FS / FT UK - 2x Igor Sontec clone boards

[Big edit]

Ok so, I'm tidying this post up.

I'm selling the following;

2x Igor Sontec clone eq board sets, rev 1.7 (not the MS one) filter and amp PCBs w/opamp sockets + 2x (2x24V) PSUs + 2x toroidal transformers + 2 stereo sets of hard bypass boards (already incl. 2 stereo sets of Neutriks)

This all cost me 870 Euros from Igor - make me an offer.


I'd *much* rather sell both to one person and wash my hands of it, but we'll see what happens. No trades I'm afraid...

One note: If I divide everything I got from Igor into half, and one of the wires, there are three of. How that's possible for 2x board sets I don't know, but hopefully it's not too big a deal to people round here.

Cheers,

Bob.

Hi Bob,

As a fellow mastering guy welcome to the forum, I've always liked your posts over at Gearslutz.

Sorry for your troubles, you are not the first and certainly won't be the last guy/gal to run aground on the rocks of "cheap" or custom gear.

My day job is mastering but I tech for several companies including Maselec/Prism and PMC here in L.A.  Please take my thoughts in the non critical spirit intended.

In no particular order

- I would strongly consider switching to the Porter EQ instead of the DIY Sontec, it's a better design on almost every front.  I think real Sontecs are pretty over rated, and I've used quite a few.  I use a modified Porter every day and it is a truly great EQ.

- There is a little bit of a catch 22 with trading one set of your parts for the build on the other unit - the people who will have the time and enthusiasm may not have the skills and experience to guarantee a result.  The people with those skills and experience will be busy and expensive, you may get lucky on this front but proceed with caution.

- What EQs are you using day to day?  What are you looking for from this build? I remember you had a Gyraf (which I like very much).

Cheers,
Ruairi

ruairioflaherty said:

As a fellow mastering guy welcome to the forum, I've always liked your posts over at Gearslutz.

Sorry for your troubles, you are not the first and certainly won't be the last guy/gal to run aground on the rocks of "cheap" or custom gear.

Click to expand...

Aye... it seemed like a great idea at the time....

- I would strongly consider switching to the Porter EQ instead of the DIY Sontec, it's a better design on almost every front.  I think real Sontecs are pretty over rated, and I've used quite a few.  I use a modified Porter every day and it is a truly great EQ.

- There is a little bit of a catch 22 with trading one set of your parts for the build on the other unit - the people who will have the time and enthusiasm may not have the skills and experience to guarantee a result.  The people with those skills and experience will be busy and expensive, you may get lucky on this front but proceed with caution.

- What EQs are you using day to day?  What are you looking for from this build? I remember you had a Gyraf (which I like very much).

Click to expand...

Fill me in - how do I go about getting the Porter from where I am now? I'd have to shift all these boards anyway. Which leaves me with a bunch of switches. Which leads me to just selling the lot and having done with it, ha.

To be clear, I have precisely zero inclination/time/ability to get involved in a build. I'm building another studio in the very near future, which takes priority - and is not unrelated to me wanting this sorry debacle resolved.

EQ wise, I still have (and love) the G14, a Dangerous BAX (will be switching to the Gyraf G23 when Jakob finishes the solid state version), Thermonic Pullet, the Maselec MLA-3 (not an eq but I use it as such from time to time).

I'm looking for a little sweetness - I don't want a 'plugin' - but I'd like it to be versatile, useable on 50%+ of material. The G14 is too much for the majority of stuff, although in parallel it really shines. I understand the Porter is very much on the transparent side though..?

Your comments on the builders are noted, and I was aware of that. I might have to pay a premium for getting this done. So be it I spose; I'd rather it was done right and draw a line under it than chance it with a noob (no offense to anyone).

Level with me - just flog the lot?

Thanks a lot Ruari,

Bob.

