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PreSonus Eureka Pro Recording Channel Strip Microphone Preamp
Class A preamp. Variable mic input impedance. 3-band parametric EQ.
"Easily competes with "high-end" units."
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:Dual balanced out (great for monitoring with one while recording with the other), impedance matching on XLR input (missing from Focusrite and Avalon), assignable meter (output/reduction), phantom power, phase inversion, low cut - the stuff you would expect (digital is optional).
Quality:
Rugged design, 1U, no wall-wart, metal knobs.
Value:
At this price, you can get 4 of them instead of one Avalon. This unit is not *cheap*; it is *inexpensive*.
Desirability:
Visually appealing, although the Mindprint is even prettier.
Sound:
I saw a review mentioning the lack of a tube. The Eureka has a "Saturation" knob which provides even harmonics, just like a tube. Sure, you can't yank it out and try other circuitry (as you would be able to try different 12AX7's or 12AU7's on other devices), but this unit is hard to beat, even with more expensive units. I'm not crazy about the eq, so I leave it flat and use my Neve eq's from my UAD-1 Ultra Pak. I recorded my bass at another studio via an Avalon and then recorded at home via the Eureka and found that the Avalon made it more muddy than warm; it could have just been the settings applied by the engineer.
Ease of Use:
You don't need a manual, unless if you've never seen a channel strip before.
Support:
Never needed it.
Overall:
I've been tracking vocals (with a Neumann TLM103), electric bass, acoustic guitar, and classical guitar through this and am considering getting another one just for convenience. I would absolutely replace it with another one without even thinking about it.
"Holds its own against preamps costing over a grand more."
Feature:
It comes with a compressor and EQ. It is full of knobs. I couldn't ask for more. However, I wonder how this thing would sound if the company took out the compressor and EQ and concentrated on only the preamp quality. Now that would be a pretty nice preamp. Nevertheless, it's always nice to have the option to compress and EQ before recording. What I don't like is that you have to pay extra to buy the firewire interface.
Quality:
Had it for over a year and it still looks great and there is nothing loose.
Value:
I have so far only worked with higher end preamps. I can't compare it much to the other products in its price range. I know this thing tops the Mackie preamps and EQ. I also know that this is better sounding than the DBX. And best of all, it holds its own against gear costing over a grand more. I own a Blue Robbie and that thing sounds harsh compared to the Eureka and costs double the money. I would have probably paid double the price for this thing. Triple would be pushing it a little too much as there would be a lot of competition in that price range.
Desirability:
Blue lights..metal design...analog meter...come on now. This thing is sexy hands down. I like to dim the lights when people come in and all they can do is stare at the pretty blue lights. Oh yea...and the motorized mixer.
Sound:
The sound quality is comparable to preamps in the $1,500 range. I went to the Guitar Center to buy an Avalon 737SP and happened to see the Eureka (I had heard good things about it). So I decided to test them out using Blue and Neumann microphones. The Eureka had a different and to my ears, better sound quality than the Avalon. Of course, the Avalon was fuller because of the tubes. However, the Eureka sounded much clearer. I purchased the Eureka and saved $1,500 that day. I can't say that I regret it. Of course, there is always the thought of owning that $2,000 preamp...but my sound quality is amazing with this thing. Do not expect to record the next Grammy winning album with this thing alone though. It cannot compare to the higher quality Avalon, Neve and Focusrite. Of course, this would cost you thousands more.
Ease of Use:
There are a lot of knobs. You have to know what you're doing or it can take you months to get the perfect sound. However, I have gotten only a very few recordings with this thing that could simply not be used because of quality. Playing around with the settings fixed the problem.
Overall:
I plan on keeping this for a while as I'm doing local recordings with this thing and even recording albums. However, after college I plan on having a huge studio and I doubt this will be my main preamp. For a value, this is amazing. If you have 10 grand to spend without regret, I suggest purchasing a top quality compressor, EQ and preamp separately. However, if you're like most people, I'd recommend this thing over any other preamp in its price range.
It comes with a compressor and EQ. It is full of knobs. I couldn't ask for more. However, I wonder how this thing would sound if the company took out the compressor and EQ and concentrated on only the preamp quality. Now that would be a pretty nice preamp. Nevertheless, it's always nice to have the option to compress and EQ before recording. What I don't like is that you have to pay extra to buy the firewire interface.
Quality:
Had it for over a year and it still looks great and there is nothing loose.
Value:
I have so far only worked with higher end preamps. I can't compare it much to the other products in its price range. I know this thing tops the Mackie preamps and EQ. I also know that this is better sounding than the DBX. And best of all, it holds its own against gear costing over a grand more. I own a Blue Robbie and that thing sounds harsh compared to the Eureka and costs double the money. I would have probably paid double the price for this thing. Triple would be pushing it a little too much as there would be a lot of competition in that price range.
