Looking for a Mic Preamp to test vintage mics (ELA M 251, U-47, U67, C12, C24, KM 63, 64, 84 etc.)

[Ivan K.]

Hi, I'm prepping to sell my vintage mic collection and only have a Nagra, 4.2 & 4S recorders to test their sound quality. Their preamps are OK, but a bit noisy, and their headphone amps are under-powered for my phones. So, I'm looking for a good quality preamp with P-48 and if possible, a built-in headphone amp. It can be almost any shape, size, used or new. It could have a separate headphone amp. Cheap is good! Suggestions welcomed too...

Thanks,
Ivan

 

[pucho812]

get an Avalon V5.

I use one for bench testing mics. has everything you need including a headphone amp.

 

[NOON]

Most modern usb interfaces actually have pretty decent clean preamps and headphone amps. E.g. the Focusrite range.

 

[Tadelman]

Ivan
I am interested in the mics you are selling and I spent the last 20 plus years in Boulder though I no longer live there I’ll be back this month do you have an email address
Thanks
Todd

 

[JohnRoberts]

Just a reminder Ethan's rule #3

3. Topics involving the exchange of money should be kept only to the Black Market or White Market.

JR

 

[777funk]

I have a Sound Devices USBPre and it is as clean and clear as I've heard. It has plenty of gain and headphone volume. It doesn't sound like a Neve (as in what I'd be looking for in a recording)... but it is a good representation of the mic itself. They're $100-$200 on the used market BUT only work with certain operating systems. I use it on Win XP.

 

[guy_4]

Hi, I'm prepping to sell my vintage mic collection and only have a Nagra, 4.2 & 4S recorders to test their sound quality. Their preamps are OK, but a bit noisy, and their headphone amps are under-powered for my phones. So, I'm looking for a good quality preamp with P-48 and if possible, a built-in headphone amp. It can be almost any shape, size, used or new. It could have a separate headphone amp. Cheap is good! Suggestions welcomed too...

Thanks,
Ivan

Hello Ivan,
Focusrite ISA ONE can be an answer for your mics tests, at an affordable cost. ( 500€ in France)
It has also a headphone amp.
I have no experience with this unit.
Best,
Guy

 

[Ivan K.]

Thanks Guy, I'll check it out! USD480 on eBay in US. Spec shows it to be a bit noisy compared to lower-priced Focusrite Scarlett Solo. Is this a bother?

 

[Ivan K.]

Most modern usb interfaces actually have pretty decent clean preamps and headphone amps. E.g. the Focusrite range.

Thanks, I started cheap with a Focusrite Scarlett Solo and will compare it to a friend's considerably more expensive mic pre.

Ivan
I am interested in the mics you are selling and I spent the last 20 plus years in Boulder though I no longer live there I’ll be back this month do you have an email address
Thanks
Todd

Yes, [email protected]-thanks for your interest. PS I wasn't trying to sell these mics on this forum--just asking for a recommendation.

 

[Whoops]

Thanks, I started cheap with a Focusrite Scarlett Solo

That's more than good enough for you to try out yout mics on headphones

 

[Ivan K.]

...And the Focusrite headphone output impedance is claimed as <1 Ohm! I did notice that the preamps in this price range still use NE5532 opamps.

Freq. Resp. a bit limited, but good THD--see graphs