Urei 1603 vs. Ecler Nuo-4 - TranceAddict Forums

TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- DJ Booth
-- Urei 1603 vs. Ecler Nuo-4

Posted by trancintaiwan on Mar-13-2007 23:44:

Urei 1603 vs. Ecler Nuo-4

Hey sorry to do another one of these stupid comparison threads..... but I'm really having a hard time deciding what to get. So I recently got an efx-1000, and I was looking to upgrade my mixer (currently have an Ecler smac pro-30) to one that has an effects send/return and an extra channel. After checking out several options... I narrowed it down to these two, and I'm kinda torn.

I like the way the Urei is setup and how the effects send return section is a bit more detailed in what you can monitor etc. I guess the one thing that irks me is that the VCU meter is kinda tiny.

But then the Ecler has a very similar build with a slightly less involved effects section, but it also has all that wonderful midi capability which is a bonus in that respect.

Anyways... I'm most likely not gonna be using midi until I get a laptop so thats really not useful for me at the moment, so I was wondering if anyone has comparison on sound quality, build, knob feeling, etc. Now I have an ecler so i know the sound is good and the build is good, but what about the Urei Club mixer? I've used the rotary numerous times in a club, but thats a totally different type of mixer. I guess the main thing is I don't see a lot of people with this Urei 1603, so I more or less was hoping if some people on here have it and can give feedback.

As of now the pricing is:

Urei 1603 - $595
Ecler Nuo4 - $729

So based on those prices and features... what would you guys pick?

Posted by andydavey on Mar-14-2007 01:03:

I have a Nuo4 and can't recommend it enough. I have had a play on the 1603 though, and it did sound very nice indeed and is well laid out. However, the fact that they decided to put the 0 point of the EQs at about 2 o'clock rather than the standard 12 o'clock does actually really spoil what's an otherwise very good mixer IMO.

Posted by trancintaiwan on Mar-14-2007 02:55:

quote:
Originally posted by andydavey
I have a Nuo4 and can't recommend it enough. I have had a play on the 1603 though, and it did sound very nice indeed and is well laid out. However, the fact that they decided to put the 0 point of the EQs at about 2 o'clock rather than the standard 12 o'clock does actually really spoil what's an otherwise very good mixer IMO.

oh my... i was wondering why all the pics had the knobs turned to 2 o'clock. that really does kinda suck.

Posted by Zild on Mar-14-2007 05:26:

Doesn't sound so stupid when you realize that you need to be cutting EQs and NOT boosting EQs in your sets.

Posted by Allied Nations on Mar-14-2007 05:35:

quote:
Originally posted by Zild
Doesn't sound so stupid when you realize that you need to be cutting EQs and NOT boosting EQs in your sets.

+1 for deductive EQing.

Posted by Zild on Mar-14-2007 05:51:

quote:
Originally posted by Allied Nations
+1 for deductive EQing.

Thank you. I always try to help people, but the problem is they don't listen.

Posted by trancintaiwan on Mar-14-2007 06:36:

quote:
Originally posted by Zild
Doesn't sound so stupid when you realize that you need to be cutting EQs and NOT boosting EQs in your sets.

well i actually do both depending what i'm doing with the eq's. anyways though... its more about positioning i guess. feels more natural to return to the middle state does it not? i'm sure i can get used to it... but its still just kinda odd.

Posted by Zild on Mar-14-2007 07:05:

Well the fact is you really shoudn't be doing any additive EQing and the Ecler limits that as a thankyou.

Posted by trancintaiwan on Mar-14-2007 07:32:

quote:
Originally posted by Zild
Well the fact is you really shoudn't be doing any additive EQing and the Ecler limits that as a thankyou.

i don't believe there are any rules to eqing when it comes to djing.

Posted by Zild on Mar-14-2007 07:44:

Whatever you say.

Posted by andydavey on Mar-14-2007 17:40:

It's got nothing to do with additive or subtractive EQing though really. I never do any additive EQing, but my point is that when you've cut a particular band a bit and want to return it to its 0 position, you instinctively return it to 12 o'clock as that's the way it is on every other mixer out there. Remembering to turn it to 2 o'clock so that you're not cutting it anymore is just a pain. Sure you get a bit of extra control over the cut region on the Urei (purely because the pot has got more travel), but to me this isn't worth it as I know I'd constantly forget to return the EQs to their true 0 positions.

Posted by Allayla on Mar-15-2007 19:08:

I always have my highs and lows at about 1 o'clock on my djm 500, it seems to boost the sound quality a bit

Posted by Allied Nations on Mar-15-2007 20:03:

Boost the gain and leave them at 12 o clock-

problem solved.

Posted by trancintaiwan on Mar-15-2007 21:14:

lol... thread-jacking to the max.

anyways... i'm hoping i can get another opinion or two in on the mixers instead of someone trying to teach me how to eq properly (thought i appreciate your help and concern )

Posted by nutsan on Mar-19-2007 20:18:

both very nice mixers the nuo 4 is about �650 here and the 1603 is �300 which seems like a steal to me.

Posted by Acid John on Mar-21-2007 03:14:

nuo 4 is 4 full channels..

urei is more of a psuedo 4 channel mixer.

channel one is more geared for mics, with +/-12 db eqs.

thannels 2-4 have "isolator eqs"... which means +6 to full cut eqs. (but still has all standard inputs)

back to the urei (i might be getting one soon)... hows the eqs? sound quality? etc etc....

Posted by Xtracktor on Mar-21-2007 03:33:

Some tracks just don't come mastered correctly, so I think EQing after mixing is based on what the sound of the track requires.