Avalon VT-737SP Class A Mic Processor

Vacuum tube triode signal path, transformer balanced microphone input, high-voltage circuits for maximum headroom.

Item: AVAVT737SP

Choose a model below and select "Add to Cart"

  • Pricing
    • price too low to show!
    • Installment Plan:Call for 4 payments!
  • Standard Shipping
    Ground
    free shipping
  • Expedited Shipping
    2 Day Shipping
    $41.99
     | Overnight
    $89.99

what's new?

  • Coming Soon:: Preorder today!
  • On Order

    This item has been ordered from the manufacturer. We do not have an expected date for this shipment yet, but will post one as soon as it is available.

    x close

  • Pricing
    • price too low to show!
    • Installment Plan:Call for 4 payments!
  • Standard Shipping
    Ground
    free shipping
  • Expedited Shipping
    2 Day Shipping
    $41.99
     | Overnight
    $89.99

what's new?

  • Coming Soon:: Preorder today!
  • On Order

    This item has been ordered from the manufacturer. We do not have an expected date for this shipment yet, but will post one as soon as it is available.

    x close

Click here to read details about our 'Play As You Pay' Installment Payment Plan. Play As You Pay is available only by phone.

Or call 800.ZZOUNDS (996.8637) right now. You get the same low price and shipping discounts online or by phone!

No Sales Tax. (Except NJ)

Seen a lower price? We'll beat it! details

Be a zZounds Spy!


related accessories

Main

Audio-Technica AT2020

from $84.95

Avalon VT-737SP Class A Mic Processor reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

72 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

 

3 People wrote reviews

Read all Avalon VT-737SP Class A Mic Processor reviews...
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10 zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

"The standard by which other preamps are judged."

Feature:
Everything you need in a channel strip: preamp, equalizer, compressor.

Quality:
Solid, heavy, metal everything. I worry my rack will break.

Value:
I paid $1400 new, so it was worth that to me. It is a bit pricey at the usual $2000 price tag. But worth it!

Desirability:
It's a beautiful piece of gear that inspires great confidence. The Avalon name is well known to everyone in this business, like Neumann mikes or Vox amplifiers, it actually brings in customers.

Sound:
This is the standard to which all others are compared. Beautiful, clean, clear "glassy" tube sound, warm yet clear. The best.

Support:
Haven't had to find out (there's no N/A choice). Everyone I talked to and everything I read says Avalon gives great support.

Overall:
This preamp (plus a great mike) gives my customers and me no excuse for not recording great vocals. I also have a Joe Meek pre which is dirty and therefore complementary to the Avalon.

Submitted: 1/5/2004

Style of Music: Pop, Funk


4 of 4 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

 
 
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

"In a class of it's own"

Feature:
The is an extremely flexible unit.

Quality:
It is built like a tank, has an excellent fit, looks great and very clean build quality

Value:
I would have paid $3,000 for this box. Along with my api outboard gear, and my Distressor, this is one that has never let me down. Buy iy.

Desirability:
It is gorgeous!

Sound:
This box produces a big, detailed and warm sound that quite frankly beat the pants off much more expensive pieces, such as some of the Focusrite Red units. I used it in a broad range of applications, ranging from pop/rock to jazz and classical, and it always shined.

Support:
Never had any problems, so support was never an issue.

Submitted: 8/26/2003

Style of Music: Eclectic


6 of 6 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

 
 

Read all Avalon VT-737SP Class A Mic Processor reviews...

Additional Images:

Main
Main
Black and Blue Model
Black and Blue Model

30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee Applies On This Item - Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

About This Product!
Description
From Our Catalog
News
The Avalon VT-737SP features a combination of TUBE preamplifiers, opto-compressor, sweep EQ, output level and VU metering. VT737SP's preamp provides a 48V phantom powered input, an Instrument DI and a balanced line input. The Opto-compressor features twin Class A tube triodes for gain matching. Full dynamic control from soft compression to hard-knee limiting can be achieved with threshold, ratio-compression, attack and release controls plus gain reduction selection on the large VU meter. Special spectral control including de-ess is available with the dual sweep mid EQ to side-chain switch. The EQ section can be flipped pre or post-compressor. The high and low EQ bands provide the smooth characteristics of an all passive design, while the dual mid bands include variable frequency and switched Q-width selection. Whether you're recording a solo vocalist or an acoustic instrument, mastering, or recording symphonies, let Avalon take you to the leading edge in analog and experience sonic reality like never before!

Black and Blue Version
To celebrate Avalon's 10th Anniversary they have released a special Black and Blue faced model. Same great features as the regular finish VT737SP but in a finish sure to attract onlookers.

Preamplifier
The VT-737SP has 3 input selections:

1. The VT-737SP features a higher-performance microphone input transformer with +48v phantom selection.

2. Instrument DI high source input with jack located on front panel.

3. Balanced line input, discrete high-level Class A.

The Class A preamplifier utilizes 2 cascaded, dual vacuum tube triodes configured with minimum negative feedback. A high gain switch boosts the overall gain of the preamplifier. The 4 high quality tubes are configured as singled ended anode coupled followers. A passive-variable high pass filter and hard-wire relay bypass completes the input signal conditioning. The phase reverse relay is available on all 3 inputs.

