SM Pro Audio PR8 8-Channel Microphone Preamp

Feature:
Gets the basics done, plug a mic in, turn up the gain, switch on phantom power if need be... then plug it into your interface. Having a mic/line combined input and a pad switch would've been nice. Yet the price would've been much higher.

Quality:
Seems to be made extremely well, and me being the third owner of this unit, that can tell you how durable it can be.

Value:
A great value for the item at new cost.

Desirability:
Shouldn't matter about it's "sex appeal" it just sitting in a rack with cables connected to it.

Sound:
I own the older model, the one where the outputs are consumer based -10dB, although the one listed on this site is now a more professional +4dB on the output. Anyways, the sound is great and extremely clear without needing to hardly push the preamp at all. No noise floor is audible.

Ease of Use:
Extremely easy to use, as long as you understand the xlr's are inputs and the 1/4" on the back are the outputs... then you're good to go.

Support:
Never needed support, if it breaks, honestly it's so cost effective I'll use purchase another one. And maybe get around to fixing the first... if the ever be the case.

Overall:
Overall it's a great unit, especially for those looks to add a more mics to their digi interfaces such as the digi001, etc. Which only supply a limited amount of actual mic inputs.

Feature:
It's got what it needs. Each channel has an XLR jack, a gain knob, and a phantom power switch. It would be nice to have a 1/4" line input & pad switch on each channel, but then again it wouldn't be only 99 bucks with the added features.

Quality:
Made very well with good quality parts. It's amazing what you can get for a hundred bucks these days.

Value:
Absolutely the best value in an 8-channel mic preamp.

Desirability:
Is sex appeal important in a mic preamp? If color is a big deal for you in a piece of studio gear, then your priorites are screwed up. I buy gear that's built well and does the job. And this one fits the bill perfectly.

Sound:
It sounds neutral, and it's very quiet. I suspect others who have issues with noise are using poorly shielded or defective cables or mics. With my setup, it's very quiet. If you're looking for a mic preamp to give you that vintage tube sound, this ain't it. This unit does one thing only: It amplifies the original mic signal and sends it to the recorder. And it does it very well. If you want a vintage mic or tube emulation, you'll need a processor.

Support:
I'm rating this in the middle of the scale since I have never had to deal with the company. It's a reliable unit and I've never needed support.

Overall:
I plan on keeping this unit 'til it blows up. And I'd definately buy another one. I've made many successful recordings using this preamp with my TASCAM 238 8-track recorder, digital DAW, Alesis effects & compressor, and BiAmp mixing console. There are a lot of preconceived notions about how good or bad a product will perform based on the brand name slapped on it. I've used my share of Soundcraft, Mackie, Klark-Teknik, dbx, and other high-end brands of mixers, processors, and the like over the years. Much of the gear produced today by companies like Behringer and SMPro perform much like the big boys (& sometimes even better) but don't cost the big bucks. Good equipment is important to a good recording. Ability and skill are even more important.