Rek-o-kut R-8A - low impedance mic to high imp mic pre

majortom · 10th July 2008

I bought a Rek-o-kut R-8A amplifier off a fellow gearslut. I'm thinking it was once a front-end for a disc recorder/lathe. It has 120db of gain available for two high impedance mics. I don't know much about microphone history, but I'm guessing high impedance mics used to be more common.

Can anyone suggest the best way to interface my low impedance mics with a mic pre expecting a high impedance mic? Any other tidbits on this particular amplifier?

I've attached a PDF of a product catalog that has some specs, but that's all the info I can find on it.

Thanks.

vineyardgray · 16th July 2008

You should just need a couple of direct boxes, no? Of course, rather than using them in the way they would traditionally be used (Hi-Z instrument to Lo-Z microphone), you'll be doing the opposite.

If you were looking for a more permanent solution, you'll have to install either balancing circuitry or a transformer inside the units which is a whole 'nother can o' beans.

The nice thing about the way they are now is that, being that they have such high gain available and are already hi-z inputs, you should be able to plug instruments directly into them!

What are the outputs?

MR

majortom · 16th July 2008

I have a Radial JDI that I can try. I'll see how it compares to just plugging in direct.

It has a power amp section and a line level output. Both sound really good, especially the power amp Both mono. So, it's kind of a mixer, too.

With a 120db of gain I could probably plug a gnat's ass into it and get a signal. But, I think I'll stick with guitars :-)

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16th July 2008	#2
vineyardgray Gear Head Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 46	You should just need a couple of direct boxes, no? Of course, rather than using them in the way they would traditionally be used (Hi-Z instrument to Lo-Z microphone), you'll be doing the opposite. If you were looking for a more permanent solution, you'll have to install either balancing circuitry or a transformer inside the units which is a whole 'nother can o' beans. The nice thing about the way they are now is that, being that they have such high gain available and are already hi-z inputs, you should be able to plug instruments directly into them! What are the outputs? MR

16th July 2008	#3
majortom Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 530 Thread Starter	I have a Radial JDI that I can try. I'll see how it compares to just plugging in direct. It has a power amp section and a line level output. Both sound really good, especially the power amp Both mono. So, it's kind of a mixer, too. With a 120db of gain I could probably plug a gnat's ass into it and get a signal. But, I think I'll stick with guitars :-)