Best Mic Preamp vs $

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dig
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Dig

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I am looking at some pre amps. I really could use on with 2 ins/out but I am more concerned about quality.

The 3 I have seen so far are

ART Tube MP Studio V3 $129
M-Audio Audio Buddy $ 89
M-Audio DMP3 $199

The reason for 2 is for vocals and guitar. But if the consensus is that the ART is far better than the m-audio(s) I could always by 2 of them.


There maybe other better choices you can suggest. I would be greatful.

Thanks
 
Whatever happened to the Presonus Bluetube guys? I prefer it the Art Tube MP. Never tried the V3 or the M-Audio stuff.
 
I have the VC3Q which the MQ3 pretty much replaced and it does kick some butt on bass...not too shabby for vocals or guitar either....
 
Gidge,

I TOTALLY agree with you the VC3Q could even kick J.Lo's ass!!!

I'm so meeked now, it's nerve wracking. :cool:
 
i haven't used the Meek stuff but people really seem to like it.Don't even consider the Art "TUBE" MP as I have one and I think it's a noisy P.O.S.


I really like the Audio Buddy,two channels of very clean peamplification.At $80 for two channels I think it's one of the real deals.
 
the Art to me for some reason was always a tricky bastard to set right...but most people say the Meeks are noisier than Arts...go figure....Im a Meek man myself..........

I tried to talk Slackmaster2K into an Audio Buddy at one point and he passed because of the geeky name (well maybe a few more reasons).....but yeah, i agree its a great lil unit for the price....
 
Man,you could rename the Audio Buddy "I'm a Big Fat Girly Man" and I would still use it.I agree it's a stupid name but you don't plug your mic into the name.A rose by any other name...
 
a used symetrix 202 is the best pre. Esp if you get it moded (not that expensive) should cost about 180-200$ if you can find anyone willing to give it up (not likely ;) )
 
Hey how much you pay for the mod on the Symetrix? Been thinking about getting that done.
-kent
 
You can do the Symetrix mod for about $27 (if you get the high grade opamps). The 202 is usable, although it's not very musical sounding. I'm definately going to mod mine one of these days to see what kind of difference it makes.

Gidge, I was just joking about the audio buddy name :) I was planning on buying one just recently until I discovered that it only delivers 36V phantom power. Now that might not be such a big deal, but it made me look into alternatives. So far I really haven't found any though :(

Slackmaster 2000
 
Slack I thought That I read that someone measured the phantom power at 43v on their Audio Buddy.Still not a full 48v I know but I've never had trouble powering my mics and they call for 48v.
 
Randy,

On deja, I've read anything from 24V to 36V. It's the only complaint I've ever seen about the unit for the price. 43V is starting to sound a little more reasonable.

Anybody want to check their buddy for me?

Slackmaster 2000
 
The actual Phantom Power specification allows for a +/- 4 volt tolerance (from 44 Volts to 52 Volts). David Satz (of Schoeps) tested some of the low price pres and found the Audio Buddy was only putting out something like 36 Volts.

An electret mic (like the AT4033) won't really care about that, since electrets don't need phantom power to polarize their capsules; phantom power on those mics is just used to power the on-board electronics (which don't require much in the way of voltage).

But, an externally polarized capsule will not get its full charge from preamps that starve the phantom power. What will happen? The output of the mic will be lower, the noise level will be higher, and the frequency response curve will change.

Sometimes the mic may actually sound better, but it's a crap shoot - you're running the mic at a point the manufacturer never designed it for.
 
Less phantompower?

How 'bout the DMP-3 then? Will it deliver full 48V DC?

If I will buy an Audiobuddy, I would mainly use it for my dynamic mics, so no real problems there, eh?

The name...Well maybe Mr. Pre sounds cooler...:D
I watch a lot of A-team re-runs...

"Hey sucka, bettah be no jabberin' about no phantompower, ya hear? I'm gonna hit you so hard, I'm gonna KNOCK you inta next week!!!"

If my Audiobuddy/Mr. Pre would say that to the Art Tube MP, the poor bastard would probably shit out his tube on the spot... :D

cheerz
 
Speedman,I noticed for the Audio Buddy M-Audio doesn't actually state the voltage of the phantom power anywhere(not even in the user's manual) but on the DMP3 they do claim 48v so I'm pretty sure it is 48v.They obviously know the voltage on the Audio Buddy so they make no claims.
 
maybe with the DMP3 out, someone will closeout the DMP2 REALLY cheap.....i picked up mine for $79 and its SWEEEEET!
 
Trak said:
Gidge,

I TOTALLY agree with you the VC3Q could even kick J.Lo's ass!!!

I'm so meeked now, it's nerve wracking. :cool:
Click to expand...

Hey, how come the VC3 gets to lick J.Lo's ass and not me :D
 
Slack, can you direct me to where I can find out more about moding the Symetrix? A price that cheap must mean DIY, and I've never handled a soldering gun. Still, I'd be grateful for any info you have or could point me to. TIA.
-kent
 
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