Electronaut M63 -- Tube Microphone/Instrument Amp

[electronaut]

Hi People,

One of my customers suggested I post an announcement about the M63 here in the "New Product Alerts" section, so here goes:

Electronaut Company, a one-person operation based in Chicago, builds high-quality hand-built tube microphone/instrument preamplifiers. By hand-built, I mean everything down to the fabrication of the metal chassis is done in-house. These amplifiers are a labor of love and are very time consuming to build, but I've still managed to keep the price competitive and reasonable. The performance is excellent. (There are user testimonials on the website.)

Here are some photos of the unit:









And here is a basic list of features:

- Lundahl Amorphous-Core Audio Transformers
- 63 dB Gain
- Slow-Start Tube-Rectified High-Voltage Power Supply
- Custom Shielded and Potted Toroidal Power Transformer
- Heavy-Duty Printed Circuit Boards (.125" thick!)
- Phantom Power with Ramped Start-Stop Action
- Locking Phantom Power Switch
- Two Level Controls per Channel
- Illuminated Sifam VU Meters
- 120/240 V Operation, Switchable
- 12AY7/12AU7/12X4 Tube Complement
- 20dB PAD
- Neutrik® XLR and Instrument Connectors
- Heavy-Duty Toggle Switches
- Small-Signal Relays with Gold Plated Contacts
- New-Production Daka-Ware Knobs (Made from the original dies!)
- Optional Custom Case

Please visit my website for more information, and feel free to send me an email with questions, comments, etc.

Thanks for looking, and Happy 2010!!

-Rob Roy M. Campbell

ELECTRONAUT COMPANY

[feck]

As a happy owner of this unit, I can say that it is awesome - lots of mojo and flexibility with the input/output drive. Built like a tank too. Rob Roy is a cool dude and definitely has a great product here.

[tapehiss]

i could not find a price in the post or on the website...

what is the price of this unit???????????????

[DivineMusic]

its beautiful i know that much, hope it sounds as good as it looks

[electronaut]

Originally Posted by tapehiss

what is the price of this unit???

The "list" price is $3600, with a usual street price of $3333.

There are several dealers currently carrying the M63:

http://www.electronaut.info/dealers.html

Anyone interested that doesn't have a dealer in their region should contact me to get information about dealing directly.

info@electronaut.info

Thanks...!

[Stiff]

It definitely looks good

[3rdeyeKnight]

Hi Rob,

Any chance of customizing a single channel version? I'm in the market for a new preamp, and just weighing out my options at the moment.

[electronaut]

Originally Posted by 3rdeyeKnight

Any chance of customizing a single channel version?

I PM'd you...

[xj32]

Did you show one of these, maybe a prototype at NAMM a few...maybe like 5 years ago?
This looks sooo familiar?

I am up in the Milwaukee area, I would love to hear one of these sometime.

XJ

[xj32]

Also, I was looking around your web sight and noticed that one user compared it to a vintage V76 I think? Was / is that the sound you were shooting for? In other words is this along the the lines of a vintage 60's tube pre, or is it a more modern in design and sound? If it is more vintagy, is this a bit more Euro 60's or USA 60's Putnam tube style sonically speaking?

XJ

[electronaut]

Originally Posted by xj32

Did you show one of these, maybe a prototype at NAMM a few...maybe like 5 years ago? This looks sooo familiar?XJ

Five years ago almost to the day, actually. Nice memory!

I showed a much earlier version of the M63 at the 2005 NAMM show, which was a bit premature because almost immediately after the show I started having quality-related problems with my metal fabricator. That started a long process of trying to find a way to make a high quality enclosure without having to commit to ordering huge quantities. Somehow I ended up deciding that the best way was for me to learn how to do it myself, and I expanded my shop with some used metalworking machines (a byproduct of the disappearing manufacturing jobs in the midwest.)

Also, the M63 I showed at NAMM was not well-suited for production at any scale. Each one took FOREVER to build! I liked it as a piece of art, but after building a half dozen or so, I realized the full extent of my naiveté and threw in the towel.

Here are some pics:





There was another version, with the swappable transformers, which was the first one to actually see production. It sounded great, but I was always annoyed by the way I designed the swappable transformer cards, because they were inconvenient to swap, which kind of defeats the purpose.

The transformer-swap approach was a way to try and tweak the character of the unit. Ultimately, I decided that if I was going to achieve my ideal scenario (having both clean/transparent sound as well as the option of dialing in a little color) the transformers would have to be completely transparent, and the color would have to come from the active part of the circuit. Hence, the choice of the Lundahl amorphous-core transformers, which are totally invisible.

In the now-final version of the M63, transparency can be achieved by splitting the gain between the two gain stages. Alternatively, it is possible to get a little grit by overdriving one stage while keeping the level under control with the other. Each stage sounds different when overdriven, so a variety of "color" is available.

So.....

After literally YEARS of tweaking, solving weird logistical problems that I never thought I'd have to consider, and learning things I never thought I'd have to learn, I'm finally done with the M63. I love it how it is and I have no plans to change anything about it. It outperforms all previous versions, is flexible, QUIET, very solidly built, and most importantly, is finally AVAILABLE, for real.