Opto-Compressor
The opto-compressor features a minimum signal path design with twin Class A vacuum tube triodes for gain matching. The optical attenuator acts as a simple passive level controller. Full dynamic control from soft compression to hard- knee limiting can be achieved with threshold, ratio-compression, attack, and release controls plus gain reduction selection on the large VU meter. Special spectral control including de-ess is available with the dual sweep mid EQ to side-chain switch. The EQ section can be flipped pre or post the opto-compressor via a front panel switch for alternate effects and tone shaping. Two VT-737SPs can be linked via a rear panel link cable for stereo tracking. The compressor bypass is a sealed silver relay for the most direct signal path.

Sweep-Equalizer and Output Level
The VT-737SP equalizer utilizes 100% discrete, Class A-high-voltage transistors for optimum sonic performance. The high and low frequency bands provide the smooth characteristics of an all passive design, while the dual mid bands include variable frequency and switched Q-width selection. The enhanced range of the mid bands is extended into the high and low bands by the use of X10 frequency multipliers. The bypass switch incorporates a sealed silver relay for the most direct signal path. When the EQ to sidechain is engaged, the high-low EQ remains in the audio path for "tone enhancement." The output level control provides a variable control of the overall signal path. The output amplifier utilizes another dual triode vacuum tube driving a 100% discrete, Class A, high-current, balanced and DC coupled low noise output amplifier.

Features
Vacuum tube triode signal path, transformer balanced microphone input, high-voltage circuits for maximum headroom to +30dB, low noise -92dB, internal discrete power supply with toroidal transformer, soft-start tube life extender, stereo link for compressors, all discrete Class A equalizer with musical passive filter design, sealed silver relays for signal routing, large control knobs with professional conductive plastic potentiometers, VU meter for output level monitoring, and compressor gain reduction.

Technical Info

Circuit topology
4 dual triode vacuum tubes (Sovtek 6922), high-voltage discrete Class A

Gain Range
Microphone: Transformer balanced 850/2500 ohm, 0dB to +58dB Instrument: Unbalanced 1 meg ohm, 0dB to+30dB Line: Balanced Class A 20k ohms, -27dB to 28dB

Maximum input level and connector types
Microphone26dB@25Hz, +30dB@1kHz balanced XLR Instrument+30dB unbalanced front panel jack socket, Line +36dB balanced XLR

Maximum output level
+30dB balanced 600 ohms, DC coupled, discrete Class A

Output type and gain
XLR connector, output trim gain -45dB to20dB

Noise 20kHz unweighted
-92dB

Noise microphone EIN
-116dB, 22Hz to 22kHz unweighted

Distortion THD, IMD
0.5%

Frequency response -/2.5dB
10Hz to 120kHz input filter included

Frequency response -3dB
1Hz to 200kHz line in-out

VU meter and gain reduction
High quality illuminated OVU =+4dB and gain reduction to -20dB

High cut filter
Variable 6dB per octave 30Hz to 140Hz

Compressor type
Optical passive attenuator incorporating twin vacuum tubes and stereo link

Threshold - Ratio
Threshold variable -30dB to +20dB, ratio-compression variable 1:1 to 20:1

Attack - Release
Attack variable 2mS to 200mS, release variable 100mS to 5 seconds

Equalizer type
Discrete Class A, variable active and switched passive design

Frequency bands (4)
Treble - switched 10kHz, 15kHz, 20kHz, 32kHz, +/- 20dB range, shelf High mid - variable 200Hz to 2k8Hz and 2kHz to 28kHz, +/- 16dB range, hi-lo Q Low mid - variable 30Hz to 450Hz and 300Hz to 4k5Hz, +/- 16dB range, hi-lo Q Bass - switched 15Hz, 30Hz, 60Hz, 150Hz, +/- 24dB range, shelf

AC power
Internal toroidal 100v to 240v, 50-60Hz selectable, 75 watts maximum

Dimensions
19 x 12 x 3.5 in (482 x 305 x 89mm)

Weight
22 lbs (10 kg)

Dimensions - Shipping Carton
21 x 18 x 8 in. (533 x 457 x 203mm)

Weight - Packed
26 lbs (11.8 kg)
Heavenly channel strip! The VT-737SP is a Class A tube mic pre with an integrated opto-compressor and comprehensive EQ section. It even has DI and line inputs! Its warmth and detail shine on everything from bass DI to vocals. XLR I/O; front-panel 1/4" instrument input.
  • 10/21
    New at zZounds,
     New, Black and Blue, 10th Anniversary Edition, order now. 

what our customers say about zZounds

"I would definitely purchase from zZounds again. No question." - customer on December 14, 2008

Free Catalog

First Name Last Name
Address 1 Address 2
City State
Zip Email

Would you like to receive periodic email notices of new items, special buys, and promotions? WE WILL NOT SHARE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WITH ANYONE ELSE. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Tell us

Is there something you want to tell us? How can we serve you better? Want to see different products? Is this shirt ugly? Let us know!