BAE 1073 DMP vs. GAP Pre-73 Jr. — Blind Shootout

Hello all, long-time reader, first-time poster. I know there are a few other threads discussing related topics, but I did a bunch of recorded comparisons of these two preamps and thought people would be interested to participate in this blind shootout between a GAP Pre-73 Jr. and a BAE 1073 DMP. I am very interested to hear your thoughts! (I'll bite my tongue for now.)

$ note: I got the GAP for $100 used on Craigslist, and the BAE used for $994 with tax and shipping from Guitar Center (I still have a month to return it, which I might do after this shootout!). So you can consider whether or not the BAE sounds 10x better or not.:alien:

I'll let people listen first, and then I'll reveal which of the preamps is A and which is B in the next couple days. You can download the clips here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...usp=share_link

Details on the comparison process:

I don't have a mic splitter, which probably would have been a good way to do this, though I have also read that there are some issues with that (correct me if I'm wrong). So instead, most of the tracks were sent out of the computer using a Radial reamp box and recorded back through the DI inputs on the two different units. I know that the transformers on the DI inputs of these are not the same as the mic input transformers, but I will be using the DI a lot on both of these (recording electric guitar through a UA Dream pedal and straight DI bass), so the DI is quite important for my workflow. These are all level-matched. On that note, the BAE has higher output, so I turned down the output gain a bit while recording. (60 db input gain on both preamps.)

I should also note that the "Female Vox" track was recorded through the GAP with an SM7b and then reamped through each of the preamps, which was not the best idea I suppose, but maybe it doesn't matter in terms of comparing what these do to the program material.

The tracks marked "Electric Mic'ed" were recorded using the same parts playing out a loop pedal into a '71 Fender Champ, mic'ed with a WA-19 (Warm Audio D-19c clone). So those are the best representation of the mic input transformer differences, in case you want to skip to those. These are also level matched. (45 db input gain and output gain on max on both preamps.)

The tracks marked "Acoustic" and "Male Vox" are the least accurate tests; I tried to play/sing the same way each take, but even a slight movement away/towards the mic (an Advanced Audio CM47) or a difference in performance can make a big difference. Those tracks were also recorded through a KT-76 compressor (cheap 1176 clone that I use a lot). So take these tracks with a large grain of salt. (30db input gain and output gain on max for both preamps.)

EDIT: I removed the Acoustic and Male Vox tracks from the folder because they really were not a reliable test. Interestingly, the first and only response I've gotten so far preferred A on the acoustic track (but I would suspect pick placement and/or mic distance were the main factors there because they sounded far more different than the examples I re-amped or recorded with a more accurate comparative approach).

I look forward to hearing your responses!