Andrew Chapman Creative’s 2025 Gear Gauntlet: Hits, Misses, and Mic Mayhem

Andrew Chapman Creative kicks things off by reminding us just how lucky he is to get his mitts on a mountain of audio gear—real studios, real sessions, and no patience for fluff. He’s not here to coddle brands or play nice with marketing departments. Instead, he’s breaking down the standouts and the stinkers, and he’s not afraid to burn a few bridges along the way. If you’re looking for sugar-coated reviews, you’re in the wrong rave bunker.

The first victim? The Audient Oria Mini. Andrew wanted to love this little box, especially as a room correction engine, but the lack of a headphone output is a dealbreaker. Sure, it talks nicely to the software and connectivity’s solid, but it doesn’t bring enough to the table to justify its price. With computers now flexing more muscle than a gym on New Year’s Day, the Oria Mini just doesn’t earn its keep. Chapman’s verdict: nice try, but not worth your hard-earned cash.

Now for the gear that made Andrew eat his words—in a good way. Enter the SSL Revival 4000 Series Channel Strip: he wanted to hate it (his wallet certainly did), but the sound is so good it forced an F-bomb out of him. It’s expensive, but sometimes you get what you pay for, and this channel strip proves it. Pro audio isn’t cheap, and the best stuff often hides behind the least sexy facades—preamps, compressors, the works.

The surprises keep coming with the sE Electronics Voodoo VR2 Active Ribbon Microphone, which Andrew had zero expectations for but ended up loving. It’s a rare budget ribbon that doesn’t suck, delivering killer results on acoustic and electric guitar, and probably horns too. Then there’s the Dachman Audio DA87SE, crowned as the best inexpensive condenser mic under $500. No frills, cardioid only, but it nails the essentials—neutrality, a sweet top-end roll-off, and enough character to make your voiceovers pop. Pair it with a solid preamp and you’re golden.

Andrew doesn’t pull punches when it comes to overrated gear. The Warm Audio WA87 R2 gets the wooden spoon this year. He’s clear: if you love it, good for you—but for him, it’s a miss. The mids remind him too much of an SM57 (just buy an SM57, mate), the low end is muddy, and the top end is either absent or harsh. Add a dodgy shock mount and too much weight, and you’ve got a mic that’s more trouble than it’s worth.

But here’s the real lesson: audio is all about personal taste. There’s no such thing as a universally bad mic—just one you haven’t found a use for. Andrew’s honesty cuts through the crowd-pleasing nonsense, reminding us that hype is cheap and your ears are the only judge that matters. Don’t let the forums or fanboys steer your studio choices.

Time to talk about the unsung heroes: channel strips and preamps. Andrew’s top pick of 2025? The Chandler TG2 500 Series Preamp. Forget whether it’s a perfect Abbey Road clone—this thing sounds massive, with an open top end and transformer-driven harmonics that’ll make your mixes pop. It’s especially tasty with darker mics, adding just the right contrast and grit.

Andrew’s not just talking theory—he’s used the TG2 day in, day out, and it’s become a staple in his rack. The SSL Revival 4000 gets another nod for its killer sound, but it’s the TG2 that stole the show in his real-world sessions. If you want your tracks to punch through the mix and ooze character, this is the street weapon you need. Just be ready to pounce if you see one used—they don’t hang around for long.