Your latest G.A.S. purchases

[Ermz]

My bad, I meant ADAT. The Multiface has both.

@yarrick: Where did you hear that share of negative feedback? I've yet to hear anything negative about them at all. The only negative point I can make is that the amps are hissy.

For what it's worth, they've burned in over the last 2 days of blasting reference music and tracking. They sound a lot sweeter now, but have still maintained that amazing clarity. The ability to look into a mix is so great here. Everything is just clear. The ASP8s had me guessing so much but these are just like looking into the mix, as the O300s were. I can't imagine not being able to mix well on these.

PS. I have no 'honeymoon' period. My first few days are where I brutalize new gear the very most. I scrutinized the Opals to hell and back, shifting them around, trying to find the optimum room position (we're talking increments of centimeters). Scrutinized the stereo imaging, had 2 friends scrutinize them. Restored my first project within about 30 mins of setting them up (ended up sounding great), tracked on the 2nd day.

 

[yarrick19]

My bad, I meant ADAT. The Multiface has both.

@yarrick: Where did you hear that share of negative feedback? I've yet to hear anything negative about them at all. The only negative point I can make is that the amps are hissy.

For what it's worth, they've burned in over the last 2 days of blasting reference music and tracking. They sound a lot sweeter now, but have still maintained that amazing clarity. The ability to look into a mix is so great here. Everything is just clear. The ASP8s had me guessing so much but these are just like looking into the mix, as the O300s were. I can't imagine not being able to mix well on these.

PS. I have no 'honeymoon' period. My first few days are where I brutalize new gear the very most. I scrutinized the Opals to hell and back, shifting them around, trying to find the optimum room position (we're talking increments of centimeters). Scrutinized the stereo imaging, had 2 friends scrutinize them. Restored my first project within about 30 mins of setting them up (ended up sounding great), tracked on the 2nd day.

The negative things I've heard about the Opals (I haven't had a chance to listen to them myself) are a lack of midrange, hiss (as you mentioned), and overall making things sound better than they really are. Mostly heard these things over on gearslutz. Here is an example:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/382169-event-opal-audition.html
That said, so much of speaker shopping is personal preference. Again, keep us posted on how you end up liking them. Hope they work out for you!

 

[Metaltastic]

Yeah, one thing I'm wondering Ermz - do you think all this gushing praise could be at least in part caused by some hyping?

 

[Ermz]

Not at all, Marcus. I've been monitor hunting heavily for 3 years now. The Opals and O300s are the best monitors I've heard. You should know by now that I put a lot of thought behind most statements and endorsements I make this strongly, and always have strong points to back them up. I'm not doubtful about what I'm suggesting here. The first time I heard the Opals in person, I had no idea what they were, made by whom, nor what the design intention was. They sounded both massive and honest then, and still do.

What's happening in that thread is standard GS contrary BS. For every 100 engineer consensus that something is A-grade, you will find one that says it's a pile of crap.

The issue with monitoring systems of the past, and current studio standards is that most of them are mid-forward sounding. What sounds natural to us is simply what we're accustomed to. The Opals DO NOT lack midrange content. In fact they have way more midrange detail than the ASP8s (mid forward), ADAM S3As, Focal Twin6s (high mid forward), NS10s (shitmid forward). That thread is just the result of some people unable to acclimate to more honest monitoring, is all.

The amp hiss IS a valid complaint though. It is rather loud in a quiet space. Actually surprisingly loud. It's an unfortunate drawback to an otherwise amazing monitor. The one way I can imagine to combat this is to place them further away and treat them as midfields.

 

[Metaltastic]

Actually Ermz, I meant frequency-hyping, not marketing

 

[Ermz]

Oh, right. It's possible, but I'm not sure whether it's likely. What's truly hyping about these monitors is the clarity. I'm hearing nuances in guitar sounds I've listened to for years that I've never heard before. That in itself is exciting. I think it's the lack of distortion that may be causing the hype, ironically. All the professional reviews have been unanimous in their praise. An 8-person monitor shoot-out in Futuremusic resulted in 8 unanimous votes for the Opals. My friends all heard the same things I was hearing.

FWIW a lot of folks call the O300s mid-recessed. Not true. They are used in broadcast and orchestral applications all the time. Those people are absolutely anal about transparency. It's the fact that most studio engineers are used to monitoring on mid-forward systems. I've never been one of those, and I'm glad we're in an era where you don't need to be abused by midrange in order to hear it clearly. These monitors more than have the fidelity to represent midrange detail faithfully and still remain flat (which now sounds recessed to those who are used being ear-fucked by that 2k spike on the NS-10s).

 

[Metaltastic]

Yeah, I've never listened to NS10's, but I think I have a pretty good idea what they must sound like, and see the use of them - but only as a reference monitor that I'd use about 1/4 of the time (and that's being generous) that I'd be using a good flat pair of full-range monitors!

 

[006]

OK can we get back to gear purchases?

 

[Metaltastic]

Well once someone has one, I'm sure they won't hesitate to posting it, and I'm interested in this!

 

[xturbox]

got myself 6505+ for $780 w shipping.

 

[Via Noctis]

I got myself a dual rectumfier. It should be here next week.

 

[Lowberg]

lets see,

I'm about to buy a Boss HM-2 in a few hours for 20 bucks from some guy off of craigslist. Should be fun to mess around with!

My old amp is on ebay and hopefully when that sells, there is a used 5150 waiting for me at the music store near me for $550

 

[yarrick19]

Well, no seems to have any experience with this mic so I'll give it a go....

The Heil PR30 gets great reviews on electric guitar... we'll see how it stands up to the high gain stuff.

 

[The Unavoidable]

ZIEG HEIL

 

[PhilR]

Well, no seems to have any experience with this mic so I'll give it a go....

The Heil PR30 gets great reviews on electric guitar... we'll see how it stands up to the high gain stuff.

We've just ordered 3 of those. And a trio of handhelds for our rehearsal rooms (not sure which ones, probably PR20 UT's)

I've just unloaded a bunch of credit on new PC components as my old ones were showing their age. Picked up an Intel Core 2 Quad / ASUS motherboard combo, 4Gb of Kingston RAM, a new SATA drive and a new 22" LCD monitor. Guess where most of my disposable income is going for the next few months? uke:

 

[Machinated]

just pulled the trigger on a prs c22. stumped up £1500, got 30 packs of strings and 3 free set ups/maintanence for 3 years

 

[exoslime]

just pulled the trigger on a prs c22. stumped up £1500, got 30 packs of strings and 3 free set ups/maintanence for 3 years

sounds great!!!!
PICCCCSSSSSS please )

 

[Machinated]

should have it by tomorrow - the place i bought it from just took down their photos of it now that its sold.

trem bridge, bird inlays, whale blue colour, vintage II pickups (although I may swap these for HFS and vintages).

 

[sparkyness]

Jap Fender Jazzmaster....should be here either tomorrow or Monday.

 

[ze kink]

Jap Fender Jazzmaster....should be here either tomorrow or Monday.

All stock? Prepare for modding then.

I haven't been playing anything but my CIJ JM lately. Mine has a Mustang bridge, Duncan pups and the neck's shimmed too, so no need for buzzstops. I still need to tape the bridge posts though, they resonate a bit. I'll probably be doing that when I change the pickguard (I hate white on candy apple red, looks super cheap IMO), solder a treble bleed and shield it.