I was also half sleep, I had to rush through the session so I could get up for work early the next morning & it was dark, so I honestly don't even know if he had the compressor or EQ engaged lol. But the thing is, I was in somebody elses studio, so I couldn't really sit there & start 'tweaking' his stuff (& thus couldn't REALLY get a feel for just how good my mic could sound through the Avalon). I'm going for something 'colored'/IN YOUR FACE (I don't want a 'clean/uncolored' pre as I already have a Grace m101 for that) & from what I recall, my mic through the 737 sounded somewhat neutral. While i'd never heard my mic through a Neve 1073 clone, i've heard it through an Avalon. I'm THINKING a pad would help, but stillĢ. But i've run my mic through preamps with an impedance below 2000OHMS & disliked it. I've heard 100OHM output impedance mics run through a 1073 (presumably at 1200 OHMS input impedance setting) & LOVED the sound.

The ONE-channel Avalon has an input impedance of 2500 ohms, while the TWO- channel Neve Clone would have an input impedance of 1200 ohms. Just seems like it allows the mic to shine best & have that nice 'air' on the top, while having an input impedance of less than 10x the mics output impedance tends to be 'darker' & less airy on the top. (BIGGEST REASON): I tend to like the sound of mics when they are run through preamps with an input impedance of at least 10x their output impedance (which, in my case, would be an input impedance of 2000 ohms on the preamp). In any event, between the 737 & the 1073 clone, both units would cost roughly the same (at least i've seen the Avalon go for roughly the same price used) & i'm torn in my decision for a few reasons:ġ. Hearing those mp3's really could have helped. I was somewhat upset the other week when I found a thread on here with my mic running through the 737 only to realize that all the links were DEAD. While I initially wanted to refrain from even mentioning my mic as I don't want that to become the topic of this thread, it is an SE Gemini II which is a dual-tube design, sounds AMAZING (to my ears) & has a 200 OHM output impedance. My main usage would be for punchy/'in-your-face' lead/backing vocals & the occasional bass/guitar player who might come in to blaze on a track or two (I play keys but stay as far away from bass/guitar as possible). Well, i'll have to come up with a couple hundred dollars, but i'm basically there. I have the funds to purchase a brand-new (TWO-channel) Neve 1073 clone (which has the pre AND an EQ) or a used (ONE-channel) Avalon 737sp (which has a preamp, AND a compressor, AND an eq). But the posts are older & i'm looking for some new/fresh opinions specifically catered to my situation. I know there have been a few posts about both units.

Avalon 737 vs neve 1073 plugin