Retro Instruments 500PRE
500-series Tube Mic Preamp
PreampPrice not published
Specifications
- Type
- Preamp
- Description
- 500-series Tube Mic Preamp
- Topology
- all-tube/valve, Sta-Level-derived 2-stage/3-stage switchable gain topology
- Signal path
- Analog
- Channels
- 1
- Channel format
- mono
- Form factor
- 500-series module (single-width)
- Connection
- 500-series (API-format) rack
- Powered
- 500-series rack supply, ±16V @ 155 mA, 48V @ 3 mA
- Frequency response
- ±0.25 dB, 20 Hz–20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- Input range -72 to +12 dBu; EIN -128 dB (150Ω terminated); output clipping +24 dBu headroom
- Impedance (Ω)
- Input >1000Ω (20 Hz–20 kHz); Output 600Ω, transformer balanced
Details
Controls: Input Level, Gain Select (2-stage 48 dB / 3-stage 76 dB), Phantom Power, Polarity, Output Level
I/O: 500-series edge-card connector to rack XLR mic/line I/O
Notable use: Jacquire King (Grammy-winning producer/engineer): 'one of the best vocal mic pres'
Notes: Circuit topology derived from the Sta-Level's three-tube gain stage, adapted into a single-width 500-series format — the manufacturer's 500-series entry point for that circuit. Gain 48 dB (2-stage) or 76 dB (3-stage). Ships with 3x TAD-brand new-production 12AT7 tubes. THD <0.05% at +4 dBu. Weight 2 lb 7 oz; warm-up <1 min with soft-start circuitry. A search snippet suggested a dealer price near $895, not confirmed as manufacturer MSRP — left blank.