The GTQ2 features mid-pressure typical of the Vintage Neve 1073, beefy and tight low end, and exceptionally high transient transients.
However, the GTQ2 sounds more open and “modern” than the best of the well-preserved original 1073s without sacrificing anything of the typical 1073 recognition value. Also striking is his enormous headroom. Bringing the GTQ2 to clipping is almost impossible while allowing neat saturation of signals to harmonic distortion – without the unwanted appearance of ugly artifacts on harder peaks. He has a compared to the original a bit stripped-down 3band EQ, as well as a high pass filter.
Incidentally, in a detailed blind test with five of the most common “1073 type” Pre's the GTQ2 clearly took the first place. Why the result has surprised even a connoisseur even in approach, explains the history of the GTQ2.
