Golden Age Pre73 Microphone Preamplifier User Reviews at zZounds

"A quality Transformer Balanced clone for 300 dollars, BUY IT." submitted September 10, 2010

By a customer from gmail.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Professional

Music Style: All

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Sound: While this is not the same as a Neve(r able to afford it) it does impart that same magic. Golden Age chose the right parts and essentially used the same schematics as the above mentioned manufacturer, while still maintaining an affordable price. While some may have had a few quality control issues, this is not the norm, and my unit had zero problems. This Preamp sounds like it should, use it on snare or guitar, it imparts that familiar sound that will make you smile, DO NOT HESITATE!!! Feature: It has the needed buttons and knobs to get any job done. While it may not be "feature rich", polarity, 48v, Low-Z, and DI are really all that is needed. Ease of Use: Understand that the first gain knob is reversed from the second. Would have received a 10, but some are confused by this at first. Quality: While the quality is nowhere near that of the Neve, the price could never be 299.99 if it were. At this price, the build is actually amazing. (considering the quality of internal parts, which contributes wholly to the sound quality and is really the reason you should be purchasing this in the first place.) Value: This is where this preamp is so incredible, 299!! i bought a 239 blemished unit. It had a one inch scratch on the top lid of the unit, THAT IS ALL. Other than the scratch, this unit checks out. (i am a electronics/audio/recording engineer.) Low noise floor with balanced signals. Quiet. Manufacturer Support: no idea, but from reading other posts it seems that if you are sent a defective unit, Golden Age will replace it. The Wow Factor: A quality Neve clone that has a similar mojo for 300 dollars, BUY IT. Overall: If this unit were stolen i would replace it after i cried.

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"Buy it before they go out of business.....you never know for these prices...." submitted October 22, 2010

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: Hobbyist

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Sound: I bought this from someone else and must say It surprised me in the way it sounds... very clean to a little color, smooth sound when added up in tracks....it is warm and makes you sound smoother on your recordings, can also be used with sound system, live apps...a little big 11 inches long and 1/2 rack wide...I love it... Feature: I dont think it included much of anything, no manual not wires, just a 24vac power supply... Ease of Use: its a bit different to dial up a sound, but its a different beast to what most preamps offer....the input voulume goes counter clockwise as the ouput gain goes clockwise...not sure if the Neve is like this, but its a way to saturate the input tranny without making the output volume too loud... Quality: it seems well made, just its made in another country that rhymes with fine-a or lima..cant say the country.... Value: yes, compared to other preamps under $500 its one of the best....very clean to a gritty sound... Manufacturer Support: No dealings with this company before The Wow Factor: its a little red wagon Overall: for mny years maybe

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"Great value" submitted May 3, 2011

By a customer from yahoo.com

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The Wow Factor

Musical Background: Active Musician, Recording engineer

Music Style: Rock, R&B, Country

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Sound: Not as smooth as a Neve, but if time is spent getting the setting right I have gotten a great sound out everything I've recorded so far.They are very clean, but can give a nice distortion to the signal depending how much you run the signal through the circuits. Bass guitar thru the DI is real good! For the money I think I hit the mother lode... Feature: Each unit has all you need for a good mic pre. Ease of Use: The controls can be a little confusing, but once you get used to them, you can make almost anything sound great. The manual is pretty generic, but the GA web site has some pointers. The best thing to do is hook up some mics and guitars and experiment. Quality: Built solidly. I got 2 and rack mounted them. Took them out to record drums, and they work fine. Value: Definitely worth the money. Manufacturer Support: I don't know. Hopefully won't have to call. The Wow Factor: Cool fire engine red. They look great, and are one of the best additions I've made to my set up. Overall: Considering the price I rate it a 10. They are very clean, but can give a nice distortion to the signal depending how much you run the signal through the circuits.

