Golden Age Project PRE73-DLX-PREMIER – 1073 Style Premier Microphone Preamp

The new mkii version of the pre-73 dlx preamp in the project line has been upgraded to premier status by using uk-made carnhill transformers and high pass filter inductor, polystyrene capacitors, all soldered connector- free internal wiring (except the gain switch connections), neutrik mic input xlr/trs connector, metal knobs and a classic style gain switch knob.

?classic 1073-style mic/line switch. - all soldered connector-free internal wiring. - uk-made carnhill transformers and high pass filter inductor. - relay controlled functions. - polystyrene and tantalum capacitors. - 0,1% matched phantom resistors. - full spec 10 ma phantom power. - dual internal regulators. - active di-input. - neutrik input xlr/trs connectors. - two position air eq. - 4-position output pad. - switchable insert jack. - metal knobs and classic style gain switch knob. - external power adaptor for a lower noise level.

The PRE-73 DLX PREMIER is a one-channel vintage style microphone-, line- and instrument preamplifier. The signal path uses only discrete components like resistors, capacitors and transistors. The line and microphone input and the line output are transformer balanced, using three different transformers, each one optimized for its purpose.
This is the way audio components were built before integrated circuits became available. The subjective sound quality delivered by vintage equipment is often prefered over the one delivered by modern products, a situation that is even more obvious now when music is recorded with clean sounding digital audio equipment.

The circuit used in the PRE-73 DLX PREMIER is similar to the preamp section in the classical 1073 module with a corresponding sound character that is warm, punchy, sweet and musical. These classic characteristics have been heard on countless recordings through the years and it is a versatile sound that works very well on most sound sources and in most genres. The essence of this sound is now available at a surprisingly

• <> ?Vintage style electronics. No integrated circuits in the signal path.
• <> All soldered, connector-free internal design for the purest and most reliable signal path, the only connector used is for the gain switch,
• <> UK-made Carnhill mic input and line output transformers and highpass inductor. The line input uses a custom transformer and the circuit board is prepared for the Carnhill tone. The output is balanced and fully floating and can drive a 600 ohm load up to about 28 dBu.
• <> Traditional 23-position 1073-style gain switch that is also used to select the mic or the line input jack.
• <> Combo XLR/TRS mic and line input jacks and separate output XLR and TRS jacks for flexible connections.
• <> A Neutrik XLR/TRS combo jack with gold over nickel plated bronze contacts is used for the mic input.
• <> Maximum gain on the mic input is 80 dB, enough to handle passive ribbon mics with quiet sound sources.
• <> Switchable impedance on the mic input, 1200 or 300 ohms. Changing the load impedance will change the tone of many mics.
• <> Gain range on the line input: -20 to + 10 dB.
• <> An active instrument input for guitar and bass that passes the signal through the mic input transformer, with selectable input impedance, hi-Z or 100 kohm, by an internal jumper.
• <> Switchable phantom power and absolute phase.
• <> Traditional gain switch plastic knob and metal knobs for the other controls.
• <> The phantom power can deliver up to 10 mA according to the specification standard. The 6.8 kohm phantom power resistors are matched to within 0.1% to maintain good common-mode rejection in the circuit. ??
• <> Selectable 1073-style inductor based highpass filter at 50, 80, 160 or 300 Hz with a slope of 18 dB / octave.