I'd say the Vintech is closest to the real thing and is the best valued as long as it is the 1073 clone that you are after.

the wunder audio PEQ1R sound _really_ nice. 2250/channel

http://www.vintagedesign.se is the place to check out. I have two CA73's which are the 1073 clones and they are really no-compromise up to spec clones with StIves transformers and all. Electronically very high quality throughout and sound just like you expect them to sound. My highest recommendations. They are handmade in Sweden so the brand is probably not that well known internationally. The guy making them puts a lot of effort in staying true to the original design and is a real Nevefreak, in a good way. Do me a favour and get a pair of these !

the chandler ltd1 sounds more like a real neve than the vintech. the ams neve ones are neve modules. the great river and the wunder clain they're not clone moduelss dan alexander and brent averill build things form real neve parts.

i hve the chandler and the great river and am trying out the wunder thing. i hated the vintedch it was too fuzzy

I as well like the Chandler and think it is a little better than the Vintech, but the Vintech is the better deal and value which was a key part of the question...

I guess which is a better deal or value depends on exactly what you're looking for...if you're looking for the best "sound" that's a subjective thing and there's no right or wrong answer. If you're looking for something that's closest to the "real" thing, then if the Chandler is closer the Vintech may not be a better deal, even though it's less money.

I've used the Vintech briefly and I thought it sounded good. The only time I heard it in comparison to a real 1073 was on the AES tradeshow floor, and that was just hearing the EQ null test thing they were showing, which doesn't really tell the whole story (especially since one 1073 can sound different from the next). It's still a purchase I've been considering, though, since I liked the sound of it and am really not too concerned about how close it is to the 1073/

-Duardo

Marcus Black wrote: www.vintagedesign.se is the place to check out.

yep
TK is cool ... check out his links page and you may find a couple of the others from the old Group DIY crew that was born right here at RO.

however I would not suggest that the Neve should be your first even DIY attempt.
If you must though then some BA283's from Ebay and a JLM switch kit with one of JLM's power supplies may be the easiest way to get there.
Joe of JLMAudio also has a Neve MINI PCB that may be worth a look.

Tim Ryan at Seventh Circle has the N72 kits and as a kit is very well sorted.

You will also find various group builds of 1290 through to 1081's on a couple of forums.

The 1081 build from Group DIY is getting very expensive and a very detailed long project so not for the faint hearted.

good luck to anyone that takes on a DIY project of this sort.

Thanks everyone for the info.

Has anyone heard the Seventh Circle N72? How does it compare?

I can't A/B my Seventh Circle to a real 1272 or 1073, but I DO like it will all of my heart. It has big beefy Transformers provided by Carnhill (IIRC), and the Seventh Circle Power Supply is a mammoth! I got into TWO N72 "Full Kits", TWO A12 "Full Kits w/ A12 OpAmps", and the CH-01 chassis with a FULLY ASSEMBLED and INSTALLED PS-02 Power Supply for like $1500 or so (for 4 awsome channels with TONS of Iron). I still have 4 slots open, and it only costs ~ $300/channel to add more modules!

The assembly was not too hard, and Tim is eager to help if you get stuck. I had an issue where I placed some nuts on "upside-down" on a TO-3 transistor, and shorted out a few components. I shipped my N72 module back to Tim, and he fixed it a day later, and shipped it back to me for FREE!!! As long as you are descent at soldering smaller joints - you should not have any issues building a Seventh Circle kit IMO. This was my first DIY with any kind of "complex circuit". Now, I want to do a DIY LA-2A and 1176LN :) !

Sorry I don't have any A/B comparisons for you. :cool:

I just got the March issue of Pro Sound News Europe. There's an article on page 70 about (new?)1073 Preamps.
the article says : "According to Neve, the new models are priced at a level "not previously attainable""

I don't know how much that's supposed to mean, but I thought you might be interested...

T.

Randyman and others:
I'm really interested in trying to build one of those SCA kits, but I'm afraid I would totally screw it up. I have done soldering for car audio a bit, but I don't know if I could do something small and detailed like a preamp. All I have is one of those cheap red "wand" kind of soldering irons. If I was able to look up the parts to tell what is what, do think I would have a prayer at getting one of these kits put together? Or is there other stuff to assembling them that a normal bloke wouldn't understand?

I just got 2 SCA A12 Kits yesterday in the mail, I haven't soldered since I was in high school 8 years ago or so. I am still going to give it a whirl. If you are nervous about the N72 Kits, get an A12 kit first, I've heard they are easier for the first timers. also check out the prodigy-pro group for lots of diy interesting stuff.

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6214&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

that one is cool. 4 channel 1272 board for $100. still gotta get all the parts yourself from digikey though.

steve

Cool, let us know how your kit goes. 8-)

Legos for adults :D

rudedogg wrote: ... also check out the prodigy-pro group for lots of diy interesting stuff.

yes ... lots of stuff at the LAB

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2987&start=30#img_5929

I bring this one up only because it has a couple of pictures

an open Vintech 1272
and an open Dan Alexander Class A
The Dan A has an external power supply I think

JLM Audio have a small boad to add to a BA283 BUT also have a three stage Neve style complete PCB.

but for more than 50% of all the DIY stuff that's currently out there try
META - Everything Neve! - by Ian MacGregor
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=304

thanks kev, very cool stuff. i want it all.... mwa hahahaha.