Best pre-amp in $1k - 2K range?

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slinger6

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Anyone have recomendations for a good preamp in the $1000 - $2000 range. I'm looking for something that will be versatile and not too colored for my home studio.
 
I haven't used a lot of mic pres extensively to be honest with you. I have had the good fortune of attending some informal mic pre shootout / listening tests, and on occasion I've been known to rent some nice stuff for a session -- as I am lucky to live closeby someone who rents that kind of thing out.

In that range, I like John Hardy for something moreless of the uncolored variety. Although I have no direct experience with them, I know that Buzz Audio gets a lot of raves from people I trust.

If I had that kind of money to spend on a mic pre -- make that if I could justify the cost of something in that range, I'd probably have a lunch box with some API's or Old School Audio . . . although they tend to be more of the colored variety.

For $2,300, I would be extremely happy to own a D.W. Fearn. After hearing one in action at a recent mic pre shootout, it was one of the very few that just really caught my ear and stood-out as a truly class-A piece of gear.

It's important to keep in mind that this is just a personal opinion . . . but if it were me and I was in the market, I think the John Hardy would be my strongest consideration if I were looking for something versatile and uncolored.
 
Behringer VX2000 or mic2200.

Just thougth I'd say it before someone else did. :) lol
 
Any experience with TL Audio's preamps ?

I just bought one from a forum member and am curious if anyone's tried
them .
 
I've heard good things about some of their pres, but never used one myself......
 
Dude you are going to get a load of opinions on this. Mine is the Phoenix Audio DRS1/2. Gorgeous sound, never bad on anything. Heres an mp3. Its all DRS tracks.


http://studioforums.com/eve/ubb.x/,s,1436041581,a,ga,ul,991101725,ic,Y/got_to_be_somethin_(harp).mp3
 
qwarks said:
Any experience with TL Audio's preamps ?

I just bought one from a forum member and am curious if anyone's tried
them .
Click to expand...

Yup, I personally couldn't stand it. Nasty...kind of had a dirty midrange thing going on if you like that. Maybe it was just that one unit though?

War
 
slinger6 said:
Anyone have recomendations for a good preamp in the $1000 - $2000 range. I'm looking for something that will be versatile and not too colored for my home studio.
Click to expand...

Assuming two channels, I concur on the John Hardy. Plus you can add 2 more channels to it later for about $1,200, if you want. I have a M-2. It's wonderful, and I believe it would fit your requirements of "versitile and not too colored". Get it with the output trannys and the fancy meter.
 
In that price range you have a ton of great options to choose from. I own a Grace Designs 201 and am very happy with it. Do some research on preamps from these makers as well:

Great River
Millennia Media (HV-3B)
John Hardy
TAB Funkenwerk
Phoenix Audio
Pendulum Audio

That's barely scratching the surface, the list goes on and on. The TLA stuff is good but not great, in my opinion. For 1-2k you can get a really first class preamp, so I'd suggest not cutting corners.
 
Would have to concur on the Great River. For a versatile all around solution that's the one. However, if you want it warm and big for vocals, the Fearn is a great box.
 
How come nobody ever mentions API preamps? Aren't they supposed to be good pres? They aren't too expensive. Just curious.
 
chris-from-ky said:
How come nobody ever mentions API preamps? Aren't they supposed to be good pres? They aren't too expensive. Just curious.
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I believe Chessrock already did earlier.
 
i have heard alot of good things about stuff made from focusrite, maybe u should check em out
 
A-Designs MP-2...can be clean and if you drive the tube can give you some nice color not to mention the 2 impedances it has that gives it some more versatility, But thats only pre in that range that i have extensive experience with FWIW
 
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Don't forget the original Great River MP2, especially if you want uncolored. All the tracks on my website were recorded through my MP2.
 
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