BAE 1073 vs AMS Neve 1073: The Ultimate Preamp Shootout!

Curious about the differences between the BAE 1073 and the AMS Neve 1073? In this video, I put these iconic preamps head-to-head to see how they really stack up in tone, build quality, and overall performance. Whether you’re investing in your first high-end preamp or looking to expand your studio, this breakdown will help you decide which one is worth the buy.

#BAE1073 #AMSNeve1073 #PreampComparison #AudioGear #ProAudio #StudioGear #MusicProduction #AudioEngineering #RecordingStudio #GearReview #HomeStudio #AudioPreamp #MusicProducer #GearShootout"

[FabvL]

Love your channel dude, you're legit the only gear reviewer I trust having bought all this stuff myself I can vouch this man knows what he's talking about!

[TheRealTMajor]

I have the BAE 1073 DMP and it’s been my primary preamp since. I love the girth it adds to vocals.

[psycholarge]

Try backing down on the gain and turning the output fully clockwise on the BAE. While the results won't be as airy as the AMS, it will certainly reduce the saturation.

[WIIMTheMusician]

I had this debate with myself for probably over a year after selling my Newton channel for being too “sterile” and “cold” etc… my voice and mic already capture my high end. Bought the BAE DMP and it just adds this BODY to my vocals that I’ve always looked for. Never selling it.

[edwardgordon]

Interesting topic. Thanks for sharing. Have you considered recording in stereo, SPX, and BAE, then mixing the result?

[heartpath]

“BAY” 1073 is killing my ear. It’s B-A-E (Brent Averill Enterprises) his initials. Why not say AMS (like Sam I ams) 1073? 😂

[MultiOpposites]

When i decided between these two preamps i did a shootout in my local shop. I ran them both through a u87ai and can tell you without the shadow of a doubt that at higher input levels, the way the Bae saturated was extremely pleasing whereas the AMS SPX distortion was not euphonic nor did it sound very pleasant. Just my experience. I went with the bae. It sounds incredible if you are recording in a properly treated room where the subtle differences are magnified and you can really appreciate the gear.

[wyrlismike]

I got some class A neve modules racked from an old console. Maximum "smear" i like the ams fine. the smear is what i listen for in neve and neve clones. i appreciate that your telling the truth about the new ams neves. they really aint like the old ones.

[kniferideaudio]

A lot of what you are hearing in a Vintage Neve from a console that people find "magic" is entropy. There is a lot of dragon chasing when it comes to Preamp coveting. A 1073 is a great design but not a difficult one to approximate. There is nothing exotic in any of them and the implementation of the circuit is almost exact in all of them. Almost all of them do a pretty great job of being almost exact to an original Neve. It's that 1% difference that keeps engineers up all night doing A/B tests searching for "best". I have the bug too. I took an entire weekend White noise testing every DI in here and making notes on pieces of tape stuck to the top of them. Stuff like "-1dB @ 12K" and "4.5k +1.5db". Totally useless. I just grab whichever one is closest when I need one., but I did it. And I'll do it again.

[officialdiomer]

Which one would you pick to go with a Golden Age GA-8000? I just got one a couple weeks ago and I’m leaning towards the MP because I don’t think I’ll EQ on the way in. Also what are your thoughts on the Heritage HA-73EQ? I know someone who’s selling one for $600

[IntheDAW]

I really like this review. Great descriptions and explanations

[동두막_라이브]

Hello, I'm Dynamic Microphone m80

I'm using the compressor wa1b.

Do you want to buy neve 1073 spx here,

I'm thinking about whether to sell wa1b and buy Shelford.

I wonder if I should change the microphone when it's the combination above^^

[XxStonedImmaculatexX]

Great review! I was thinking of buying am AMS Neve 1973 DPX but heard about the BAE 1073 which is supposed to be built closer to the original 1073 both in specs and hand built.

[Circharles]

I think as engineers and producers we have to embrace newer outboard gear. We get fixated on classic gear that i feel we are missing out on the incredible equipment being made nowadays.

[Dr.Jekyll]

B.A.E. That’s why our smarter elders used to use periods with acronyms, to prevent confusion.

[jmclane]

Can’t say I’ve used the ams

But I’ve had a BAE for a couple years now and it always sounds amazing

Great breakdown and nuanced conversation though! I’m subscribing brother

[SamIntharaphithakOFFICIAL]

I'd love to hear a comparison between the BAE 1073 and the AMS 1073 CV

[breadmakingplays]

Wonder what gain setting you had on the Spx, I set it to 40 with my Tlm 103 going into a wa-1b hitting no more than 1-1 1/2 db of reduction and it sounds crazy good, and it has great solid low end for vocals and when I make eq moves to carve out those lows it still sounds full like a 3d floating bottom end with weight still there, all my eq moves with this chain sound way more musical rather than clinical and no matter what level I have the vocals sitting at in relation to the instrumental track the vocal sounds in place quieter or louder, it just sounds musical.

[legacyShredder]

I own racks of both BAE and modern SPX and DPX. I've also got a bunch of vintage 1073's along with a console. My freshly recapped console sits sonically closer to the SPX than BAE. I don't believe in BAE having more soul or 3D Depth.. in fact I hate the term 3D. It doesn't mean anything lol. Having said all that I like both AMS Neve and BAE. I like my vintage stuff. I think most people should probably avoid preamps all together though. No need for 99% of the world to blow money on products they'll never make money with.

Edit: After rereading my comment I notice my words seem angry. They're not. I like your channel and honest opinions. Don't mind me over here, I'm just pissin into the wind.

[TakeControlUSA]

Any comparisons to the Chandler LTD-1 ?