Originally Posted by xj32

Also, I was looking around your web sight and noticed that one user compared it to a vintage V76 I think? Was / is that the sound you were shooting for? In other words is this along the the lines of a vintage 60's tube pre, or is it a more modern in design and sound? If it is more vintagy, is this a bit more Euro 60's or USA 60's Putnam tube style sonically speaking?

The goal was never to make a preamp that sounded like some other vintage preamp. Rather, it was simply to make a high-performance amplifier that sounded great and provided some sonic options without having too many switches and knobs to worry about when tracking. As I mentioned above, I tried to ensure that the unit could provide plenty of transparent and clean GAIN, but also allow some color when needed.

I'm not sure that I can really offer any useful descriptions of the subtle characteristics of the sound, since it is a totally subjective matter and people don't tend to agree about these things anyway. Hopefully it will be enough to say that the M63 performs very well from a technical standpoint, and that is reaffirmed by the consistent praise it gets from its users. Beyond that, there are some more detailed testimonials on the website.

Hopefully that helps.

Cheers,

-RobRoy

[xj32]

Wow great and detailed response, thanks!

Hope to hear one someday!

XJ

[tapehiss]

beautiful guts!!!!!!!!!

[ISedlacek]

It shall arrive here for trying and testing within few weeks ,,,

[Isle of Weight]

Originally Posted by Lynn Fuston

Ivo, did this ever happen? Did you post impressions?

AA

[maraisdecygnes]

Just ordered my M63 this week and am looking very forward to it. Rob has been great answering all my questions and a really nice fellow.

Let the vibe begin, just don't paint your studio paisley purple!

[feck]

I recently did a shootout between the M63 and a Grace 201 for recording distorted electric guitar. Obviously one is tube and the other solid state, but the M63 was so much creamier and thick sounding I was surprised. Great unit, lots of interplay between the trim and attenuation knobs.

[Luke Tweedy]

The Electronaut just has that 'it' mojo. I love it. Extremely flexible, plenty of gain, from clean to creamy, it almost always works when used.

Of all the pres I own(Shadow Hills, Sytek, Vintech, Universal Audio, A-Designs, etc etc) if I had to be restricted to one, this would be the unit. Well worth the price. Also, builder Rob Roy is one hell of a nice guy.

[electronaut]

Hi people.

I made a video that shows a little more about Electronaut and the M63 preamp. This is the first in a series of videos that I hope to put together in 2012, some of which will talk about Electronaut's design philosophy, parts quality, circuit design, etc. and others which I hope will be educational and/or entertaining.

Let me know what you think! And, happy new year!!!

An Introduction to Electronaut and the M63 Preamp - YouTube

Rob Roy M. Campbell
Electronaut

[Enlightened Hand]

Let me just say that is one lovely looking piece of gear. I'm not even all that into tube pres especially. But I'm very interested in this one.

My production partner gave you a call a while back asking about the m63. He said something about more honest sounding transformers I think.

[tinlunchbox]

I've been interested in the M63 ever since visiting Scott Fritz's place (who has put in some replies above). It's a striking piece of gear, reminds me of the old Russian militaristic electronics with its heavy duty switches and all. Very much looking forward to owning one soon and pushing it into some gnarly sounds

[lektracoustics]

Originally Posted by electronaut

I made a video that shows a little more about Electronaut and the M63 preamp. (snip)

An Introduction to Electronaut and the M63 Preamp - YouTube

EMI lawyers have apparently disabled this video. That speaks for itself.

[electronaut]

Originally Posted by lektracoustics

EMI lawyers have apparently disabled this video. That speaks for itself.

EMI apparently objected to my use of the Django Reinhardt song, recorded in 1936. The guy's been dead since 1956, so I wasn't expecting any trouble but alas, corporate ownership prevails.

I'll repost it with non-corporate music soon.

[lektracoustics]

Originally Posted by electronaut

EMI apparently objected.

Just utterly implausible that they'd assail an operation like Electronaut. I think bands should be paid for their work. But this speaks bucketloads for the company.

To hell with that kind of doing business.

I'll be thrilled to watch the video.

[electronaut]

Originally Posted by lektracoustics

EMI lawyers have apparently disabled this video.

For some unknown reason the video mysteriously works again. I disputed their copyright claim and they ruled against me and locked me out anyway, but I just noticed it works again and the copyright infringement notices on my youtube account have vanished.

I don't understand that at all, but I'm not complaining!

[feck]

Originally Posted by electronaut

For some unknown reason the video mysteriously works again. I disputed their copyright claim and they ruled against me and locked me out anyway, but I just noticed it works again and the copyright infringement notices on my youtube account have vanished.

I don't understand that at all, but I'm not complaining!

Just wanted to put in a few words....my M63 was distorting a little easy so I called Rob Roy. He came by my studio, picked it up, and took it back to his lab. After doing a number of newer design mods, he then brought it back sounding better than ever. And he didn't even charge for it. Classy gear, classy company. Awesome! Now it is used on virtually everything here.

[feck]

Originally Posted by tinlunchbox

I've been interested in the M63 ever since visiting Scott Fritz's place (who has put in some replies above). It's a striking piece of gear, reminds me of the old Russian militaristic electronics with its heavy duty switches and all. Very much looking forward to owning one soon and pushing it into some gnarly sounds

Hey Sean, how is it going man? We need to catch up....