Desirability:
Blue lights..metal design...analog meter...come on now. This thing is sexy hands down. I like to dim the lights when people come in and all they can do is stare at the pretty blue lights. Oh yea...and the motorized mixer.
Sound:
The sound quality is comparable to preamps in the $1,500 range. I went to the Guitar Center to buy an Avalon 737SP and happened to see the Eureka (I had heard good things about it). So I decided to test them out using Blue and Neumann microphones. The Eureka had a different and to my ears, better sound quality than the Avalon. Of course, the Avalon was fuller because of the tubes. However, the Eureka sounded much clearer. I purchased the Eureka and saved $1,500 that day. I can't say that I regret it. Of course, there is always the thought of owning that $2,000 preamp...but my sound quality is amazing with this thing. Do not expect to record the next Grammy winning album with this thing alone though. It cannot compare to the higher quality Avalon, Neve and Focusrite. Of course, this would cost you thousands more.
Ease of Use:
There are a lot of knobs. You have to know what you're doing or it can take you months to get the perfect sound. However, I have gotten only a very few recordings with this thing that could simply not be used because of quality. Playing around with the settings fixed the problem.
Overall:
I plan on keeping this for a while as I'm doing local recordings with this thing and even recording albums. However, after college I plan on having a huge studio and I doubt this will be my main preamp. For a value, this is amazing. If you have 10 grand to spend without regret, I suggest purchasing a top quality compressor, EQ and preamp separately. However, if you're like most people, I'd recommend this thing over any other preamp in its price range.
"Eureka! I Think They've Done It Again"
Feature:
what more do you want? It has a pre with selectable impedence, compressor, eq and a saturate knob. I used it in the studio on my snare drum with a beta 57 and i hit the snare pretty loud and the pre wouldn't seem to clip or hear any noticable distortion on this too, usually on the snare, in my exprience, the snare wouldn't require that much gain. I do wish there was more of an LED on the pre section besides the 3 LED's it has on it.
Quality:
well built clean neat and nice to look at too with its blue LED's and such
Desirability:
cute little preamp i must say, i want another one for my setup
Sound:
Very Clean and quiet. I used it live and in the studio. Its funny because when i used it live i just kept cranking up the gain on the lead vocalist and the pre would not clip or hear any noticable distortion, even with the needle slamming into the red on the vu meter.
Support:
Very good, I had a question on a mail in rebate for the digital out card for the unit, and they answered it, and also the turn around time on the MIR was about a little over a week. Awesome!! ( I haven't used the digital card yet though)
Overall:
just read the reviews and hear it for yourself, for the price it is, it's a great buy
what more do you want? It has a pre with selectable impedence, compressor, eq and a saturate knob. I used it in the studio on my snare drum with a beta 57 and i hit the snare pretty loud and the pre wouldn't seem to clip or hear any noticable distortion on this too, usually on the snare, in my exprience, the snare wouldn't require that much gain. I do wish there was more of an LED on the pre section besides the 3 LED's it has on it.
Quality:
well built clean neat and nice to look at too with its blue LED's and such
Desirability:
cute little preamp i must say, i want another one for my setup
Sound:
Very Clean and quiet. I used it live and in the studio. Its funny because when i used it live i just kept cranking up the gain on the lead vocalist and the pre would not clip or hear any noticable distortion, even with the needle slamming into the red on the vu meter.
Support:
Very good, I had a question on a mail in rebate for the digital out card for the unit, and they answered it, and also the turn around time on the MIR was about a little over a week. Awesome!! ( I haven't used the digital card yet though)
Overall:
just read the reviews and hear it for yourself, for the price it is, it's a great buy
PreSonus Eureka Pro Customer Review
Quality:
The knobs were tight and smooth,very easy to rotate condidering how small they are. This thing is made very well and it looks real cool with it's V.U. meter in the center and blue lights and buttons surrounding it.
Value:
But if your looking for a relatively inexpensive way to give your sound a unexpected lift,you can't find a better unit for the money.
Sound:
I use an AW4416 my mixer and I wanted to a preamp for a little more control over my mic for more dynamics. I was so surprised when I sang a track using the Eureka,the mic was much smoother and the control over dynamics was impressive.My singing style is rather smooth but I'm very dynamic concious and I found no matter what I was doing vocaly,I could find a balanced setting. I'm Impressed. Money well spent.
Support:
As far as tech support, I haven't had to call the company for help with this product in anyway so can't comment there!
The knobs were tight and smooth,very easy to rotate condidering how small they are. This thing is made very well and it looks real cool with it's V.U. meter in the center and blue lights and buttons surrounding it.
