all I can say is...wow... 
by tdawgg from Cali, March 2008
Music Background:  obsessive hobbist

I have an Apogee Mini-me and a PR8E upgraded by Black Lion Audio, and this unit blew me away..the first thing i plugged into it was a Strat, straight in....the magic started when I turned the EQ on....everything I have recorded with this sounds amazing..I have only had it for a few days, but i can't stop using it! The Apogee pres are good, and super-clean, but don't have the "warmth" that this unit has...I am trying really hard not to buy anaother one!

  Oh my God 
by Kevin Case from San Francisco, CA, January 2008
Music Background:  Semi-pro musician

This little wonder-box is amazing! I use it with an AT4050 condenser mic for vocals and acoustic guitar it sounds soooo "expensive" It has a very sweet, delicate high end that I never got out of that mic, it has a very musical buttery mid-range, and if you need more bass it's there as well. I was looking at other Neves and clones, possibly thinking about building one... But with this you get the dream pre-amp and a very useful EQ that allows you dial in exactly the sound you want. I can't wait to try it for mic'ing my electric guitars through my mesa boogie amp. Those of you just starting out with home recording, don't be afraid to spend a little money on a good pre-amp, especially for vocals it really is all the dif when used with your DAW.

  two words "kik butt" 
by Kenny Royster from Nashville tN., January 2008
Music Background:  PRO PRODUCER ENGINEER. RECORDED OVER 7000 SONGS

I use the vintech 73s on the front end of my whole studio and everything ie: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals, drums, fiddle all sound awesome

  Compared to LA610 
by MV from NY, September 2007
Music Background:  Recording Engineer, Producer, Indie Label owner, Composer, Musician.

This thing rocks. I tracked some bass and vocal tracks (rock) with both the X73i and an LA610. The X73i sounds much nicer. The frequency response is much greater than the LA610. Also the tone overall is much less overbearing and very smooth on the ears. The eq section of the X73i is what really does it for me. The preamp alone sounds ok, but once you get the eq going... thats when the magic happens. The eq really brings out the true nature of this beast. I've tried out a bunch of pres in this price range and this one really does it for me! 110% satisfied

  Great value 
by David from WA, April 2007
Music Background:  musician, budding recording/mixing engineer, self producer.

You can't beat the X73i for the money. Great build. Sounds amamzing! Very musical EQ and the preamp is amazing. I've had great results with it on vox w/ Rode K2, DI for bass, miked guitar amp and miked acoustic. Use an SM 57 on a snare and nail the sound. This unit makes everything sound better. It sounds familiar because you've heard it's forefather the Neve 1073 on countless recordings. Price a used or new Neve 1073 module racked or unracked nd you'll see how the X73i is such a great deal. An output meter would be a nice addition.

  Yep, that's the sound... 
by Hans Haskell from Upstate, SC, February 2007

In doing an upgrade to my home production facility, Brendan (Murphy) convinced me to pick up a pair of these.

I expected them to be decent, considering the raves I had read from other people. These pre-amps are way beyond decent. Put a decent large diagram condensor in front of one and hear the magic. Think of the best vocal recordings you have ever heard... Got it? OK, that is the sound you can get with these pre-amps. Of course, you have to have real talent in FRONT of the microphone and if you're going to digital, you want good converters.

If you have the means, get at least one. You will not be disappointed!

  Amazing 
by Dave from Malibu, CA, August 2006
Music Background:  Pro Recording Engineer

You cannot beat this pre for the money. It sounds like a Neve 1073 only at 1/3 the price point. I have been very happy both in using it as a mic pre and as a DI for bass guitar. It gets my vote.

 
by Anonymous , April 2005

HUGE upgrade to my sound. I recorded a tune with this pre and my Rode mic, scratched my head and went, OH, that's how they do it!

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