Vintage style electronics inside this single-channel preamp.

View all items from this brand

The PRE-73 DLX is a one-channel vintage style microphone-, line- and instrument preamplifier. The signal path on the PRE-73 uses only discrete components. This is the way audio components were built before integrated circuits became available. The subjective sound quality delivered by vintage equipment is often preferred over the one delivered by modern units, a situation that is even more obvious now when music is recorded with clean-sounding digital audio equipment.

The line and microphone input and the line output are transformer balanced, using three different transformers, each one optimized for its purpose. The circuit used in the PRE-73 DLX is similar to the preamp section in the vintage Neve1073 module with a corresponding sound character that is warm, punchy, sweet and musical. These classic characteristics have been heard on countless recordings through the years and it is a versatile sound that works very well on most sound sources and in most genres.

Golden Age Project Pre 73 Deluxe Vintage Style Mic Pre With High Pass Filter Features:

Vintage Style electronics, with no integrated circuits in the signal path
Maximum input gain 80 dB, enough to handle passive ribbon mics with quiet sound sources
Gain range on the Line input: -20 to + 10 dB
Switchable impedance on mic input, 1200 or 300 Ohms, will change the tone of most mics
Switchable phantom power and absolute phase
A high-impedance instrument input for any sound module, electric guitar or bass
A simple but effective 4-step LED output level meter
The output level controls for fine gain adjustments and to overload the main gain stage(s) for more character
Combo XLR/TRS input jacks and separate output XLR and TRS jacks for flexible connections.
Insert jack for inserting EQ´s and other units
External high power power supply to avoid interaction with the audio circuits and transformers
A solid build quality that will last many years of normal use
PRE-73 DLX improvement and new features:
Tantalum capacitors in the signal path
Selectable 1073-style high pass filter, 50Hz, 80Hz, 160Hz and 300Hz
Output Attenuator -7, -14, -21 and -28 dB (located after the output transformer) allows overdriving the output stage and the output transformer for added character by lowering the output signal to a suitable level
The circuit board is prepared for Carnhill Mic and Line transformer and high pass inductor
The Insert jack can be switched in/out from the front panel. An internal jumper can select that the Insert jack always has an output signal
Switchable 600 ohm Output Termination and Ground Lift on the back panel
Selectable Active or Passive DI input and selectable input impedance in active mode, Hi Z or 100 kohm, by internal jumpers
The DI can signal can be selected to pass or bypass the mic input transformer by internal jumpers
Relays are used to control internal switching for DI input, Phantom power, Mic Low Z, Insert and Phase for shorter circuit board signal paths. The relays are controlled by front panel switches
Revised gain switch for added headroom
Circuit board star grounding scheme
Revised power supply with separate regulators for the audio circuits and relay and LED circuits