Re: Hammond XM1

[Mark Longo <longo@swanky.zk3.dec.com>]

        Sam and list members,

Sam wrote:

>  I ordered
>one this week based on the fact that the Voce V3 was an AC device
>and I was not sure it would work correctly using a transformer
>here in Israel.  I was dismayed, however, to see on the Net that in
>a small trial, the VOCE beat out the XM-1.

        I attended the "small trial" you mention.  While it's true that a 
majority of the listeners at the trial preferred the Voce over the XM-1 (and 
I shared that opinion with only few reservations), the XM-1 is indeed an 
impressive unit.  It's drawbar sounds were slightly darker than the Voce 
(and even more so than the XB-2) but neither unit was clearly superior in 
basic tonality.  An individual's choice based purely on tonality would be a 
question of personal taste, rather than better/worse.  The XM-1 chorus was 
especially impressive and a clear winner over the V-3 and XB-2, in my 
opinion.  OPn the other hand, The Voce's Leslie simmulator was better liked 
than the XM-1's.
        
        The physical differences pointed out in Theo's mail are more 
fundamental than the sonic differences.  Most notable among the physical 
differences is that the XM-1 uses a wall wart for the main module, but not 
the drawbars.  On the other hand, the V-3 uses a wall wart for the drawbars, 
but not for the main module.  The XM-1 main module is smaller than the 
standard rack unit, though a rack adapter is said to be available.
        
        If you have already bought an XM-1, play it and be happy!  It's a 
very nice unit.
        
        Mark

---------------------- \\ .. \\ ========
  m a r k  l o n g o    longo@zk3.dec.com
                         digital equip corp