Best Mic Pre Quality for the $$?

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KK007

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Best Mic Pre Quality for the $$? PLEASE COMMENT...

I'm in the market for a quality mic pre at reasonably(for me) price. I have no problems with buying used(ebay or the recycler). Here's what I've come up with:

Presonus MP20 - used about $275
Focusrite TwinTrak - used about $300
Dbx 386 - used about $250
M-audio DMP3 - used about $125
Also heard some good things about the Aphex 207D...

I like the fact that the 386 has the Digital out, But its really not imperative to me. I'm running the DIGI 002 rack, and would probably first be using the unit on overheads then on to all the bass, guitar, vox overdubs.
I hope to get something smooth and warm , without having to buy all these units and test them for weeks.
Please feel free to give me your thoughts and comments.
K
 
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Groove Tubes Brick - single channel tube pre with instrument DI- $400

Rane MS-1b - single channel clear pre - $150

Both are well accepted here and if you use the search function, you'll find tons of info.
 
Thank you I'll look into them.
Also heard some good things about the Aphex 207D .

any thoughts?
 
I've heard the Aphex in use and it sounded fine to me. I haven't used it myself though. I don't know if you need two channels, but for one channel the GT Brick would be excellent. I personally would avoid the low end Focusrite and DBX stuff.
 
Everything, especially at this end of the price range, is totally subjective.

Find yourself a retailer with a liberal return policy and audition what you can, returning what you don't like.

What works for your ears may not match what works for someone else's....
 
KK007 said:
I'm in the market for a quality mic pre at reasonably(for me) price. I have no problems with buying used(ebay or the recycler). Here's what I've come up with:

Presonus MP20 - used about $275
Focusrite TwinTrak - used about $300
Dbx 386 - used about $250
M-audio DMP3 - used about $125
Also heard some good things about the Aphex 207D...
Click to expand...

Go with the MP20, or better yet, the Eureka.
 
D&R makes an excellent "clean" preamp for about $475 new, 2 channels:)
 
I always end up cheerleading for the DMP3 because it's one of the few things I've gotten where I keep wondering why it's so inexpensive. It's a hell of a good clean unit. But you might really want something with more character, color or depth to it. Maybe one way to look at this is to compare what you are using now - What is it, how does it sound, what seems to be missing?
 
Edirol Ua5. I have a friend who mods them by swapping out the op-amps with burr-brown op amps. He also mods it for stand alone use(it was built to only work with a computer, but my friend tweaked that). It goes for about 180 bucks or so, and abou 150 for the mod. It SMOKES i tell you. Many, many MANY people use them in the taper/archival circuit. Sound absolutely great.

I can provide samples if need be,

teddy
 
I have a friend who recorded an album with the Aphex as his best pre's - and it came out pretty good. You see them pop up in larger studios, which should say something about their utility.
 
Lesser known, but I'd say have a look at the Electro Harmonix 12AY7 tube pre. My main pre channels are Great River. I was impressed so much with the EH pre I got as an "alternate' sound option that I bought a second to use for stereo mic'ing (it's a single channel unit). Very clean clear rich sound. Mine were $185/channel.

Tim
 
I love my Aphex 207D
I have a Digi002R and it interfaces very nicely with it.
 
I don't think you'd be disapointed with a DMP3 but after buying a Sytek preamp I probably should've started there. The extra money is definitely worth it for preamps but if you can't shell out the cash then a DMP3 would be a good choice.
 
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