https://youtu.be/o6KH8xXwJNA

Seems like a great box to plug electronic instruments into. Outputs for recording & an analog summing mixer if you want to play synths without turning on other equipment. I was about to get an Avedis KP6 but now have hesitations…

edit:
I am assuming the preamp stage on this product is the same as their Nice DI…so it looks like a N-8 w/ HPF filters, & L-R summing mixer w/ master fader + stereo width control.

I’m a bit unclear on the I/O - curious to see what the back looks like.

I love Phoenix Audio, it sounds terrific. Love it.

I have a N-8 that I run into a summing mixer…so THEATA is perfect for my needs…and yes they sound great!

I would absolutely love one of these in a desktop version…

No panning?

hard panning. separate left and right busses...engage both for 'center'

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/det...-summing-mixer

looks like it's out!

I snagged a Theata early on in release. Just some details on my use:

When summing...Hooked up to my AD/DA via DB25 In / Out
When using preamps it has to be physically disconnected from the rear

it sounds great, though Im disappointed to find out I need to now purchase an additional patch bay to do most of the routing / reamping I thought this unit was capable via its inputs 'out of the box' [pun intended]

I will report back once I get my switchcraft studio patch, as I feel this is required to do more of the fun routing ideas I thought the unit was initially capable of

loading issues are a bummer

Its a nice unit, it could have been more clear about some things, or maybe I misunderstood its limitations. Either way, I have already used it to create some fantastic tracks.

The sound is typical Phoenix. Class A, lots of character, makes things sound pretty amazing right away. I enjoy the filter, and use it to success often.

I really enjoy the width effect, and it does what it says it will. Lots of fun experimenting with this.
The thru on the front is very fun for reamping (I can currently do this using my mics going into my Apogee inputs). Its a great tool, and I cannot wait to be able to reamp with effects on the front of the unit (pending patch bay).
I have tried this , and even with the loading, it sounds amazing throwing something silly like an eventide blackhole pedal in to route thru in protools.

My routing / recording applications are likely not the same as everyone else, but for what I enjoy , this unit brings ALOT to the table. A few bumps in the road and quirks, but definitely something I have high hopes once I get the rear hooked up to a patch bay

after using the Theata for a few weeks (and getting a switchcraft 1625 studip patch to hook it up with my Rosetta , allowing for back and forth between reamping, sending tracks for summing, etc, with ease) I am loving it.

In the past I have owner a Black Lion Summing Mixer and a custom made Vintage Maker Summing mIxer. I really enjoyed the Black Lion, not so much the Vintage Maker, and was alittle worried I would not enjoy the LCR options on the Theata. Not at all the case. If anything my mixes have never sounds bigger and more dynamic. Funny how that is sometimes.

Just wanted to update my enjoyment with this unit. It sounds amazing, I have gotten nothing but compliments on the polish of my tracks since owning it. So many possibilites

Could you please elaborate a bit more ? How does it compare to the PM8 or the VintageMaker ?

Why need of an extra patchbay ? What is not so obvious from the description of the unit ? Cos I also thought all ins and outs could be used straight out of the box....

Nice, Iv'e really had my eye on this unit. You don't see much about it online but seems like a great "piece of kit". Any chance we can see some photos? Not many online for us gear slutz.

Here is a sexy internal shot showing Theata's 10 transformers

fantastic unit! I use it every single day I record and cant imagine my studio without it

the Black Lion was fine for what it is (a modded Sm Audio Mixer with transformer I think.. fine unit). The sound of that was fine. Not the best build quality but not bad , and nice that you can opt to use whatever stereo preamps you choose.

The Vintage Maker was a total disappointment. Bad in every way, from build quality to company interaction (they custom built my inputs and outputs labeled backwards) to lack of character. Just not for me.

The Phoenix audio sounds enormous when you want it to. The preamps offer a nice range of color, but I am never finding my tracks over colorized when I want them to stay crsytal clear.

I find myself using the handy filter allll the time to sort of 'pre trim' musical elements that are prone to low end issues / often have it rolled off anyways.
The phase option is very nice when you need it also.

Mixing down with the LCR system was something I was unsure of, but if nothing else, I find my mixes are better than ever. I love the Stereo Width control, and being able to route in and out with all the options is another thing that sets it apart. The routing concern I mentioned is that I found a switchcraft db25 patchbay connected to the rear allowed me to use the front ins/outs as well out routing on rear without loading concerns.

I also have a radial 500 with a similar patch bay, which lets me connect pres / other 500 series with the Theata.

Has anyone compared the sound of this unit (or Phoenix Audio’s N-8 DI) to the Avedis KP6, anything Millennia, or the even the RNDI?

I currently have Audient ASP880s to record my synths, and they’re pretty flexible, but I want to upgrade to something suuuper clean&transparent.

Would love to know the same

I recently tried to have both the DB25 inputs connected to my Lynx 25-32 outputs but wasn't able to get the summing buss to really work for some reason - lots of distortion. Even after disconnecting all the front inputs (the DB 25 outputs were still connected. Is this what you mean by the "loading". Any suggestiongs?

I

Still no one that's used this thing?

i ended up with a N-8 DI which i like a lot and it sounds excellent. meets my needs. Didn't need all the extra features of the Theata but i'm sure it sounds great. the N-8 DI is quality. I leave it patched normaled to the inputs of first 8 channels of my converters.