D.W. Fearn VT-7

The DW Fearn VT 7 is a rack able compresser with two channels and it can be used together or you can use them separately. One thing about this unit is that it is built to last, this unit will not get defective on you or break if you drop it, it is a very steardy and well built piece of equipment that is manufacture by a company in Pennsylvania that stands by there products. The company has actually made several units that are similar to this one and they are all built the same way. They build gear for guys like me that have to travel a lot and take the gear they have with them.


UTILIZATION

This compressor will take up 3 rack spaces I think (because it’s a pretty big unit) and it has pretty basic controls like gain, attack and threshold and release. One back thing about units like these is that they tend to get hot , very hot. They get hot fast too, you wont even need to have them on long and they will get hot and could potentially fry the mother board of the unit (which would be the only way that this unit would break) but the DW Fearn VT 7 has a built in fan that will keep the system cool which gives your unit pretty much an eternity of a life span. Some times the built in fan can get a little annoying though because its not as quiet as you might want it to be or like some computer fans can give a little hiss or hum. But this fan you will hear from several feet away and it will get on your nerves after a while but you will need to have this fan so you can protect your investment.


SOUND QUALITY

sounds great

OVERALL OPINION

The VT 7 is flexible and will provide great results for compressing certain instruments. If you know what you are doing with this compressor it will take you to another level. They are not cheap but they are worth the money spent.

The D.W. Fearn VT-7 is a stereo compressor with vacuum tubes. The VT-7 is made extremely well as it is the type of unit that will last a lifetime. I don't know the types of connections that it has as the one that I used was already racked up in the studio that I used it in. It is indeed rackable and will take up three rack spaces.

UTILIZATION

The configuration of the D.W. Fearn VT-7 isn't too complicated to figure out after using it for a short while. Each of the two channels are identical, each consisting of ubiquitous compression parameters for threshold, gain, attack, release, and a harder/softer knob. Each also has a VU meter which will view either gain reduction. The unit has a switch which allows you to either link the channels or use them separately. I've never seen a manual for this, but if you've got any experience with compressors you won't need one.

SOUND QUALITY

Upon immediate usage of the D.W. Fearn VT-7 I was blown away by it's superior tone quality. The vacuum tubes inside of this make the VT-7 a thick sounding, unstoppable force. It is easy to use so I never have any trouble getting the exact sound that I want out of it, which is a big plus as it can certainly be a struggle to do this with other units. I would say that even though I've had the chance to use it on vocals and snare drum, that it can be used for any application you'd like, as it just sounds that good. Of course some things will sound better than others, but as long as you have something in mind I think you'll be able to adapt the VT-7 to whatever you're thinking.

OVERALL OPINION

Without actually hearing the D.W. Fearn VT-7, it is hard to take my word for it. If you're truly interested in the VT-7 or something like it, I'd highly encourage you to get out there and get your hands on one to try. The price is of course expensive, as will be the case with any high end compressor that you are looking to get. I can't say that this is necessarily better than the other classic and high end compressors out there, but it is certainly on the same level with most of them...