Preamps less than or around $500

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Kasey

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My main mic is an AT4040. I also have an AT pro 25, an SM57, some dynamic mic by AT (ATMH something, its nice), and two AT pro 37's. (yea i like audio technica a lot). Anyways, I've been using the preamps in my Yamaha MG mixer and everyonce in awhile a presonus tubepre (i dont much care for it, it doesnt add warmth, just noise). I'm looking to get two preamps - one stereo solid state pre, and one single channel tube pre. Each for under or around $500, or with a total of up to $1000. Anyone have any suggestions? Anyone think i'd be better off getting a better mic instead?
 
If you can solder then visit www.hamptone.com

There are no manufactured tube pres that I know of that are worth trying in the $500 range.

On the solid state end of things look at the Grace 101, Presonus Eureka, FMR RNP and the Safe Sound P1.
 
Oops, oh yeah, there is the GT Brick. I've never used one.
 
Under $500, your primary Tube option is the Brick, or if you can find one used, a GT MP-1 (a discontinued single channel half rack unit). I think street price for the Brick is about $399 new.

For SS stereo, you have a few more choices. I've got a RNP that works quite well ($479 new and @$425 used). I've read nice things about the DAV-BG. The last quote I got from them in December was BG No 1 (2 channel pre) costs $680. I think that is delivered to the US as well. Depends what kind of music you do. I understand that the DAV is a very clean pre suitable for classical, acoustic and jazz. The RNP has a bit more color if you are doing rock, pop, etc. Works perfectly fine for acoustic stuff too. If you can spend a bit more on the SS unit, there are additional options -- Chameleon and Sytek come to mind. Used Syteks pop up for $600-700 from time to time. You would get 4 channels with the Sytek.
 
mrbowes said:
Rane MS-1b would be a great option for the SS choice.
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That is not a bad pre at all, on the faster / cleaner side of things.

War
 
BigRay said:
no, it is 680 bucks. damn worth it though. just stellar.
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You also have to add in another $63 or so for import duties if you are in the US. It does sound excellent though, I'm very happy with mine.
 
Kasey said:
I'm looking to get two preamps - one stereo solid state pre, and one single channel tube pre. Each for under or around $500, or with a total of up to $1000.
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That's a bad move, IMO, Kasey. Do you need 2 channels or is 1 channel enough?

You're much better off investing that total $1K on a really good single channel preamp. Or getting something like a $475 RNP or $150 DMP3 and using the other $ on another mic.

What kind of stuff are you recording?
 
Dot said:
That's a bad move, IMO, Kasey. Do you need 2 channels or is 1 channel enough?

You're much better off investing that total $1K on a really good single channel preamp. Or getting something like a $475 RNP or $150 DMP3 and using the other $ on another mic.

What kind of stuff are you recording?
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I gotta agree with DOT on this. The DMP3 does an amazing job on the cheap for clean stereo micing, and will leave you over $800 to get a *REAL* mic pre for vocs and such. Diluting that $800+ down to $500 puts you back in the mediocre gear catagory, and I don't know of a $500 stereo pre that really sounds significantly better than the DMP3.
 
Not sure if this helps, but after going thru a menagerie of lower-priced pres I use two M-Audio DMP2s (in my Omni mixer/interface) for stereo and clean, i.e. acoustic guitars, percussion and such, and the Groove Tubes Brick for vocals and DI duties. Fits the bill for me, FWIW.
 
i think the RNP by FMR is probably your best option. you'd easily get one for less than $500.
 
Again on the RNP, but I'd also recommend the Mindprint Envoice...

Jacob
 
Dot said:
That's a bad move, IMO, Kasey. Do you need 2 channels or is 1 channel enough?

You're much better off investing that total $1K on a really good single channel preamp. Or getting something like a $475 RNP or $150 DMP3 and using the other $ on another mic.

What kind of stuff are you recording?
Click to expand...

i had figured i'd get a stereo one because i do a lot of stereo micing. (overheads, choirs, and i have an obsession with stereo micing acoustic guitars and banjos, because i have very sparse mixes).

So is the RNP generally considered the best stereo solid state in that price range? What is the best single channel solid state in that range then? I was never all too impressed by the DMP3. for the price, its great, but i think i could do better for around $500.
 
It's honestly slim pickin's in the $500 range for single-channel pres/channel strips - and I think mostly a waste of good money, IMO. There is the Grace 101, which is transparent, very clean, with a bit of a glassy sound. If you do a lot of acoustic stuff, I'd recommend the Rane MS 1b. Runs about $150. You could get two of them for $300. Don't be fooled by the price. I don't even consider the MS 1b to be a "budget pre". They just happen to be inexpensive. I think they're easily as good as the RNP, and probably better for instruments like acoustic gtrs and banjos. The MS 1b has a lot of similar qualities to the John Hardy M-1 - which is a top, high-end clean pre.

That'd leave you $700 to get something else. You might be able to find a used A Designs MP-1 tube preamp for that price. You can also get a new Sebatron vmp-1000 in the $700 range. That's a real, high-voltage tube preamp.

Though it sounds like you could use some better mics. If you record a lot of acoustic instruments, choirs, drum OH's in stereo, I'd recommend the Peluso CEMC6's - SDC mics in the $600 range for a pair. They also have optional-pattern capsules.

A pair of CEMC6's and a pair of MS 1b's would give you some pretty serious tools for stereo recording, and be a really solid way to spend a grand for what you're doing.
 
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