Re: inexpensive small true mic preamps

["Ian Popperwell" <popperwell@iname.com>]

Hi Rick,

>From reviews I've read it's also about the voltage that's applied to the 
tube. Although not a complete indicator, I think that generally preamps 
with 
external low voltage power supplies use low voltages to heat up the tube. 
Having said this, I've got an ART Tube MP and, whilst not as good as my 
Drawmer 1960 of course, it's a great little unit and does colour the sound 
nicely. You could try the TL Audio FatMan or the Fat2 (I have the Fat2) 
and 
it's a tube pre with a tube compressor and is about 4U high, but half rack 
width. - it sounds great and they sometimes go secondhand (no longer made).

Ian.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "andy butler" <akbutler@tiscali.co.uk>
To: <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 8:48 AM
Subject: Re: inexpensive small true mic preamps


>
>
> Rick Walker wrote:
>> I want to get either a mono or a stereo, tube mic preamplifier
>> that has a small footprint and also is a true tube mic pre.
>>
>> If memory serves me correctly,  there was thread here where
>> someone said that the inexpensive tube mic pres, like the Art
>> where not true tube pres,  sending only a small amount of the signal
>> through the actual tube.
>>
>
> hi Rick
>
> Yep, someone said that, but the reality is that a "true tube" pre means 
> that the first bit of circuitry that a mic comes to is a special low 
>noise 
> high gain pentode valve that amplifies the signal up to line level. What 
> cheaper models (and most of the more expensive ones)do is use an IC for 
> that first stage and then pass the signal through a cheaper line level 
> valve stage.
>
> "true tubes" aren't that common though, they're a bit noisier than the 
> transistor equivalents.
> I get the feeling that some devices called "true tube" don't have the 
> pentode.
> In any case, the "real thing" isn't cheap. Generally adding a tube is a 
> way of marketing a pre-amp where the actual amplification is done by a 
> cheap circuit.
>
> Good mic pres are expensive :-(
> ....but they make an awful lot of difference.
>
> I actually think you'd be better off getting a good transistor pre, 
> (Focusrite stuff is getting cheaper) and then if you need tube sound
> get hold of a compressor of EQ that has a valve in the circuit.
>
> ...but hopefully some helpful LDer knows a reasonable enough pre with a 
> valve on board somewhere for a bit of that valve color that you're after.
>
> andy
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