That's a little on the thin side for a good pre. The Sytek is available for $799 on ebay through Sytek. I really wouldn't go any cheaper than that as the level of preamp quality is important to make a good recording. The Sytek is 4 channels. I would save up and buy the Sytek and maybe an RNP or similar.

I would get :

1 - RNP
2 - SP VTB-1's
2 - Delta DMP3's

a few different flavors never hurt anyone......

I have heard a lot of good things about avalon. Also amek...channel in a box? Pricey, but why buy something you'll have to replace?

Originally posted by thusmann:
Supposing one had about $1000 to spend on a preamp (preferably 8 channels), what would you reccomend?

I am thinking the JLM TMP8.. $1500 I haven't heard it yet, one is supposed to be coming for review soon. I will post snippets when it does. But It is supposed to be an API / Focusrite Red type of sound. If it is it will be a real steal at $1500 for 8 channels.. [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.jlmaudio…"]JLM Audio[/]="http://www.jlmaudio…"]JLM Audio[/]

I own a couple of the Amek/Neve 9098's (channel in a box as Steve called them) and while I love the eq's the preamps are IMO very eehhh? Not bad but sterile. There are snippet’s of the 9098 posted in the mic pre comparisons. Kurt

Originally posted by Steve@speedRiverStudios:
Also amek...channel in a box? Pricey, but why buy something you'll have to replace?

Wouldn't that be nearly $25,000 for the 8 channels? I agree that it's pretty tough to get a quality 8 channels for $1,000 though. The Sytek is a good buy if you can live with only 4. A lot of people go with the Presonus stuff when looking for 8 channels in that price category. I haven't been very impressed by it though.

Originally posted by Kurt Foster:
I own a couple of the Amek/Neve 9098's (channel in a box as Steve called them) and while I love the eq's the preamps are IMO very eehhh?

The "Channel in a Box" is actually something quite different than the 9098's.

Yes, the 9098s are $2k +.. I would love to hear the Sytek. The Pre Sonus mentioned is a mid level piece and you would probably end up replacing it at some point, so as was mentioned, why spend your money twice? The PS has a pretty good twin servo design on its front end but it follows it with a semiconductor / chip non discrete amp for added gain. I think this may be what turns people off about it.

Jay,
What is the difference? I looked at one and it is the same pre and eq .. Just wondering??

Originally posted by Kurt Foster:
What is the difference? I looked at one and it is the same pre and eq .. Just wondering??

Here's the Channel in a Box:

http://www.purepath.co.uk/explore/cib/index.html

Here's what you're probably thinking about:

http://www.amek.com/products/rneq/index.html

The CIB has a compressor and is functionally fairly different. I don't know about the technical differences between the pre and EQ designs incorporated into the CIB. I assume they are at least based on the 9098 designs, but to me they sounded better (particularly the pre).

Jay, That's very helpful.. Thanks for taking the time to look up those links. I just dropped Amek a line to ask about the pres & EQs.. I suspect they are the same. There is an output amp on the CIB that may affect the sound and perhaps that is the difference you are hearing. The comp on it is very interesting.. but I don't like being stuck with just one choice for comps. That's why I shy away from these all in one box's myself.. However I am sure there is patching capability to get around that. Kurt

Actually for less than a grand you could get an RNP and an RNC both. Definately a nice combo.
Bob Green
Area 51 Recording Studio

So many combinations out there, and more are coming. The just under $1K range seems like it will have some more offerings coming soon.

RNP/RNC is always a great combo. 4 RNP's is close to $2K, Sytec only 4 pres... PreSonus is good budget stuff on the MP80, but more than the $1K I think. No Spam intended, 8 VTB-1's is $1K, and whole lot of wall warts....

Joemeek SP828 in three months about $800.00, but that is a wait and see. Other than that, what is left?

Alan, didn't you forget to mention the vtb-2 :)

Originally posted by Alan Hyatt:
No Spam intended, 8 VTB-1's is $1K, and whole lot of wall warts....

what is left?

no spam taken!

Whats left you say?.. hows this?..the VTB-8....8 channels of solid state tube blend for $800.00 I'll give you my credit card info right now! ... (the perfect pre to mic up a drum kit)

C'mon lets do it! :D

whats the street price on the Q3 and the TwinQ gonna be, and when are they due?....

Thanks for all the great tips guys. I think I've come to the conclusion that it is better to go with 2-4 quality channels rather than buying the same thing twice. Does anyone know what the going rate is for a 1272 Neve Class A? I'm aware that this is probably wishful thinking.... On a side note, I was also told by a friend that mackie makes a 16 channel board (8 bus) with XDR pre's for about a grand. I'm weary of the idea though because it seems to me that mackie is sacrificing quantity for quality.

Originally posted by Bobby Loux:

Originally posted by Alan Hyatt:
No Spam intended, 8 VTB-1's is $1K, and whole lot of wall warts....

what is left?

no spam taken!

Whats left you say?.. hows this?..the VTB-8....8 channels of solid state tube blend for $800.00 I'll give you my credit card info right now! ... (the perfect pre to mic up a drum kit)

C'mon lets do it! :D Alan, What do you think?

Originally posted by Bobby Loux:
Alan, What do you think?

Don't you think the VTB-1 is a little, uh, murky to be using 8 channels of it? I could see maybe one channel if it worked well with a certain mic, but 8 channels would be sonic sludge.