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"great preamp at a great price" submitted December 9, 2010

By a customer from yahoo.com

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Musical Background: recording engineer and i build gear

Music Style: all styles

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Sound: this is a great preamp. It's a real preamp vs ones with starve plate tubes or channel strips in the same price range. It's very nice as long as you don't push it to hard. It gets a lil harsh an fuzzy around the top of the gain setting I'd say around 70db of gain. I think it's driving the transformers to hard at that point, but even then it's still very useable. I like how simple it is. Making a great preamp takes some exspensive parts to me this means the money all went to one goal making a good preamp at a great price point about 1/10th of a 1073 I'm ordering a second one. Feature: it has all it needs Ease of Use: 2 knobs 2 switches it doesn't even need instructions Quality: I've seen the inside of it it's made right for the price Value: this is the best value in a real mic preamp in years Manufacturer Support: never had a problem The Wow Factor: if you know what it is its very sexy to the engineer Overall: it will last

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"Great sounding pro preamp" submitted April 18, 2011

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Pro engineer, producer and musician

Music Style: all styles

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Sound: Its a neve flavored preamp with nice in your face warmth. 3 transformers!!! REMEMBER TO LISTEN WITH YOUR EARS....NOT YOUR EYES!!! Feature: simple preamp, professional quality Ease of Use: two knobs, if you cant get a good sound out of it you dont know what your doing! Quality: built for years of professional use. Value: its worth twice the price Manufacturer Support: Bo Medin responds quickly to your questions The Wow Factor: its RED and it sounds like a neve for a lot less!!! TRANSFORMERS Overall: It'll be in my studio till I die!!!

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"Great Design, Beautiful Sound!" submitted March 28, 2010

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Recording Engineer

Music Style: ALL

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Sound: Wow! What an awesome Preamp. A lot like a 1073 but a lot more affordable. It has a bit more punch than a Neve 1073. It doesn't totally sound like a Neve 1073 but it sounds pretty amazing. The only problem I have is that I bought 2 of these units and 1 became intermittent. I had to "juice the gain" to get it to come back on and pass good signal level. Now I'm waiting for it because it is backordered. Otherwise, this preamp is pretty amazing. The absolute best $300 preamp you can buy. This sounds better than some of the $1000+ preamps I own. Feature: Plenty of control on this unit. You can also buy the rack kit to mount 2 preamps together in a 1 space rack. Ease of Use: It's so versatile. You can control the level of saturation versus the gain. Quality: Have to rate it low since I had to send my second one back. It is very sturdy and is built well. Value: Best preamp on the market for the price. Manufacturer Support: Sent it in for replacement. The Wow Factor: Beautiful style and it's solid as a rock. Overall: I won't be getting rid of this preamp, EVER!

21 of 26 people (80.77%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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"Golden Age Pre for My Golden Voice!" submitted February 9, 2011

By a customer from aol.com

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Sound: What a bang for the buck! This truly one of the best deals out there. Get your before the folks at Golden Age realize what they have and then double the price! I use thie pre primarily in my voice over business and it sounds like I have gone from an $80 entry level pre amp to using an Avalon 737 tube pre. I would highly recommend this unit. it especially shines on vocals. You will not be disappointed. Feature: It comes with a host of features. A power button, which at this price point not many pre amps have that, believe it or not. It also features a DI button, a 48V button, a Lo-Z button which changes the impedeance from 300 ohms to 1200 ohms, and a phase button. The only reason I did not give it a 10 is because it would have been really nice to have a high pass filter, but that is being nitpicky as that can be done in post. Ease of Use: Just turn it on! Knobs are nice and big and have a great feel to them. Quality: Very nice looking retro red. Nicely put together. I do not use it on the road so I really cannot offer an opinion in that aspect. Value: I would give it an 11 if I could. Did I mention this is the best bang for the buck on the internet? Manufacturer Support: Have not needed it, but I heard nothing but wonderful things about the folks at Golden Age. The Wow Factor: Hey, retro red and with this sound, who wouldn't want it. Overall: I considered and demo'd the Summit 2BA-221, the Daking Mic Pre One, and the UA 710 Twin-Finity. I can assure you they have nothing on the Golden Age Pre 73, which is why I say for the price, you simply will not go wrong.

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