Oh, I forgot to mention that I received the sE Electronics Reflexion Filter Pro via UPS, yesterday. It was included with the AKG C414 XL II purchase I made. It finally got here.
 
The shipping was kind of slow, but I'm not gonna complain much because it usually sells for between $250-$300 and I got it like for free. The AKG C414 XL II sells on Sweetwater for $1099 and I got this mic and the Reflexion filter from eBay brand new for $1050. SO it's like I got the reflexion filter for free and $49 off the mic.
 
I have an untreated room, so I welcome what ever help I can get from this reflexion filter.
 
Cya all around.
 
EDIT:
 
Holy smoke! I just checked sweetwater, and they made a price drop for this mic. It is now selling for $949. That's good news, but I still did OK with my bargain eBay purchase.

Thomas,
 
the Warm WA76 is an 1176 compressor (and a very good one, too). WA12 is their basic preamp (and a good one, too).  It lists for $450, while the WA12 Tone Beast lists for $600 (and well worth it if you can afford it instead - same base preamp but w/ switchable transformers, op amps, etc.).
 
They all over pro-level sound.
 
@

AT:
 
I meant to tell Jay Tee:
 
When you get a chance to use it, tell me what you think of the dbx compressor. The two compressors I've been looking at are the Warm Audio WA-76 ($600): http://www.warmaudio.com/wa76-discrete-compressor/ and the ART Pro VLA II http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProVLA2 But I don't want to have too much tube sound in the signal chain.
 
But what I wrote was below:
 
"When you get a chance to use it, tell me what you think of the dbx preamp. The two preamps I've been looking at are the Warm Audio WA-76 ($600): http://www.warmaudio.com/wa76-discrete-compressor/ and the ART Pro VLA II http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProVLA2 But I don't want to have too much tube sound in the signal chain."
 
 
I had compressors on my mind, but I was writing preamp. It can be seen that I posted links to the compressors, as I meant to relate a message about compressors not preamps in the paragraph with the WA-76 link and the ART compressor link. Thanks for catching that. It was an honest mistake, but I don't know how that happened. I'm not sleepy or anything. Sheesh.
 

Stuff happens - fingers faster than thought.
 
I am very impressed w/ the WA76 and every pro who has tried it has loved it - esp. for the price.  Grab and hold and it puts the sound out front w/ a lovely sheen all over the signal.  It is hard to describe, but on guitar I must have dialed in everything perfect because I got the kind of sound that I've only heard on CDs, or vinyl.  And it matched it that tone exactly - aggressive w/o losing depth.
 
It is not the bestest on everything (tho it can work ok for more gentle dynamic control), but when you want it on certain things (bass, guitar, snare, vox) in pop/rock context it is right up there with the big boys.
 
It is probably opposite of the Art's optical compression, tho as with the WA76 it should perform yeoman signal control on most everything, which is something to consider.
 
@ 
 
@

The UA710 is my "fall back position" mic pre.  It's the one I go to when my others aren't giving me what I want or there's some unexplainable problem with my other pres that I can't figure out quickly and I have to go to something that I know will work.  It might not be exciting but you're going to get signal into the box and you can tweak it later.

Good chance there's something wrong w the Dbx 1066.  It does some strange things, noise that comes and goes, limiter section gets sensitive, then not, if it sits a while, the output meter reads -3 or -6 with no signal thru it, till I power cycle it, and the gate doesn't gate. Ima ping support this week.

I was going to say that the Art Pro VLA is more along the lines of a LA-2A (smooth gentile dynamics control)... whereas the 1176 is more assertive/aggressive.  AT beat me to it.  
 
Was cutting VO's last week (RE-320) and did a quick comparison using a GAP Pre-73, Solo 610, and the X32 Compact's onboard "Midas designed" preamps.
 
In this scenario:

• Pre-73 - Very articulate sound...  aggressive upper mids
• Solo-610 - Slightly larger sounding than the Pre-73... upper mids were just a tad less aggressive than the Pre-73 (resultant sound was pretty similar)
• Midas Pre - Absolutely HUGE sounding... more flat upper mids than either the Pre-73 and Solo-610

 
Obviously, this comparison isn't comparing "like" preamps... but I was a little surprised that the Midas preamp sounded so large.  
My girl has a "radio voice"... and for this spot she needed to sound like the house-wife next door.
The low mids were just too much in this context.
I'm thinking the Midas preamps will be great for recording acoustic drums (just got the X32 Compact)
 
 

@ Thomas:
Starting with good gear up front makes the whole recording/mixing process so much easier (and more enjoyable).
Capturing a great sound at the source is the best thing you can do for your mix.
No amount of EQ/processing is a subsitute...
 
 

Agree w Jim. I used to chase EQ all over the place and end up unsatisfied still, and now, using better equipment,hardly touch it, or maybe add a couple db of presence.

I haven't been down to this forum for a while. I've been busy doing other stuff. I even forgot to subscribe to get instant notifications for activity in this thread. So, I missed the most recent two posts. I just subscribe, though.
 
@Mod Bod
 
Thanks for your little review of the UA710. :) I still need a nontube preamp, and it covers both (tube and solid state.)
 
@Jim
 
Thanks so much for your input, Jim. It really means a lot to me. I'm still looking at getting at least one Warm Audio WA-76. And I'm considering the ART Pro VLA II. Being a stereo unit makes it attractive, to me, and I hear it's a decent quality compressor.
 
@Jay Tee
 
Thanks for the update. Sweetwater lists the DBX 1066 for $429.05. That aint cheap, so I can understand getting a replacement unit before your warranty ends.
 
Here's an update with me.
 
Looks like I'm gonna be a moth late on getting the Lynx, but I'm adamant about getting it next, as the next piece of hardware I get I'm also thinking carefully about getting the RME Fireface UFX. It's gonna be either the RME or the Lynx Aurora 8.
 
I did buy some things this month, though. I upgraded to SONAR X3 Producer from X1 Producer, bought 24GB of memory 1333 MHz at CAS 7-7-7-24 (My mobo is now maxed out on memory,) and I bought the Cakewalk ProChannel pack, which includes the CA-2A and the Concrete Limiter.
 
I will keep you all posted with what's going on, on my end.