ART MPA Gold Microphone Preamplifier

Selectable tube plate voltage. Large VU meters. Tube Warmth LED meter.

Item: ARTMPAGOLD

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    • List: $599.95
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customer reviews

Rate and Review This Product:

40 People rated this product : * * * * * * * * * * 7 out of 10

3 People wrote reviews

* * * * * * * * * * 8 out of 10

"Sweet sounds never came so cheap"

Feature:
good set of features including a built in HPF, which i believe it acts more like a notch filter instead of a straight up band pass filter. This is nice because it preserves sound fidelity, the increased plate voltage is also a nice feature adding extra clarity to your vocal tracks.

Quality:
I bought mine "blemished" which turned out to be slightly more than cosmetic, although i don't think it affects the sound quality. The metal bracers behind the knobs are thin and tend to warp if the tubes are left to heat up. This problem I assume is only apparent if you leave the unit on for extended amounts of time. Only the left channel knob was warped and the right channel has not degraded at all through my usage.

Value:
For the price this unit sounds amazing, better than alot of Mackie board preamps i have used in the past which would cost you double. very clean sound, the tube warmth is nice though I could use a little more head room before they start running hot, but as I said for the price it's great.

Desirability:
it's nice, it's fairly big, haven;t had an issue with it after 2 months of solid use. If you're looking for a cheaper mic preamp for a home studio and don't require more than a two channel setup, this is sweet.

Sound:
For the price it gives exceptional sound with very low noise ratio. The tube impedance knob is great to add or subtract warmth from your sound, although the tubes tend to run a bit hotter than i'd like.

Ease of Use:
it's as easy as any other mic preamp though i wished it had a channel mute switch.

Support:
haven't needed it, but Zzounds delivered promptly. i was very satisfied.

Overall:
it's great I definitely recommend.

Submitted: 5/16/2008

Style of Music: any

* * * * * * * * * * 9 out of 10

"Great Value"

Feature:
I like the fact that you can add gain either through the tubes or through the solid state circuitry.

Quality:
Everything seems solid, and the knobs have a great feel, and are very sensitive.

Value:
I'm thinking that to get any significant improvement in sound quality, I'd have to spend something more like $500 per channel. Two channels here for $289 is pretty good. Spend the extra money on good mics.

Desirability:
I Love GOOOOOOLD.

Sound:
mostly recording acoustic guitar, and the change since adding this pre-amp is well worth the price. No audible noise, and great warm sound (This is of course after changing the tubes. The tubes that come in this unit are cheap crappy ones. Put in some decent tubes and you're in business).

Ease of Use:
If I can figure it out anyone can

Support:
Don't know, haven't had to use it.

Overall:
I may upgrade some day, but for now, I'm very pleased with this unit.

Submitted: 3/27/2008

Style of Music: alt, pop, folk

Read all reviews...

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About This Product!
Description
Docs
From Our Catalog
A professional tube microphone preamplifier is defined by warmth, presence and clarity - core elements which make a performance truly come alive. Sister to the ART Digital MPA, the MPA Gold performs to incredibly high standards, and that it's tone, functionality and performance will satisfy even the most discerning user.

Like the Digital MPA, the MPA Gold features Variable Input Impedance. Variable Input Impedance is intended to optimize the MPA Gold for the widest range of microphones. Variation of the input impedance of a microphone preamplifier changes the load against which the microphone has to push. This variation dramatically alters the performance of a microphone, and creates numerous sonic possibilities for microphone performance. The variable impedance control of the MPA Gold is infinitely variable, as opposed to steps. This allows users much finer control over the tuning of the impedance.

Features:
Variable Input Impedance For Flexible Microphone Voicing (150 Ohms to 3000 Ohms)

Selectable Tube Plate Voltage

Large VU Meters with Range Switch

Tube Warmth LED Meter

Improved Discrete Class A Input Microphone Preamplifier

Lower Noise At Low Gains, Wider Frequency Response and Lower THD Than our Pro MPA

Front Accessible Instrument Input Jack With Very High Input Impedance

Automatically Switches To Instrument Input When You Plug In

The selectable Tube Plate Voltage function delivers a wide variety of tones. The tube circuit is differential, and provides the equivalent of a 300V power supply on the high voltage setting. Not to mention it has very low distortion and noise. Our normal setting maintains ART's classic tube sound (warm with smooth overload characteristics).

The MPA Gold's unique tube circuitry utilizes two 12AX7A vacuum tubes and renders unsurpassed sonic detail and clarity with the broadest range of microphones. The 12AX7A tube preamplification section provides gain while maintaining the incredible dynamic range of the previous stage and controlled overload characteristics.

Condenser microphones, ribbon microphones, dynamic microphones - new and vintage - all become more versatile and deliver their maximum performance when they interact with the MPA Gold's Variable Input Impedance. You'll discover that your microphones will sound better than ever.

In addition to the VU meters, the MPA Gold has Tube Warmth LED Metering which measures the left and right audio channel levels. The meters act like a normal histogram for the average signal level and the display holds the highest LED on alone for one second. While the average level function attack and release are measured in milliseconds, the peak function has a 20 microsecond attack time. Additionally, the analog meter range is switchable between -10dB and +4dBU. The MPA Gold's High Pass Filter is continuously variable from 15Hz to 150Hz. Many other preamps have a fixed switch. This makes our MPA Gold more flexible audio processor.

The MPA Gold is truly a modern, world-class tube microphone preamplifier, and its audio performance will surely exceed your expectations.

Technical Info

CMRR: >90dB (typical @ 1kHz)

Controls: Input Gain, Impedance, Output level, and High Pass Filter SWITCHES: +20dB gain, Phase Reversal, Plate Voltage, Meter, Sensitivity, Phantom Power with LED switches

Dimensions: 6.5in D x 19in W x 3.5in

Dynamic Range: >100dB (20Hz to 20kHz)

Equivalent Input Noise: -133dBu (XLR to XLR 'A' weighted)

Frequency Response: 15Hz to 120kHz (+0, -1dB)

Input Impedance: 150-3K ohms (XLR), 840k ohms (1/4 in.)

Analog Connections: Bal. XLR (pin2 hot) inputs/outputs and bal. 1/4 in. outputs (TRS), unbal. inst. inputs

Maximum Gain: XLR to XLR 75dB

Maximum Input Level: +20dBu (XLR), +17dBu (1/4 in.)

Maximum Output Level: +28dBu (XLR)

Output Impedance: 47 ohms (XLR)

Power Requirements: 100-125VAC, 25W Export units configured for country of destination

Total Harmonic Distortion: >0.005% (typical)

Weight: 12 lbs.
Get the most from your mics with this tube preamp! The MPA Gold gives you 2 mic channels with infinitely variable impedance and selectable plate voltage to match with your mic specs. High pass filter is continuously variable from 15 Hz to 150 Hz. Includes XLR I/O, plus unbalanced Instrument input.

what our customers say about zZounds

"Easy to use and will shop again sometime." - customer on February 13, 2008

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