Blue Bear. I haven't done any measuring what-so-ever myself on this. I'm just going by what their specs. say; +14dBu (+28dBu is the max. main bus output, like all current Mackie mixers). Also, the 8-Bus and original VLZ preamp max. input does seem to correlate with what I hear from them too.
http://www.mackie.com/record/8bus/8Busspecs.html
lucid, Behringer's T1953 is the only outboard preamp I've used from them. Their MIC2200 is the same deal as the T1953. Only +10dBu max. input. Their VX2000 specs. put the max. input only at +11.5 dBu. While specs. usually don't tell you shit, this is one of the rare times it does... That's what I've found at least.
The truth is, with the T1953 with Mullard CV4004s, I found rather satisfactory most of the time. It just means you need to be extra cautious of the mics you're using and on what source. The best thing to do is to figure-out and know just very roughly, the voltage coming-out of your mic(s), at that distance, on that source.
ambi, Mackie XDR preamps in their VLZ PRO mixers is what I consider "min. preamp quality". What I mean when I say that is that when someone is asking what preamp to buy when they're upgrading from the pres in their couple hundred dollar 4-8 ch. PCI card-to-breakout box, or all-in-one digital mixer/recorder, or something along those lines, at least the quality of the Mackie VLZ PRO Series is what I recommend they upgrade to. This ensures improvement rather than a side-step when buying preamps for under $1k (for the most part).
Yes, there are a couple other options in the under $1k range, such as the ART Tube MP and and Joe Meek stuff, but I certainly have never considered those "improvements" over the Mackie XDR pres! In fact, odds are, you'll have better luck with the XDR pres over the other two most of the time. Holds true at least for Joe Meek. Their pres have never been anything to write home about. In fact, they've always seemed to leave me hungry for more in their "sound", most of the time! Although, they ARE with the program and have a +30dBu max. input! Alright!!! I only turn to Joe Meek for their compression.
Then there's
the Studio Projects VTB1. As a general statement, I wouldn't consider it an "improvement" over the Mackie 1202 VLZ PRO, but it's certainly A LOT more versatile with it's "sounds", and that can be an considered quite an improvement!
There's also the new FMR RNP. While I haven't heard it, I don't doubt one bit that it's an improvement over the Mackie XDR pres and worth its price. I like it's +27.5dBu max. input too!
So, all of these preamps mentioned really are what I consider "min. preamp quality" if doing recordings that you're somewhat serious about; stuff you'll be doing something with, more than simply sharing little ideas with your family and friends. Which one to go for is simply up to the number of channels you need and your budget.
