ART Tube MP Replacement

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JacobShah

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Ok everyone, I bought a ART Tube MP PreAmp about six months ago, for about $30 from MF. I've heard you can get a better sound or warmth if you replace the tube. If I do replace the tube what brand do I go with? I know Groove Tubes is a fairly popular brand. I am pretty new to the whole preamp thing. Before I just used my interfaces preamps. But I am using an AKG Perception 220 and a MXL v67g for Christian, Bluegrass, and Older Hymn music. Mostly for vocals but I run my guitars through it to use as a DI. So what do you think? Replace the tube or the preamp? I would like to get something decent sounding kinda of of like a Focusrite ISA One, without that kind of price tag. :-) Just kidding! Maybe a PreSonus TubePre and replace the tube. Thanks in advance guys!
 
I'd say it was not a sound investment to spend more for a tube to upgrade a preamp then the actual cost of the original preamp...
 
okay, then what do you suggest? I have absolutely no vocal chain, right now. Just the ART MP Preamp, to Tascam FW 1082, to DAW. I've been checking out some other PreSonus stuff. Both the PreSonus BlueTube DP and the PreSonus TubePre look nice. And what about running that through a PreSonus COMP16, and then a PreSonus EQ3B? I'm not saying stick with PreSonus only, but I'm looking for something in that price range. Any suggestions? I would definately like a better Preamp, a compressor, and a good EQ. How about the Behringer Mic2200? That doesn't look to bad, any comments?
 
What's wrong with the premps on the Tascam? I'd imagine they would be miles better than the tube MP.

I'd use the preamps in the Tascam until you feel that they are limiting your recordings.

There isn't much in the cheap preamp range that is worth spending the money on. The M-audio DMP3 is a nice clean preamp in the sub $200 range. I have also heard good thing about the golden age pre 73 but it runs about $300 and I have no personal experience with it. Another option is the Joomeek ThreeQ preamp compressor and eq. I have heard good things about that one as well but again I have no personal experience with it.
 
You won't get a warmer sound with a tube upgrade but it can be quieter.
Look up with an e-mail to Christian proaudiotubes@aol.com and ask him what you should get and he will explain in detail what you should or should not get.:D



:cool:
 
well after researching the afternoon away, i'm definately investing in a mew preamp. I'm looking to stay under $230 new. I've heard good things on the ART MPA Gold. Is it ideal to stay away from PreSonus and Behringer? I've had some decent Behringer equiptment, and I really like the looks of the BlueTube DP, but some say you'll just end up selling it and putting it towards something better. Any thoughts?
 
I have the Art MP Project with an upgraded tube....cost a bit more at $120, I use it on guitars, bass and my bass synth...was quiet on vocals as well and offered cleaner gain than either of my behri mixers..

I use m audio omni pre amps now but havent recorded anything with them yet...theyre pretty good, clean...I'd maybe go for a DMP-3 as this is repeatedly quoted as being one of the best pre amps for under $200 and can be had for as little as $150 on fleabay...im not sure they'd be much improvement over my omnis but they'll be night and day compared to the MP tube you've been using
 
JacobShah said:
well after researching the afternoon away, i'm definately investing in a mew preamp. I'm looking to stay under $230 new. I've heard good things on the ART MPA Gold. Is it ideal to stay away from PreSonus and Behringer? I've had some decent Behringer equiptment, and I really like the looks of the BlueTube DP, but some say you'll just end up selling it and putting it towards something better. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

forgot to say Ive seen these blue tubes all over C list for under $100...never heard anything good about them mind you
 
moresound said:
You won't get a warmer sound with a tube upgrade but it can be quieter.
Click to expand...
This is the truth with any "toob" preamp like the Tube MP or the Presonus TubePre - the most a nicer tube can do for you is reduce hissiness, so it's kind of a waste.

If money is an issue, I'm definitely in the camp that urges you to experiment with those Tascam preamps to see what you can do before spending any $. If you really want to get a new preamp, then the suggestions in this thread already are good for that price-range. I can vouch for the DMP3 and the Art MPA Gold (I've got the Digital MPA). I've never used the GAP 73 either, but I've got some ACMP preamps that are supposed to be similar, and they're fantastic.

If you're electronically inclined, or want to be, do some web searches on mods you can perform on that Tube MP, then get out your soldering iron and go nuts. If you turn down the tube gain most of the way, and add some better components to the solid state part of the chain (better opamp(s) and some better capacitors, I think), you can get the Tube MP sounding a lot better. Or you can "brick" it permanently if you screw up, but at least you got some soldering practice and learned a little bit. I did both of those to mine (first got it sounding noticeably better then totally ruined it forever), and it was a fun and enriching (if somewhat diversionary) experience.
 
Either way you look at it you get what you pay for. I think it's better to save up and get a piece that you don't have to mod, just a great sound right out of the box.



:cool:
 
moresound said:
Either way you look at it you get what you pay for.
Click to expand...

That's true, but some things are simply better deals than others. I vouch for the dmp3 too, you'd have a real tough time doing better than that for the price.
 
suprstar said:
That's true, but some things are simply better deals than others. I vouch for the dmp3 too, you'd have a real tough time doing better than that for the price.
Click to expand...

This is true super but I'm not familiar with the price of the dmp3, How much is it?
And wouldn't a used unit of better QT in the same price range be a consideration as well?



:cool:
 
its around $150...is there anything else of that quality for that price?
 
There are a few but you still end up in that quality bracket of gear which is the bottom of the barrel.
 
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