yes. UA has always been good to the loyal customers, and I have no doubt that they would make a deal similar to the roland or master bundle for those who bought plugs early. However, my point is, why would I want a bundle with say 1073, 1081 and 33609 for, say, $600, if I could buy the 1081 and 33609 for, say, $249 each, and the 1081 does everything the 1073 does and more.

As I said, I have found it difficult to hear any big difference (as in, will make a real difference in a mix) between the 1073 and the 1073SE, so if the sonic difference between the 1081 and 1073 isn't bigger than that, then, for me, why the 1073?

 

[Akis]

You'er confusing the 1081 with the 1084. It's the latter that's similar to the 1073.

 

[rydan]

No, I'm not. I have never heard a real 1073 or 1081. I have tried the UAD 1073 and found that I like it. The question still is, are the 1073 and 1081 different enough (soundwise) to justify the purchase of the 1073, since the 1081 seems to be able to do everything the 1073 does and more featurewise.

Might add, I'm not looking for \"transparent\" eq, for that there is FIR. SO the question might insted be stated as: \"Which of the 1073 and 1081 has more character?\"

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

The 1081 is different from the 1073 circuitry-wise in significant ways & should sound different (I'm talking about the real Neves here since I don't know how the UA 1081 will sound). The 1084 is the one with the same circuitry as the 1073 but slightly more versatility.

btw, this has been gone over better by others in some of the other 1073 threads.

 

[mBlaze]

Neve EQ's

http://www.auroraaudio.net/dcforum/DCForumID1/342.html

http://www.phoenixaudio.net/about.html

Both Phoenix and Aurora have ex-staff Neve engineers who can provide more exact details on the original design philosophies...but the reality is, each has its own sonic flavor and design differences

Phoenix used to have a great Neve history posted but looks like the link is gone..

****Extract****

Unlike the 1073's 12KHz, the 1084 has switched high frequencies and has both high pass and low pass filters. The 1073 only has a high pass filter. The 1084 also has switchable Hi-Q to the mid frequency selection.

Like the 1066 and 1073, the 1084 is class A and uses the BA283AV output amp and LO1166 output transformer.

The 1081 was a 12\" tall module and Neve's first shot at a 4 band EQ channel amplifier. It was first used in A599 Decca Paris and this custom console became the basis for the 8038.

It used the new B338 and B340 amplifiers that had been developed for the 238 and 240 and used in the seriously slim channeled consoles circa 1972.

The B338 was class A but the B340 was class AB and drove a LO2567 transformer. Obvious differences to the 1084 (other than being taller, 4 band, and class AB) was that the upper and lower bands could be peaking or shelving, both mids had Hi-Q, and the four illuminated switches at the bottom (of which only the lower two lit) controlled EQ, Solo, Phase and a spare switch for custom options.

The 1083 was like the 1081 but had expensive 23 position stepped switches instead of pots, and the 2087 stereo line level EQ was effectively two 1083's strapped together.

 

[mBlaze]

Neve EQ's-1081 details

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar04/a ... ve1081.htm

 

[mBlaze]

Neve EQ's - what are the differences?

Another great source of vintage info...

http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/neve.html