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Aphex 2020 mkIII question

J

janith

Hi,

one of our co-operator is using Aphex 2020 mkIII.

Now we have to tweak it little bit (Towards much more processed sound...).
But, have someone succeeded with it?
I mean I heard it little bit, and it's high end sounded really "busy" (for my liking at least).

So, I'm _very_ pleased if someone have good advice or preset for starting point...
 
I would contact Aphex, i didn't think anyone was still running this box.Been there done that.hf way to busy, could not tame it using aggressive processing.Put a Omnia 3T in and it just blew the doors off the Aphex.only format i could think of for the aphex would be classical, talk or MAYBE soft AC.I saw MARK III's going for as little as 1500.00 a few years back.
 
I have installed a fair share of these (9 of them to be exact) units starting at MK I to MK III. I've been able to make them sound competitive and good to the ear accross formats like AC, Rock, CHR, Country and Regional Mexican.

APHEX 2020's require clean audio - Garbage in (junky MP3s) - Garbage OUT! Omnias and Orbans do a good job of covering up (process out) garbage. If you like processing like processed cheese compared to a good chedder, this is not the unit for you. Omnia Turbo is a fine box for that. However I tend to like good clean sound not processed.

Definitely give Marvin or Wayne a call at Aphex and they can help you taylor want you are looking for. www.aphex.com

Jeff
 
i'll have to agree with Menotti1 on this one.i fell for this box ONCE.Hell i was using a cp-803 clipper with it and the competition was blowing my doors off in loudness and CLARITY with a Omnia 5ex..Not too sure about your cheese analogy.sounds more like swiss cheese, full of holes...pardon the pun.I met engineers who could'nt hardly give away the Mark III.Aphex had one great box, the compellor..IMHO
 
oldiesstation said:
...was blowing my doors off in loudness and CLARITY with a Omnia 5ex..
Click to expand...

I read that line a little too quickly and it sounded X rated. :eek:

:D

R
 
syvjeff said:
APHEX 2020's require clean audio - Garbage in (junky MP3s) - Garbage OUT! Omnias and Orbans do a good job of covering up (process out) garbage. If you like processing like processed cheese compared to a good chedder, this is not the unit for you. Omnia Turbo is a fine box for that. However I tend to like good clean sound not processed.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Not sure this makes sense.

All units require clean audio. If our unit is capable of covering up (process out) garbage, as you mention, and the other one isn't, then it would appear that the other unit does not possess the distortion masking mechanisms that Omnia contains. Hence the reason why MKIII is not able to be competitively loud, on its own.

Omnia Turbo is very capable of creating good clean, unprocessed sound. All processors, when backed down are capable of clean audio. The challenge is how to create the illusion of clarity...AND...competitive loudness.

-Frank Foti
 
Good point, Frank.

I can make an Aphex sound as competitively loud as anything on the dial... except an Omnia 6. Call Aphex so they can help you. Follow their instructions. And the guy earlier has a point. Do away with compressed audio files, as far as music goes.

I've destroyed several 8200's with a well-tuned Aphex. While they do color the sound, a bit... and while there's some degree of good old analog hole punching to be had, it's not annoying. And I'm pretty freaking picky.

Face it, nobody is going to turn away from your station or listen less because the station up the dial is a db louder. If the programming sucks, or there's no discernible advantage to the listener, then...Aphex, Omnia, Orban all be damned.

That said, I'll take me an Omnia 6, please. Hi, Frank. Great box!
 
Hi Frank -

Be careful here I'm also a user of your products too. We have a country station and the owner loves the sound very much and yes it did replace a 2020 with it becuase of the upgrade to HD. We like the sound because the 6EX was designed for our expectations for this situation. Other than that, the 2020 served this station really well.

We sold the Country 2020 to a friend of ours who was hanging on the air with some really old equipment with the strict instructions of only clean audio to feed it. He's happy with the 2020 and isn't that the goal here.

My main point is that DSP based units like yours to my ears sound processed no matter the drive and keep cut after cut of music within a really tight range. Also to my ears, with the 2020 we have on our AC station the loudness is close to the same compared to our Country, but I notice more depth to it. This became more apparent when we upgraded our automation to completely uncompressed audio and away from MP2. I couldn't tell the difference on the upgrade with our country station, but our AC really popped when we made the upgrade. Again, Garbage In - Garbage Out.

To the original poster here, he was looking for some ideas and support. My experience with Aphex has been very productive.

I've usually avoided popping on and discussing processing because it's like having a Mac vs PC debates or even discussing religion in a mixed crowd. I'm also really tired of much of the "your box is junk and you would only be better if you have the same thing I do" discussions here.

I'm facinated to play with any processor, but I only get to play with what is put in front of me.

BTW - This response was written on a Mac
 
I agree with the posts recommending doing away with any form of MP compressed audio files (2, 3, 4 or whatever). Hard drives are extremely inexpensive these days, so IMHO .WAV files should only be used.

I just bought a Seagate 300 GB drive for my home audio system, for $100.00, and converting all my personal collection of music to .wav files. I'm also reripping all of our music at work, to .wavs. I can tell the difference, even with hearing impairments.

.wav files are the "wav" of the present, and future too! :)

R
 
syvjeff said:
Hi Frank -

My main point is that DSP based units like yours to my ears sound processed no matter the drive and keep cut after cut of music within a really tight range. Also to my ears, with the 2020 we have on our AC station the loudness is close to the same compared to our Country, but I notice more depth to it. This became more apparent when we upgraded our automation to completely uncompressed audio and away from MP2. I couldn't tell the difference on the upgrade with our country station, but our AC really popped when we made the upgrade. Again, Garbage In - Garbage Out.

BTW - This response was written on a Mac
Click to expand...

Hi Jeff,

I understand what you're saying...BUT...the processed sound is not because of DSP, it's because of the way the system is setup, or programmed. There are plenty of ways to adjust an Omnia that replicates the detail you refer to with the 2020. I'm aware of plenty of users who have replaced the 2020 with Omnia, then told us they achieved the same openess, clarity, depth, and detail as before, but they were noticeably louder.

I think you'll find that with any processor, quality will improve as you move away from coded audio. It might have appeared more dramtically to you on the other unit, due to the lack of distortion controling mechanisms in that product. (I have studied their design, and there is nothing inside that replicates distortion masking.) This is why that type of unit sounds more distorted when coded audio is processed through it. The 2020 creates more perceived THD, due to the lack of masking filters inside, and that is what you hear. This is the same reason why when both units (Omnia & 2020) are pushed for the same amonut of loudness, the 2020 MKIII sounds audibly distored much sooner, no matter if the audio is coded or not.

BTW: This reply was also written on a Mac! :)

-Frank Foti
 
Exactly. This box is old hat and i hate to use your cheese analogy again Jeff, but it just doesn't cut the cheese in most installations today.You can tweak that 06 and get more depth & CLARITY than anyone could imagine.In a non competitive situation the 2020 might work just fine..I had one for 2 years and had plenty of conversations with Aphex,mostly lip service.Finally gave it up.and yes i was running uncompressed wave files thru it.box was well built ,had a awesome SG ,but did not perform to my expectations.IMHO
 
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