Studio Projects VTB1 preamp vs ART TPS-II preamp??

[ESR]

I'm still looking for a nice and unexpensive tube preamp. I heard that the Presonus BlueTubes is very noisy. What do you thing about this two??? I'm more oriented to the ART just because it's a two channel preamp. Anybody has experienced this ART tube pre???

Thanks. Again.
Ed.

[norman_nomad]

Why tube?

[tele_player]

I haven't tried the ART, but I've got the VTB-1. Yes, it's got a tube, but it's not really a tube preamp, and neither are most of the little boxes which say they are tube preamps. They are SS preamps with a tube stage, running at rather low voltage, to get some tube sound.

A propter tube preamp would only have tube stages, and they'd be running at about 200 volts.

Still, the VTB-1 is a useful device. It sounds good with a mic, at low to moderate settings of the tube drive control, and it can be used as an active DI box.

[wonderfall]

Hi!
I've never tried the VTB1, but I'm receiving the ART DPS2 (TPS with digital outs) next Monday.
If you remind me by email by next week, I can give you my impressions. Reviews looked good to me.

Cheers.

[ESR]

Thanks Tele for your answers. I guess the SP VTB-1 is a good choice but It would be better a stereo or dual channel pre. Unfortunately somebody at SP told me via e-mail that the stereo version of their tube pre VTB-2 will not be available until next year and I don't want to wait.

I'm looking for a tube pre because I think is what my recording need to warm the digital signal. I've been using Antares TUBE plugin and I like a lot what this thing does to the vocals and the snares, so I think that a REAL tube pre will be much better. My budget is short but I think I can find something decent. I'll keep my research.

[Time is money]

I have a few VTB1s. While it's true that they are not true tube mic pres, they do give you a warmer sound and its adjustable. They seem to be a good inexpensivemic pre, but they arenot rack-mountable. I have used them for micing snares - if you tweak the tube up it can help brighten the snare sound. I haven't had any problems with them either.

[ESR]

Until now the SP pre is the winner with the lack of comments about the ART. It would be nice to hear something about it to balance a decision beetween the two, or maybe someone can reccommend another contender...

[Third Eye Studios]

I have two ART TPS II preamps and I think they work well. The sound is nice and warm and the variable impedence setting is very useful. I also have a DPS II which I like alot too. It has inserts and digital out. The compression on both units is useful. I run the output of the two TPS II's and two older ART dual MP's through the Alesis AI3. I can't say which is better, but I have been happy with the ART.

[ESR]

I have two ART TPS II preamps and I think they work well. The sound is nice and warm and the variable impedence setting is very useful. I also have a DPS II which I like alot too. It has inserts and digital out. The compression on both units is useful. I run the output of the two TPS II's and two older ART dual MP's through the Alesis AI3. I can't say which is better, but I have been happy with the ART.

Hey what about noise?? how quiet is this preamp. I ask because I read that it was very noisey. My intention is to have two more preamp type to choose. I have a tascam digital mixer TMD1000 that has 4 preamps and the digi 001 with two. They are kind the same to me, maybe the digi pres a little better so I want to have a tube pre for vocals and acoustic sources. How good are the ART's you have handling this kind of material?

Thanks. again