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Rodgers 740 vs Allen Mos-2

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  • Rodgers 740 vs Allen Mos-2



    Can anyone compare/contrast Rodgers 740 to Allen Mos-2 (maybe 225 or 282)?




    Specifically, what would be the pros and cons for someone looking for a home practice organ?







    Thanks!


  • #2
    Re: Rodgers 740 vs Allen Mos-2



    Kitaguy,




    Both quite nice organs. Rodgers 740 is of course analog, so thevoices are not terribly realistic. Also highlyunified -- only 4 or 5 actual ranks, and these are all derived from a single set of oscillators. (The 740B added an actual set of celeste oscillators.) But the smooth warm sound of the analog oscillators is pleasant, perhaps making up for the unit scheme and plain tones.




    Allen MOS-2 organs are good too. This second-generation digital has a warmer sound (i.e. built-in "frequency separation" which slightly detunes the two channels, even on single-computer models) than the original MOS organs. There is some really pretty chiff on the swell Koppelflote, maybe on some other stops too. The 225 has no celeste generator and no secondary computer to create celeste tuning, so the mild "chorus" effect of the frequency separation is all you get. But the sounds of the individual stops are very realistic, almost stunningly so for a system so dated. The question is, does the ensemble work? Well, sort of . . . But don't pile on too many stops. Less is more.




    The analog Rodgers requires occasional tuning and there are numerous controls to vary the volumes and balances, tremulants, etc. If all this setup is not done skillfully, the organ will not sound very good, so you'll need to spend some time fiddling with it for sure.




    The Allen needs no tuning (though a single control can set the basic pitch up or down from A440), and the balance among the stops is pre-determined by the voicing chips. One can adjust bass and treble on the DAC boards, tremulant speed,and volume of the two channels independently, but that's all the variation you can do. In reality, the balance among the stops is done with such perfection that I can't imagine how one could improve upon it even if stop-by-stop leveling were possible.




    The Allen Card Reader is a truly useful device, almost as cool as the MIDI boxes that sit atop most organ consoles today. Every imaginable solo reed and a number of alternate ensemble stops can be programmed by card. The Rodgers has nothing comparable to offer.




    The Allen is a little more straightforward to set up, as there are only two channels and they are identical in amps and speakers. Placement is not critical, but I wouldn't spread them apart across a room because of the unnatural division of stops that will occur. The Rodgers needs 3 speaker cabinets, two wide-range (may be those multiple 6x9 boxes or a 2-12" w/tweeter), plus a bass cabinet. Having a 32' pedal stop, the big P-32 cabinet is needed, and it is HUGE and heavy.




    BTW, I don't think an Allen 282 is MOS-2. I believe that is an LDS version of the MOS-1 system.




    I've heard both in medium-size churches and either can sound really good. In a home you'll find the up-close sound of either one a little irritating. Running the sound through a digital reverb will help immensely. There are some technical issues with adding reverb to either one, but a competent and creativetech should be able to do it for you.




    Good luck.







    [quote user="kitaguy"]




    Can anyone compare/contrast Rodgers 740 to Allen Mos-2 (maybe 225 or 282)?




    Specifically, what would be the pros and cons for someone looking for a home practice organ?







    Thanks!

    [/quote]
    John
    ----------
    *** Please post your questions about technical service or repair matters ON THE FORUM. Do not send your questions to me or another member by private message. Information shared is for the benefit of the entire organ community, but other folks will not be helped by information we exchange in private messages!

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Birds...97551893588434

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