Quietest preamps

[FlowersForHuman]

I am in need of the quietest matched pair of preamps (or a 2 channel unit) for under $1000 that I can get. I will be using the pair for room micing and acoustic instrument micing. The crappy unit i have now is not going to cut it any more. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

[msmith]

Sytek...

[FlowersForHuman]

"Each MPX-4Aii unit uses a Class A, auto-bias bridge configuration, hybrid input stage preamplifier based on hand-selected transistors for the lowest of noise, and the lowest possible base-spreading resistance and collaterally matched for perfect balance, and biased at the precise levels that make them maximally insensitive to thermal drift. As a result, no offset crowding occurs, and the dynamic range remains wide open. Because of the wide gain-bandwidth parameters of these specially-selected transistors, and the super-low impedance characteristics, and the vanishing circuit reactance, the impulse response is optimum, and phase-delay distortion undetectable. Gain adjustments are made with balanced differential-mode cancellation, preserving the excellent DC offset characteristics, without altering the loop feedback characteristics from their optimal configuration."

*what?*

J/k...I will definetly check those out, thanks!

[Jeff White]

I use that line on girls all of the time.

Yeah, the Sytek is nice and quiet, yet very very loud at the same time. Pad that shit down!

[The Garage]

For under $1000, I would guess the quietest would be the AEA TRP with over 80db of gain. No phantom power though.

[Cellotron]

For just a tiny bit over a $1000 (i.e. about $1150 street price) you can get 2 Grace Design Model 101's - which are very quiet and clean, and to my ear one of the most under rated preamps out there.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[cgarges]

The Syteks are the quietest preamps I have in a rack I use almost every day that includes APIs, Neves, Buzz Audios (really, really close, if not equal in the quiet department), Ameks, Dakings, Drawmers, Tube Techs, Avalons, and several other esoteric vintage preamps.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[A-Barr]

For just a tiny bit over a $1000 (i.e. about $1150 street price) you can get 2 Grace Design Model 101's - which are very quiet and clean, and to my ear one of the most under rated preamps out there.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

+1

Never tried a Sytek but the 101 is absurdly quiet.

[audionaut]

If you want dead quiet and completely uncolored sound, try looking into what some of the classical and 2track remote recording guys go apesh!t over:
DAV electronics BG1
http://www.davelectronics.com/bg1.htm

[Cellotron]

If you want dead quiet and completely uncolored sound, try looking into what some of the classical and 2track remote recording guys go apesh!t over:
DAV electronics BG1
http://www.davelectronics.com/bg1.htm

What's the street price on these? The original poster expressed a budget of around $1000 for 2 channels.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[MoreSpaceEcho]

i paid $1450 for a 4 channel DAV. been using them for most everything lately. very good pres. not 'magic' the way all the famous stuff is, but clear and nice, you can pile on the tracks without things getting murky. and they're quiet.

i've been meaning to a/b them with the syteks on a bunch of sources and see how they compare. some rainy day...

[Leopold]

Sytek...

+1 and you'll always have a use for them.

[audionaut]

What's the street price on these? The original poster expressed a budget of around $1000 for 2 channels.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

I believe that both the 2 Channel rack and 2 channel mobile units are both around $1000 street. 4 channels for $1450, like MoreSpaceEcho said.