Quote:
Originally Posted by woomanmoomin  No input transformers? 
I would have thought the distortion ought to be much smoother at 300V than 100V if the valve is a 12AX7 (as I think it is) but I guess you're right that there's a lot more separating this unit from the boutique stuff than just plate voltage. Not all of it easy to put right, either. |
just reading this post again - I think I may ahve been misunderstood a bit so will try to clarify here :-). Why is it grim that it has no input transformers? How many preamps have input transformers (that actually add anything useful to the sound) in the less than $1000 price range? I'm talking about good quality iron core trannys that alter the sound somewhat, therefore making their inclusion in the circuit useful in some way. There are non-transformer ways of handling the input stage that are far more clean and clear than using transformers, and many really high end units don't use input transformers either.
The number 100 volts I chose wasn't intended to mean that it is running at 100v or that the number is a good example of how little it takes, I'm sorry if it came across that way. I was intending to say that we don't know what the voltage is, nobody has checked it here in the MPA Gold, but it doesn't matter what the number is to prove that the design is a true high plate voltage pre that sounds good, what really matters is that it obviously does work in the circuit at what they consider to be high plate voltage and the audible result is very much the sound of a high quality tube mic preamp.
And while there is a lot separating it from boutique gear, I didn't bother explaining that I feel what separates it is true mojo which to me is stuff like the quality and feel of the pots/knobs/input jacks/switches, I feel that this preamp sounds great still and is best of class for it's type of sound in the el cheapo price range and competes well with much more expensiv preamps. Its not a high end unit, but does a very good emulation of one. blows away anything by other companies creating new gear in the sub $500 range, at least for pseudo mojo (it has more mojo than a grace 101 LoL).
EDIT: not entirely true actually, I think mojo comes through in the sound, but I feel that the MPA gold is capable of audible mojo like that, which is what separates it from the pack of cheapness mic pres. It's so hard to say what I feel, sorry for the mass confusion... I'll get my words out right one of these times! This is why I record for a living instead of writing lyrics...
IMHO anyway :-)
Cheers,
Don