Best Quality 'portable' Preamp Available?

[mosrite]

Any ideas?

Portico? Grace? Other suggestions? Price no object...

[jnorman]

i would recommend the sonosax SX-M2. simply outstanding for the money, and tons of clean gain suitable even for ribbbon mics if needed. at the time i bought my pair of royer r-121s, dave royer recommended this preamp to me, as that is what they were currently using in their test lab at royer. lots of high end tapers use this preamp, and you can often find one used at the yard sale on taperssection.com

[uosdwis]

Don't miss Metric Halo's ULN-2. Great preamplification and conversion in one firewire- or battery-powered box. Mac-only for interfacing with a computer, works as standalone with 9 presets after initial setup.

[tnjazz]

I don't know if it's the best portable, but I've had lots of different portables in my time including Grace V3's, Apogee, etc.

Sold them all and I only have one 2 channel portable these days - the Sonosax.

Bought new 10 years ago and still cruising along! So a thumbs up from me on this suggestion as well.

The Metric Halo is great as well, although a little less portable. Of course you get all the "interface" features with it though...

[hughesmr]

I'd say DAV BG1 is a strong candidate, and the price is nice too.

[tnjazz]

Originally Posted by hughesmr

I'd say DAV BG1 is a strong candidate, and the price is nice too.

Not really portable though, unless we're including AC powered units. I was only considering things that could be bus or battery-powered.

[mosrite]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant portable as in size but doesnt have to be battery powered.

[geeek]

Dav BG1 is portable.. it's shaped like a brick.. a really nice brick.

They're very good value.. If price was no object, I'd certainly get one.. and something else really spankin..

I find the Dav a little noisy at times..

Lovely pre tho - £500 for 2 channels!? It's ridiculously good value

[wildpark]

weight v.s portability ?

i was on the same train last years but desidet too goo the heavy weight way.

i use the shadow hills gamm4 st.ives mod version (drive my recording jungle sessions)

but heard good things from benchmark units (abbey road use actually benchmarks for conversion so its not that mad)

before i bought the gamma i thinked over gml-grace-martech pres.

from what i head this are the best ones around but more heavy weights

[MBishopSFX]

The Benchmark preamp is easy to run on batteries and not too bad in the quality department. Quite light in weight, too.

.

[drpro]

Check out the SQN line. They are actually mixers, but might fit your needs.

David

[momule]

Originally Posted by mosrite

Any ideas?

Portico? Grace? Other suggestions? Price no object...

2 channel - Best IMO is the portico 5012, (something to say about the silk mode)
2 channel - Grace V2,V3

4 Channel - RME quad mic

[Plush]

Clearly the d.a.v. electronics Broadhurst Gardens No. 1 mic amp is the one to beat.

Also check the Crookwood Paintpot if you want super clean without being clinical.
The latest to come through our place here with outstanding sound is the tube unit called
the Thermionic Culture Earlybird 1.2

This is a phenomenal sounding mic amp as well.

Still, for highest quality and Decca heritage, use BG No. 1

[I LOVE YOU]

Can anybody get me a Paintpot to compare to my Gordons here across the pond?

I've got the 2 channel and 1 channel Gordons and they sound great but please please sell me/ recommend to me something more portable and just as clean.

The really great thing about the GOrdon is that it adapts to the impedance of whatever's plugged into it.

At least that's what they tell me.

[jnorman]

since this came up again, i think the schoeps VMS 5 U should also be considered.