lm wrote:

When trying a borrowed Studer 961 mixer, I really enjoyed the sound I got
with my Schoeps pair when recording my vibraphone.
My question is about the preamps sound quality of the different Studer's
consoles, only those which are affordable for me, such as 779 (or Revox
279), 169, 269, 961, 962.
I was told (by someone I don't really trust) that their basic preamps were
all the same, but with different options (parametrics Eqs, comp, ...).
Is this true or are there significant differences between the sound's
quality of these mixers pres ?

No, the preamps in all of them are pretty much about the same. I think
that with a little bit of tweaking they can be upgraded, but they are all
basically built around the same circuit which has a discrete front end
driving some 301 op-amps.

If you bypass the EQ and summing networks, you will find really no difference
between these consoles. If you bypass the EQ and use the summing, you will
find the smaller consoles sound better.

These are really very nice-sounding pieces of gear, especially when you think
about what is inside them.

Sorry for my frenchie English...

It is just fine.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."