So the wife and I are looking at a windfall in the few months and I'm going to be lobbying to buy some preamps. I had always thought there was a pretty steep entry fee to the SCA stuff but recently I filled out the price quote and saw that if you get the chassis, power supply and wiring harness they give you a huge discount. You can get that with a T15 for like $400. For the chassis and everything plus two of the A12s it's less that a grand so that has me drooling. Now they say the T15 is a good project for beginners but I read that the A12 isn't much more difficult. Of course at $79 I wouldn't mind adding a T15 if it gave me something usefull. Right now all I have for preamps are my Onyx pres and the TAMPA. But anything I add I want to be a significant improvement. If so great, if not I would rather deal with it. Besides I would like to someday fill that chassis with all the others considering individually the modules are well within my price range. Now other than successfully soldering some cables this will be my first DIY project but I may get some little hobby kit to play with and get some practice. I'm just curious to hear some experience and whether or not they really are as good as I've been hearing.

Lance

Have a look here for some comments

http://studioforums.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1526095781/m/9101041732

Peter

They are EXCELLENT.

You need patience, a good soldering station, Multimeter and basic small pliers/cutters/screwdrivers.

I built the chassis/A12 combo. Then I paid someone else to assemble the other channels! It took me about 4 hours to do the A12. The main thing is sorting out the parts CAREFULLY and measuring them so that you don't screw it up.

The T15 are good clean preamps.
The C84 are prettier sounding and still clean.
I use the A12's the most and the N72 are more colored (and excellent too).

You might consider doing the T15 first and then an A12.

quote:

You need patience, a good soldering station, Multimeter and basic small pliers/cutters/screwdrivers

Alittle lean on patience these days but I have lots of time. I have pliars/cutters/mini screwdrivers etc. What am I looking at for a good soldering station? Also, I'm really wondering how much the T15 will add to what I already have? I've considered it because it's reccomended for beginners but I've read a few folks saying that the A12 isn't much harder. Anything else I need to prepare for this?

Lance

I wouldn't go cheaper than this

Hey thanks, that's totally doable.

Lance