T15 & A12 (sound samples included)

[ghetto3jon]

i curiously recorded a little "song" with a stereo pair of Peluso CEMC6 mics, one running into a T15, and the other running into an A12. the mics were rubber-banded together...so they were not in the exact same place on each track, but i made sure that it was pretty damn close. this is not a scientific test, the method is certainly imperfect...but it's fun none-the-less.

each instrument (two acoustics, bass, electric guitar, drums, tambourine, and two "ahh" vocals) was recorded one at a time through the two pres, but at the same time...then straight into my BLA-modded 828mkII (48k, 24-bit). there was a tiny bit of EQ and reverb on a few tracks in the DAW to make it a little more pleasant, but both "songs" were processed exactly the same way.

i matched levels by ear...again, not scientific, but what are you gonna do? i didn't mean for this to be some crazy "shootout" or anything, i was just personally curious...and i figured i might as well post it in case anyone else cared.

A12:
http://www.thebrotherkite.com/stuff/a_song.wav

T15:
http://www.thebrotherkite.com/stuff/b_song.wav

* i guess i learned that when all things are common (mic, instrument, etc), these pres can sound very similar...and both quite good. man, for the money, the T15 is crazy good.

[unchartedthickets]

thanks for the shootout and info regarding your chain. it's always interesting to hear other people's takes and what gear path their using. take care, R

[Jezza]

Very interesting. I *think* I hear a slightly fuller bass in the A12, but they are remarkably similar in sound. There would probably be a larger difference in sound if you were driving the preamps harder, but at moderate levels they are indeed a close match.

[cory.r.mcleod]

I actually like the t15 more.
I decided to listen to them blind and decide before looking at which was which.
t15 seemed fuller but the samples are there so everyone can judge themselves.