Hey Bob,

Unless you have a very specific idea of what you are going for and it isn't available commercially I would say sell the parts and move on.  Getting a custom project across the line involves either a big time and energy commitment or paying someone talented and trustworthy to take care of it for you.  Oftentimes the latter can work out as expensive as a commercial product but with the added factor of an unknown outcome as opposed to a commercial product you can demo.

Everyone's definition of sweetness is different I guess.  I really liked the flavor of the Gyraf I tried but I could see how such a colored line amp makes it an EQ for certain projects only.  The Bax I really disliked! (Much like everything I've heard from Dangerous if I'm honest).

The Porter is very clean and low distortion, which is what I want in an EQ.  I don't find distortion in EQ bands in particular very useful, it tends to make for a moving target when working.  An example of that for me is the API 5500 which is another EQ I really disliked.

That's a long way of saying that to me sweet is low distortion but to you it may mean something else.  EQs are so personal that being able to demo commercial products makes it easier to find what works for you.

My Sontec boards are sitting in a box since the day I bought my Maselec MEA-2, it did exactly what I wanted the Sontec for and better.

Good luck with the new studio build.

Cheers,
Ruairi

Ha, I couldn't stand the MEA-2. I dislike the BAX too, and can't wait to sell it...

Noted though - and thanks. I'll see where this goes I suppose. But in my heart of hearts, I know you're right.

Peeps, I suppose y'all should start making offers on stuff...

As I said, everyone's idea of sonic Nirvana is different!

Let me point out that I'm giving pragmatic advice that I myself would never follow    If you think you'd enjoy working with someone to spec and build this project then by all means go for it.  I've got shelves full of parts for projects that range from pipe dreams to bat sh*t crazy.

I can't find your Elma switches on the site from the part number you gave?

From Mark @ Elma back in 2009;

"for the gain control, you would need stereo (2 wafer) versions of 04-1133-20, or (as one would think it would be called: 04-2133-20). But be careful…if you order this, you will get a 04-2133 with solder eyelets in the front and PC pins in the rear (unless that is what you want). If you want PC pins on both wafers, the part number is BV22797. We have these in the US and we can get them to the UK easily. These are assembled with temp locktight so you can take them apart for soldering PC boards on them if you want. BUT, regardless of the termination, 2 wafers with one control turning both wafers in tandem is a 04-2133 version of some sort.
You COULD have them in a concentric fashion with both wafers being able to be activated independently. You loosed the economies of scale and the switch increases in depth somewhat, but the functionality increases tremendously.

For the freq controls…..if you currently design for 2 wafers, then you are going to need 4 wafers (if I understand you correctly). 4 wafer as 04-4133-20 is the same thing as above….just the rear wafer has PC pins. The “all-PC-pin version with temp locktight is BV22810. I don’t have these but getting them is no problem."

I have the email from Igor confirming all PCB pins is the way.  Mark also says in that conversation that they're pretty specialised. I have a remarkable ability to be awkward.

Coming round to the idea of just flogging all the parts individually

On a tangential note: Good to see you here Bob - I can see you're in good hands already (hi Ruairi!)

In case you didn't notice, there is a igor-sontec fs near you (London)- at https://groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=66075.0 - that may (or may not) be a way to find out if this one is the eq of your dreams?

If so, you could post a link leading here in the "Jobs Available" subforum - https://groupdiy.com/index.php?board=12.0

Jakob E.

Well hello Jakob, fancy seeing you here

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm......... That is a very good idea.  Didn't realise there was a jobs available forum.

Will make enquiries. Continuing apologies for the embarrassing lack of knowledge of the DIY scene... I'll have to sell stuff just to get everyone some beers as a thank you

Hi all, just a quick note for transparency...

Had a variety of offers that I had'n't anticipated, some options I wasn't aware of. I'll make some decisions and tidy this whole thing up.

Thanks to all who have been in touch, I'll keep you all posted.

Hey Bob, hope you get it sorted out. I just wanted to say I use my Igor sontec with m/s festure for mastering, and really like what I hear from it. Very musical and clean.

Bump for an edit. Just the boards are being sold for the time being.

Cheeky bump