Avalon Design V5
Mic/instrument preamplifier with DI and transformer-isolated re-amp output
Preamp$1,935Manufacturer list price
Specifications
- Type
- Preamp
- Description
- Mic/instrument preamplifier with DI and transformer-isolated re-amp output
- Topology
- 100% discrete, high-voltage Class-A (marketing copy also describes circuit as "Dual Mono" — two cascaded solid-state amplification stages within the single channel, not two audio channels); transformer-balanced mic input, DC-coupled Class-A output
- Signal path
- Analog
- Channels
- 1
- Channel format
- mono
- Form factor
- Half-rack desktop unit (RM-1 single rack kit or RM-2 dual rack kit available)
- Powered
- true
- Power (W)
- 35
- Frequency response
- 5Hz-50kHz +/-0.5dB; 2Hz-500kHz -3dB (input band-limited)
- Impedance (Ω)
- Line in 6,000 ohm balanced; instrument/DI in 10,000,000 ohm unbalanced; mic Hi-Z in 6,700 ohm; mic Lo-Z in 1,760 ohm; max output 600 ohm balanced
- Country of manufacture
- USA
- Phantom power
- 48V
Details
Controls: Input mode select, switched 2dB-step gain, 10-position passive TONE-BANK, high-cut filter, polarity/phase reverse, pad attenuator, illuminated VU meter with dual peak LEDs, +48V phantom on/off
I/O: 4 input modes: Line (XLR/TRS, transformer-balanced 6,000 ohm), Instrument/DI (unbalanced TRS, 10M ohm), Mic Hi-Z and Mic Lo-Z (XLR, transformer-balanced). Outputs: main XLR/TRS balanced line out, transformer-isolated output (TRS), buffered instrument thru (TRS), headphone out (TRS, 0.5W/600 ohm)
Notable use: Manufacturer positions V5 as combining Avalon's U5 DI functionality with a new preamp topology; user testimonials on avalondesign.com cite use on vocals, live streams, and gospel/pop recording sessions. No specific artist/album credit stated. FLAG: general marketing claim.
Notes: Current production model per avalondesign.com/products (2026); URL slug is '/v55-1' on Avalon's own site even though the product is the V5 (single-channel), distinct from '/v55' (V55, dual-channel) — FLAG this is Avalon's own site structure, not a data error. channel_count set to 1 (mono): the RM-1 rack kit is described as holding 'one half rack unit' for a single V5, and the physical dimensions/footprint match the mono U5 exactly; however Avalon's own feature list literally says "Dual Mono, Pure Class A, 100% discrete design," which FLAG-worthy is ambiguous marketing phrasing — interpreted here as describing the internal cascaded amplifier topology, not 2 audio channels (see V55, the actual 2-channel product, for comparison). price_usd = Vintage King MSRP $1,935 (also matches Front End Audio $1,742 sale price); Avalon's own site lists no price. year_intro left blank — Avalon's site text "DI-preamplifiers have been in use... since 1985" is generic company-history copy, not a V5-specific release date, so not used per no-guessing rule.