Value:
But if your looking for a relatively inexpensive way to give your sound a unexpected lift,you can't find a better unit for the money.
Sound:
I use an AW4416 my mixer and I wanted to a preamp for a little more control over my mic for more dynamics. I was so surprised when I sang a track using the Eureka,the mic was much smoother and the control over dynamics was impressive.My singing style is rather smooth but I'm very dynamic concious and I found no matter what I was doing vocaly,I could find a balanced setting. I'm Impressed. Money well spent.
Support:
As far as tech support, I haven't had to call the company for help with this product in anyway so can't comment there!
PreSonus Eureka Pro Customer Review
Feature:
The setups in the book helps alot.
Quality:
Solid. Looks good! I've used it live in the studio.
Value:
Worth the price!
Desirability:
Looks good
Sound:
I bought this unit because several friends who work at music stores recommended it. For the price, this channel strip is a must have. If your studio sounds like a bedroom studio...this will make it sound like a real room.
Ease of Use:
Just follow the book and
Support:
N/A
Overall:
Eventually, hope to get an Avalon, but if you don't have $2500, this gets the job done on a budget.
The setups in the book helps alot.
Quality:
Solid. Looks good! I've used it live in the studio.
Value:
Worth the price!
Desirability:
Looks good
Sound:
I bought this unit because several friends who work at music stores recommended it. For the price, this channel strip is a must have. If your studio sounds like a bedroom studio...this will make it sound like a real room.
Ease of Use:
Just follow the book and
Support:
N/A
Overall:
Eventually, hope to get an Avalon, but if you don't have $2500, this gets the job done on a budget.
" Please don't compare the Eureka to an Avalon !!!"
Feature:
For the 500 bucks you shell out you get a decent sounding compressor, a so-so (stinky) 3 band EQ, the micpre is transformer coupled supposedly class a. The impedance selection is done via resistors instead of transformer taps. Kind of a cheapo way to impedance match microphones.Running the unit at the highest impedance setting works best.
Quality:
It's pretty solidly built. It's hard as hell to read the settings on all the knobs.The glare makes it almost impossible to read your settings. Presonus could have come up with better control knobs.
Sound:
It's ridiculous to even try to compare the Eureka to an Avalon VT-737SP. You're comparing a Volkswagen to a Rolls-Royce. I own both, so I can tell you that the Eureka isn't bad sounding, but not exactly warm sounding,and definitely nowhere near sounding like a VT-737SP. Even when you use the saturation control,it makes the sound muddy-not warm. It's useless.
Ease of Use:
It's not hard to use, just don't expect miracles soundwise.
Support:
haven't needed any support from Presonus.
For the 500 bucks you shell out you get a decent sounding compressor, a so-so (stinky) 3 band EQ, the micpre is transformer coupled supposedly class a. The impedance selection is done via resistors instead of transformer taps. Kind of a cheapo way to impedance match microphones.Running the unit at the highest impedance setting works best.
Quality:
It's pretty solidly built. It's hard as hell to read the settings on all the knobs.The glare makes it almost impossible to read your settings. Presonus could have come up with better control knobs.
Sound:
It's ridiculous to even try to compare the Eureka to an Avalon VT-737SP. You're comparing a Volkswagen to a Rolls-Royce. I own both, so I can tell you that the Eureka isn't bad sounding, but not exactly warm sounding,and definitely nowhere near sounding like a VT-737SP. Even when you use the saturation control,it makes the sound muddy-not warm. It's useless.
Ease of Use:
It's not hard to use, just don't expect miracles soundwise.
Support:
haven't needed any support from Presonus.
"every studio should have one"
Feature:
the look of the eureka is just delightful!
Sound:
the sound of this product is great.and it is just what I've been looking for in a preamp. and the presets in the manual makes it that more simple to operate.
the look of the eureka is just delightful!
Sound:
the sound of this product is great.and it is just what I've been looking for in a preamp. and the presets in the manual makes it that more simple to operate.
"Bang for the buck"
Feature:
eq needs more balls, but very usable.
Quality:
seemd very well built
Value:
alot for the money
Desirability:
sexy buttons and blue lights
Sound:
good for the money. best thing in price range.
Ease of Use:
alot of knobs but not complicated
Support:
never needed to call
Overall:
I guess when i make some more money from my music, this is good for a project studio with a low budget
eq needs more balls, but very usable.
Quality:
seemd very well built
Value:
alot for the money
Desirability:
sexy buttons and blue lights
Sound:
good for the money. best thing in price range.
Ease of Use:
alot of knobs but not complicated
Support:
never needed to call
Overall:
I guess when i make some more money from my music, this is good for a project studio with a low budget
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