Best Mic Preamp under $500

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Member Since: May 23, 2003

I'm looking at ditching my Behringer MIC100 in favour of a better preamp to drive vocals, mics and direct bass. Anyone have any expieriance with the rack Behringer Ultragain models? I'm looking for something natural that wont color my sound. Thanks.

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a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Feb 05, 2004 02:33 pm

I think the Focusrite TwinTrack Pro is about $500. That's what I would get if I had the money.

Contributor
Since: Sep 09, 2002


Feb 05, 2004 03:27 pm

the ART TPS is really affordable. a couple people here have it. i might get one, but for now what i have works fine.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Feb 05, 2004 09:48 pm

The Behringer Ultra gain series are very transparent, as is the Focusrite. I believe the Behringer models are a bit less then the focusrite though. As far as value the Behringer is a good value for the dollar.
Feb 06, 2004 12:28 am

Every once in a while i see something of rupert neve design on ebay for around 5 or 6. they blow focusrite pres out of the water. and the art tps.....id put the art tps up against any focusrite under 1000$. i use universal audio pres...great investment if you save up the money. just look around. some older boards have really nice pre amps in them as well, wouldnt be a bad option for you if you plan on doing more than one track at a time. i used an allen heath board on a session once and was very supprised. dont let the whole tube channel strip thing fool you... its still just a pre amp. just a word of advice tho. focusrite is a waste of components.

Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Feb 06, 2004 02:19 am

Quote:
focusrite is a waste of components


lofl! you do speak some rubbish sometimes, don't you. :D

focusrite is not junk, they make a wide range of products ranging from cheaper consumer models right up to high end pro equipment such as their ISA, Red and Blue Ranges.

As for the original question, I would reccomend the SPL Goldmike, which although a little over your buget and hand to find, would make a very good investment. -- www.soundperformancelab.com/GoldMike/in_short.html

jues.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Feb 06, 2004 02:45 am

just to note, if you are looking for something that won't color your sound, you generally will want to look at solid state pres rather than tube pres. I believe the ART TPS are tube models. I have heard some good things about some of the M-Audio models, but bad about some of the others, but I don't remember which models were which. But it might be something to research. I settled on a Grace Model 101. It's a solid state pre and sounds great, almost completely transparent when compared directly to some of the tube options. Unfortunately, it is about $600 which is higher than your limit. I guess the moral of the story is that tube pres will color your sound more than solid state pres.

Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002


Feb 06, 2004 02:47 am

ooops - totally forgot to read the last line of his post :D

Yes you are right, solid state circitary is technically a cleaner way of processing a signal.

Member
Since: May 23, 2003


Feb 06, 2004 11:28 am

My musical style and fundamentals revolve around mid to late sixties style rock. I dont know if a solid state pre would make it sound brittle. I should probably state my connection :
Studio B1 -> Behringer MIC100 -> Behringer Composer Pro Comp -> Tascam 414mkII (used as a mixer only) -> Audiophile 2496 -> Cubase SX
Bass is direct and guitars are amp'd and mic'd with an SM57.
My main concern is that it has 2 channels.


Ex-Wookie
Member
Since: Aug 29, 2003


Feb 06, 2004 12:03 pm

"I think the Focusrite TwinTrack Pro is about $500. That's what I would get if I had the money."

I am getting one when I have the money. It can also be used in place on a mixer for minotoring.

Member
Since: Mar 27, 2009


Mar 27, 2009 04:45 pm

I just bought a Presonus Eureka. It's a preamp, compressor, and eq in one. Lots of connection options and features. I got it on eBay for $339, and it's a $600 unit. So there are some deals out there.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Mar 27, 2009 04:52 pm

Man, I sure hope this dude has found a preamp by now!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 27, 2009 08:56 pm

OK, this is a new record.

A 6 year old thread revived.

MASSIVE Mastering, LLC
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2008


Mar 27, 2009 09:26 pm

Quote:
Man, I sure hope this dude has found a preamp by now!


And I hope it wasn't a Eureka or a "cheapie" Focusrite...

For the record - If I had a limit of $500, there wouldn't be a contest - FMR's RNP without question, no hesitation. For a little more, True's P-Solo.

I tune down down...
Member
Since: Jun 11, 2007


Mar 28, 2009 03:51 am

Hmmm... I was looking at a RNP, a UA Solo, or an SSL Alpha Channel... What do you guys think?

Member
Since: Sep 03, 2008


Mar 28, 2009 03:51 pm

RNP pre is amazingly transparent,been using one for a month on vocals,best deal for under $500 for a 2 ch. I also use an MPA Gold which adds color but is very nice on vocals also,id go with a RNP,u wont be dissapointed

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Mar 28, 2009 04:25 pm

We'll tell you in 6 years what we think. Well, 5 years and 364 days now.

I agree, FMR RNP or Groove Tubes Brick for $500. I'd love to have either.

Member
Since: Sep 03, 2008


Mar 28, 2009 04:29 pm

A friend of mine just got a Grace 1 ch. that is supposed to be the s@$t but i would take the RNP everytime:)

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 28, 2009 05:08 pm

A 6 year old thread that generates this much interest. It must be s sign from above.

I tune down down...
Member
Since: Jun 11, 2007


Mar 28, 2009 06:09 pm

Haha. I might just get the RNP then. BUt, I really really want to get an SSL Alpha sometime.

Just to try it. Haha.

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Mar 28, 2009 06:12 pm

I got the True P-Solo about 2 months ago and man am i happy i did. I was looking at the grace 101 , groove tube brick and a # of others and after reading all the reviews and listening to some sound advice ( no pun intended) i went with the the P-Solo. Very clean but can add a nice "warmth" . It's a solid state so no problems with tubes and it sound better than any of the cheap tube stuff that's been flooding the market. New it goes for 499.99. It's a great pre that lets you hear you mic's and doesn't color the sound . I have a few pres for that but if you can only afford one good one i'd go for the P-Solo, Grace 101 , and RNP in that order.

Member
Since: Sep 03, 2008


Mar 30, 2009 09:44 pm

The RNP is 2 channels,you get all that quality & 2 channels,can't beat it. Ive seen em on ebay new for $425-$450. Good for Bass,guitar AND vocals. Recorded acoustic guitar through it and its sounds superb. Can't fault the P-Solo though,very nice,high quality pre. I think we can all agree that its great there is pre's of this quality for an affordable price, maybe i will end up with all 3 (p-solo and grace) cant have too many quality pre's.

Member
Since: Jun 13, 2009


Jun 13, 2009 07:14 pm

The field has expanded a bit, too since this thread started!

As I suspected would eventually happen, some manufacturers got the idea of copying the Neve 1272 preamps using less hand wiring, a few less expensive parts (esp. transformers) etc, and we now have the Golden Age Pre-73 and the Chameleon Labs 7602 available (among a few others)

I own both, and find that although they are NOT a replacement for my 1272's, they are really great units for the price. The Pre-73 goes for $299 new - which is really hard to beat if you want that kind of 'color' preamp. The Chameleon Labs unit lists over the $500.00 mark, but I scored one on ebay for 550 - and it is really a great unit.

The FMR RNP is a great unit, as noted above, but if you want some of the Neve-style 'color' these units are worth checking out.

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Jun 15, 2009 12:31 am

i've been really looking into the GA 73 and i haven't see anything bad so far. The Grace and the P-Solo tend to be un-colored which is good if you only have one or 2 good pre's .

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