EH Debuts 12AY7 Tube Mic Preamp

by HCNews on ‎04-18-2005 12:00 AM

12AY7 Mic Pre
(Click for a close-up)

Equipped with a 12AY7 EH tube and a 12AU7 EH driver, Electro-Harmonix's new microphone preamp gives microphones a wide dynamic swing with warm tone.

This mic pre uses an actual 200-volt supply instead of the 12 or 48 volts you'd get with common models, delivering 50 dB of gain into a high impedance load, and about 40 dB of gain into 600 ohms.

The 12AY7 Mic Preamp's special FET current-balancing circuit allows the tubes to amplify the microphone signal to line level while reducing noise, and protecting against hum and hostile electrical environments according to the company.

It has an extra TRS output for separate line control, which can be used as a splitter or an AUX Send for monitoring. Input connections are balanced In and Out (XLR) with a 1/4" TRS balanced buffer out. The unit also boasts a phase reverse switch and a +4dBm indicator light for setting optimal mic level. The 48 volt phantom power is soft starting and "pop free."