Just bought a Presonus FSM..would a cheap tube preamp help?

soma89 · 20th January 2012

I haven`t even used the FSM yet but I was thinking I may get a cheap tube pre amp for my mic. I`m planning on using an old EV RE-10 Dynamic for some rough recordings of acoustic songs.

Would a $30-$70 dollar preamp help at all or should i just wait until I could afford atleast an Electro Harmonix 12ay7 Tube Pre?

Enlightened Hand · 20th January 2012

I think a "cheap" tube preamp isn't really a solution to anything. Usually they don't have much headroom and they are designed in such a way as to not allow you to hear the kind of pleasant sound that can be had from a well designed tube circuit.

If you want to have a decent preamp that can handle the rigors of recording gain hungry dynamics, or just about anything then go with something that has a well regarded history of quality performance. There are many that don't cost much.

-FMR Audio Really Nice Preamp, $500 (2-ch) clean character, solid state, transformerless with good headroom and a respectable sound.
-Black Lion Audio Auteur, $600 (2-ch), clean with a little vibe, solid state, transformer coupled output design, with good headroom and again a great sound, with a touch of "vibe".
-Golden Age Project Pre 73, $350 (single channel), transformer coupled inputs and output, noticeable "vibe" compared to "clean" sounding amps, plenty of headroom, plenty of gain, flexible with dual gain controls.
-Grace Design m101, $500+ (single channel), ultra clean character, transformerless, high headroom, plenty output, ribbon mic mode, no significant "sound" of it's own, but plenty of clean gain

There are plenty others. But those should get you pointed in a direction of no regret.

Arksun · 20th January 2012

I would avoid anything thats very cheap and uses tubes as they usually sound pretty bad. Some of the cheap tube stuff doesn't even really use the tube!, its just lit up with leds to look cool.

soma89 · 21st January 2012

I`ve heard the EHX tube pre is the best when it comes to a cheap tube pre. I don`t wanna fdis out 350 right now on a Golden Age Project, but maybe i should wait on it?

Also, if it`s not a significant improvement to my XMAX preamp on the Presonus FSM I don`t see a point in getting one.

Snatchman · 21st January 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by soma89

I`ve heard the EHX tube pre is the best when it comes to a cheap tube pre. I don`t wanna fdis out 350 right now on a Golden Age Project, but maybe i should wait on it?

Also, if it`s not a significant improvement to my XMAX preamp on the Presonus FSM I don`t see a point in getting one.

I don't think getting a $30-$50 outboard preamp will be as good as the preamps on the Presonus..Actually, I think you will be going backawards..Use the PreSonus pres until you can afford " better" ones..Good luck..

partnering · 11th February 2012

i use a presonus firestudio mobile and have two ehx 12ay7 one with a mullard and one with a telefunken 12at7 tubes that i swapped in each. To me the stock was very good and you would be hard press to tell all the tubes apart except from usage. i feel the swapped in ones 'seem' to have more detail and a certain eq curve to the sound. you have to use xlr to 1/4 inch from the ehx 12ay7 to the line input of the firestudio mobile to have it balanced or else you could get hum. (known "bug" of the ehx 12ay7 preamp)

note both units have pretty high self noise and they behave better with condensers. forget sm7b with the units not enough gain the the noise level would end up too high.

I do think the ehx has a better tone then the firestudio pres which are mostly very transparent and the ehx has a sort of hifi/3d round sound taking off the transient edges.

I like it for vocals and have used it as overhead pres. also nice with a bass di signal into it too.

they may not sound impressive against other preamps if you just compare them by soloing sounds thru them but i like how the sounds recorded with them 'sound' in a mix. That seems to be when the preamp shines. find one for under 130$ if you can.
the power supply are sort of not rugged. i've had to replace two already.

20th January 2012	#1
soma89 Gear nut Joined: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto, CANADA Posts: 84 Thread Starter	Just bought a Presonus FSM..would a cheap tube preamp help? I haven`t even used the FSM yet but I was thinking I may get a cheap tube pre amp for my mic. I`m planning on using an old EV RE-10 Dynamic for some rough recordings of acoustic songs. Would a $30-$70 dollar preamp help at all or should i just wait until I could afford atleast an Electro Harmonix 12ay7 Tube Pre?

20th January 2012	#2
Enlightened Hand Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2009 Location: United States Posts: 1,263 13 Reviews written	I think a "cheap" tube preamp isn't really a solution to anything. Usually they don't have much headroom and they are designed in such a way as to not allow you to hear the kind of pleasant sound that can be had from a well designed tube circuit. If you want to have a decent preamp that can handle the rigors of recording gain hungry dynamics, or just about anything then go with something that has a well regarded history of quality performance. There are many that don't cost much. -FMR Audio Really Nice Preamp, $500 (2-ch) clean character, solid state, transformerless with good headroom and a respectable sound. -Black Lion Audio Auteur, $600 (2-ch), clean with a little vibe, solid state, transformer coupled output design, with good headroom and again a great sound, with a touch of "vibe". -Golden Age Project Pre 73, $350 (single channel), transformer coupled inputs and output, noticeable "vibe" compared to "clean" sounding amps, plenty of headroom, plenty of gain, flexible with dual gain controls. -Grace Design m101, $500+ (single channel), ultra clean character, transformerless, high headroom, plenty output, ribbon mic mode, no significant "sound" of it's own, but plenty of clean gain There are plenty others. But those should get you pointed in a direction of no regret. __________________ Liz - recordist, mixing dragon lady MIRRORMIX STUDIO BLOG

20th January 2012	#3
Arksun Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Cotswolds, UK Posts: 1,128 1 Review written	I would avoid anything thats very cheap and uses tubes as they usually sound pretty bad. Some of the cheap tube stuff doesn't even really use the tube!, its just lit up with leds to look cool. __________________ Music Producer \| Sound Designer http://www.arksun-sound.com

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21st January 2012	#4
soma89 Gear nut Joined: Jan 2012 Location: Toronto, CANADA Posts: 84 Thread Starter	I`ve heard the EHX tube pre is the best when it comes to a cheap tube pre. I don`t wanna fdis out 350 right now on a Golden Age Project, but maybe i should wait on it? Also, if it`s not a significant improvement to my XMAX preamp on the Presonus FSM I don`t see a point in getting one.

11th February 2012	#6
partnering Gear nut Joined: Dec 2005 Location: baton rouge, la Posts: 133	i use a presonus firestudio mobile and have two ehx 12ay7 one with a mullard and one with a telefunken 12at7 tubes that i swapped in each. To me the stock was very good and you would be hard press to tell all the tubes apart except from usage. i feel the swapped in ones 'seem' to have more detail and a certain eq curve to the sound. you have to use xlr to 1/4 inch from the ehx 12ay7 to the line input of the firestudio mobile to have it balanced or else you could get hum. (known "bug" of the ehx 12ay7 preamp) note both units have pretty high self noise and they behave better with condensers. forget sm7b with the units not enough gain the the noise level would end up too high. I do think the ehx has a better tone then the firestudio pres which are mostly very transparent and the ehx has a sort of hifi/3d round sound taking off the transient edges. I like it for vocals and have used it as overhead pres. also nice with a bass di signal into it too. they may not sound impressive against other preamps if you just compare them by soloing sounds thru them but i like how the sounds recorded with them 'sound' in a mix. That seems to be when the preamp shines. find one for under 130$ if you can. the power supply are sort of not rugged. i've had to replace two already.