Just received my Stam 1073 MPA+. So I had to try it out next to my AMS Neve 1073 DPX. This is (4) quick takes. The Neve had the EQ out. The first (2) are completely raw with no EQ or compression. The second were recorded through my Summit TLA100 and I added some reverb. I have had this great blues song in my head for days now. So that's what I sang. I'm curious which you think is the Neve and which the Stam, A or B. I didn't do any tricks here. A is always A and B is always B. They are not perfectly level matched, but I tried my best to do that. Part of that is one has a slightly more dynamic range than the other.

A. Stam 1073 MPA
B. AMS Neve 1073 DPX

Just listened. That was my guess. B had more presence, way more vibe

A-neve
B-Stam
A seemed a bit peaky on some of the higher notes, on my headphones it was a bit too sharp. But both are good and I would mix accordingly to each signal. I bought the BAE as some did the same test, the neve was brighter and I wanted something more smooth.

You must have missed the key I posted, but A was the Stam and B was the Neve. If you do a frequency analysis of both you’ll see they have a similar frequency response, but the Neve is more linear with an extended top end and low end. The Stam starts to roll off at the very top and bottom, and has a bump in the mids, which is probably the peaky sound you’re hearing.

I have to try and record a simultaneous take with both, so the take can’t be in question, but I imagine the outcome would be the same. There is a dynamic range difference I noticed though, with the Neve take being slightly louder at its loudest points.

Yes, missed the info, thanks for the detailed info, Then my BAE would be even darker than the STAM as it was darker than the neve in the other test. If I had the stam I would end up having to use oeksounds SOOTHE to duck that top peak I heard that was a bit biting. thank for posting

Hi - Did the Stam 1073 in your test (thanks for that, very interesting) have a Sowter or Carnhill output transformer? Sorry if you already posted but didn’t see in thread, thx.

Per Stam’s website, ”At Stam Audio we have been building 1073’s replicas for almost a decade and decided to do our final revision with a custom Sowter output transformer, Carnhill VTB9045 input and vtb9046 line input transformer, tantalum, polystyrene and Vishay capacitors as well as BC550C and 2n3055 transistors which are all measured one by one before being soldered into each channel.”

”The 1073mp uses a Carnhill VTB9045 input transformer on each channel which is a direct descendants of the the original Marinair and a custom UK-made Sowter 1777 output transformer which perfectly recreates the original Marinair LO1166 output transformer like you have never heard before.”

Small detail but you mentioned you had a 1073MPA, which I also have with Carnhill OTs. I take it from your recent post however that you have a 1073MP rather than the older MPA model which could have either Carnhill or Stower OTs.

My unit says 1073MPA+ which is the version right before the current 1073MP now on the site. It has the combination of Carnhill and Sowters as well. You'd probably have to have Josh chime in on the more subtle differences if any. Stam changes things so frequently due to parts availability and slight design upgrades that it is hard to keep up.

I’m guessing yours has Carnhill line input transformers like the newer model as well. My older MPA unit has no line input transformers. So the model names prior to current don’t mean that much. First I’ve ever heard of an “MPA+” model was in your post. Guessing the plus was to signify the Stower OTs.