From mwolinsky@cox.net Fri Mar 21 16:23:15 2003
Subject:Not Another Speakeasy Thread

There have been so many threads on Speakeasy and I couldnt decide
which one to add my thoughts to so what the hell - I'll start a new
one.

I received it on Tuesday. If you live on the east coast don't pay
for faster shipping. Mine was picked up from SE on Mon - I presume
morning and arrived the next day - regular UPS ground shipping to N.
VA (cool).

I got the Clone Stereo rack version with Howler Clasic switch option
and MS foot controller options. I asked Steve for Inputs on the back
as this is used in my studio and I hate the look of cables winding
around to the front. I originally wanted duplicate connectors on the
front (for possible live use - yeah right -thats going to happen).
Anyway Steve opted to skip the front panel connectors since shorting
plugs would be needed and this is a potential source of added
noise/rf pickup. Made sense to me.

OK so speaking of noise: I had 1 (maybe 2) conversations about
potential noise with Steve (I mean noise from the SE - not noise
from Steve ... never mind) during the month prior to ordering. Since
this came up on several threads I was real concerned about this. It
took me years to rid my system of noisy components (DX7IIFD/TX802
was the last to go - replaced by 2 FS1Rs). Let's cut to the chase.
This thing is quiet. No noise, no hum no buzz, NONE. Now granted I
am connecting this up differently then what I believe most of you
are doing based on your threads. I have a Mackie 32x 8 board and
started by connecting the inputs of the SE to the direct outs on the
channels where my CX-3 comes in. The outputs of the SE were brought
back to 2 unused chn on the Mackie. No Noise. However managing
levels was a bit confusing. You got the preamp/faders on the CX3
channels drivig the SE along with the SE fronyt panel vol/treb/bass.
Then the gain pots on the back of the SE along withe the preamp and
faders on the return channels of the Mackie. Not to mention the CX-
3 volume/output/expression settings. Trying to get this all to play
was cumbersome at best. Plus where I've seen some additional
comments about the CX-3' weak output and not enough signal strength
to drive the SE, my configuration was giving me too much juice at
times. But I did get things to where I could get that mild
saturation/overdrive sound in classic mode and it was sounding prety
good. BTW I did confirm the CX-3 directly into the SE doesn't cut
it. You need another gain device in between. A preamp on any board
will do although Steve tells me a headphone jack should work (havent
tried it myself).

Then I removed the cables and connected up the SE input AND ouput to
the insert points on the CX-3 channels on the Mackie. This was my
hope because the insert point breaks the connection between the
Mackie preamp and EQ and "inserts" the Speakeasy in between. You
need special cables for this but this sure makes for a cleaner
connection. Now you're only dealing with one pair of mixer
channels/faders. Also the signal going to the SE are driven only by
the preamp trim (and CX-3) since the insert is pre fader. This is
the perfect amount of signal to the SE. Now once the SE is set up to
my liking I can bring in the right amount of distortion with my
controller pedal on th CX-3. And damn if it doesn't sound better
then the direct outs. I dont know - could be the levels but I'm
thinking about the low impedance looking back into the Mackie preamp
thinking maybe there really is something to this analog tube stuff.

Any way like many of you before purchasing the SE I would read
threads like this wondering if this was some big advertisement from
one of Steves/Andys buds. I dont usually do this but these guys are
extremely nice to talk to and make a great preamp. Thats NO NOISE!!!!
I am a happy customer.

I will be looking into th MS pro145 in May.