I figured I'd do a little comparison shootout and post some MP3s. Here are 4 different mic preamps: 2 are considered high-end units, and 2 are not. I'll reveal what's what later. Sorry about the clipping in spots and kinda sloppy playing, but I did this really fast.
Preamp 1
Preamp 2
Preamp 3
Preamp 4
My personal opinion? The differences are audible, yes, but I think it's hilarious how worked up people get over something like this. They may be audible to critical listeners, but your average kid on the street who just wants to headbang along to the record couldn't hear it in a million years. Like I think Andy said on here before, things like changing string guages, mic positions or speaker cabinets make INFINITELY more of a difference IMO. I'm sure some will disagree. I know recording is a game of inches, and I have my preferences between these four, sure, but to me the bottom line is, if you couldn't make a good-sounding record with any of the four of these, there's a problem and it ain't the preamps.
Preamp 1
Preamp 2
Preamp 3
Preamp 4
My personal opinion? The differences are audible, yes, but I think it's hilarious how worked up people get over something like this. They may be audible to critical listeners, but your average kid on the street who just wants to headbang along to the record couldn't hear it in a million years. Like I think Andy said on here before, things like changing string guages, mic positions or speaker cabinets make INFINITELY more of a difference IMO. I'm sure some will disagree. I know recording is a game of inches, and I have my preferences between these four, sure, but to me the bottom line is, if you couldn't make a good-sounding record with any of the four of these, there's a problem and it ain't the preamps.