High End Audio Processors: Which One Would You Buy?

[everydayguy]

Now that the prices for high-end hardware processors have dropped prior to the new model introductions at NAB (as you know, there are special deals on Omnia 6, Orban 8500, Vorsis FM-2000) -- which one of the three would you buy?

Does anyone here actually use a Vorsis FM-2000 or its HD brother?

This is for a small to mid market-sized non-HD Classic Country FM using a Vorsis VP-8 that is looking for a bigger sound while avoiding as much as possible any distortion or listener fatique.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sgeirk]

Between those three candidates, I would personally pick an Omnia6exi, ultimately, you have to live with the sound.

I would suggest getting all three, and running them side-by-side.

While you're at it, I would also demo a DSPxtra w/Ariane inside. And, if you're really adventurous, try to demo a 30 year old box: a modified 8100 with an Ariane (or XT2)...if being analog isn't a burden. Get a card 5 and card 0, too...why not?

I suggest analog boxes only because you say you play Classic Country and you're not HD...

If you try the Omnia6, my favorite preset is Cosmic...it nails song-to-song consistency...and it's capable of being really loud and open sounding.

If you try it, contact Mark Manolio at Omnia for instructions on setting the input.

Have fun playing!

 

[stephend2]

another vote for DSPxtra. try any you can get your hands on though, wish I could have done that but all I had to work with was either an omnia one or the DSPxtra.

 

[chriscollins]

I love my Optimod 8300. It is much nicer since the firmware rewrite which made is sound much better on my flatline/compressed content (Hip-Hop).

It is a great and economical box.

 

[jesseg]

Of those three, the O6...

Not in those 3 that imo should also be included (in addition to the DSPXtra) in the decision making process... Sound4 and Breakaway.

 

[gtomas]

I would get demos of all three, if possible at the same time, and run them side-by-side... In fact, why not get the BW DSPXtreme as well? IMO, it's much better than the DSPXtra.

These processors all sound quite different between themselves, the way they operate and "handle" audio is different, they have different designs, characters and sound textures . There is no single best one, as that will highly depend on your subjective preferences, your stations' programming, what you like and dislike in a processor, etc.

Your poll here will be nothing but a representation of the preferences of the people who read this board and are willing to post - you have to ask yourself what kind of picture does it give to you and how is that relevant?

Get the demos and try them! That's the only way to know which one suits and sounds best for your station...


Regards,
Goran Tomas

 

[wgliradio]

I would hang on.... there's new firmware for the VP-8 coming that makes alot of changes.

 

[dspxscott]

If you're considering testing a BW Broadcast box hang on about a week because the whole range will see at least a typical list pricing drop of around 10%. That starts to put mini pricing at around $1500 and X pricing at $2500.

We're closing the advance guest list for our NAB cocktail party tomorrow, hope to see some of the "posters" there. www.bwbroadcast.com/nabparty

Regards
Scott

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

I love our Omnia 6. We are a smooth jazz formatted station. I litterly selected the 'country 2' preset and added just a touch more high end in the eq section. It sounds GREAT!

I have another client that has a 8300 and that works pretty good with a lot of dinking around. Of course it's hard to compare station to station do to format and source material but I do think the Omnia sounds the best of the two. (of course the 8300 was a 6,000 dollar box opposed to the 14,000 the Omnia cost!).

 

[Chuck]

I love our Omnia 6. We are a smooth jazz formatted station. I litterly selected the 'country 2' preset and added just a touch more high end in the eq section. It sounds GREAT!

I have another client that has a 8300 and that works pretty good with a lot of dinking around. Of course it's hard to compare station to station do to format and source material but I do think the Omnia sounds the best of the two. (of course the 8300 was a 6,000 dollar box opposed to the 14,000 the Omnia cost!).

I'm running a DSP-Xtra and have had engineers at other stations comment on how good we sound. It works for me.

 

[richard.vanderveen]

Another vote for the DSPXtra here... ;D

 

[rorban]

I would get demos of all three, if possible at the same time, and run them side-by-side... In fact, why not get the BW DSPXtreme as well? IMO, it's much better than the DSPXtra.

These processors all sound quite different between themselves, the way they operate and "handle" audio is different, they have different designs, characters and sound textures . There is no single best one, as that will highly depend on your subjective preferences, your stations' programming, what you like and dislike in a processor, etc.

Your poll here will be nothing but a representation of the preferences of the people who read this board and are willing to post - you have to ask yourself what kind of picture does it give to you and how is that relevant?

Get the demos and try them! That's the only way to know which one suits and sounds best for your station...


Regards,
Goran Tomas

I agree 100% with Goran's post. I would just add that choices should be made on the basis of what works best for a station's target audience, which is not necessarily the same as the engineer's (or even the PD's) preference. However, if it were a battle between the engineer and the PD, I would tend to side with the PD, whose professional success hinges on whether the station's presentation can attract and hold listeners.

At Orban, we have always emphasized low distortion (particularly with voice) and consistency because we believe that those qualities are essentially to avoid fatiguing listeners.

Bob Orban