Published 24/4/08
And get rid of the wall wart!
Grace Design have unveiled the new M101 single-channel mic and instrument preamplifier, the successor to their popular Model 101. The most noticeable change in the new model is the colour of its front panel: a striking matte black (which is apparently bombproof!) has been chosen over the mirrored silver original, but there are plenty of improvements under the hood too.
Grace say that the new model has better output line drivers and high-pass filter amplifiers fitted, and its susceptibility to radio frequency interference (RFI) has been reduced.
Furthermore, gold contacts are now used in the 12-position rotary gain switch as well as in the relay that switches the high-impedance circuit. But perhaps the most significant improvement to the M101 is its power supply. The new model features a built-in universal supply, which removes the need for the ‘wall wart’ that was required to run the original model.
Other improvements come in the form of a front-panel ‘ribbon’ button which, when engaged, bypasses the phantom power circuit and the DC coupling capacitors and raises the input impedance, to better suit the signal from a ribbon mic. Also, the function of the Trim control has been altered so that, instead of cutting up to 10dB from the signal, it can now boost by the same amount. This, alongside a increased range of the main gain control, ups the gain range of the M101 to 65dB instead of 50dB of the original model.
Despite the improvements, the updated 101 retails for £468, which is the same as its predecessor. It’s shipping now, so expect to see it in shops shortly.
Aspen Media +44 (0)1296 681313
www.aspen-media.com
www.gracedesign.com
Grace Design have unveiled the new M101 single-channel mic and instrument preamplifier, the successor to their popular Model 101. The most noticeable change in the new model is the colour of its front panel: a striking matte black (which is apparently bombproof!) has been chosen over the mirrored silver original, but there are plenty of improvements under the hood too.
Grace say that the new model has better output line drivers and high-pass filter amplifiers fitted, and its susceptibility to radio frequency interference (RFI) has been reduced.
Furthermore, gold contacts are now used in the 12-position rotary gain switch as well as in the relay that switches the high-impedance circuit. But perhaps the most significant improvement to the M101 is its power supply. The new model features a built-in universal supply, which removes the need for the ‘wall wart’ that was required to run the original model.
Other improvements come in the form of a front-panel ‘ribbon’ button which, when engaged, bypasses the phantom power circuit and the DC coupling capacitors and raises the input impedance, to better suit the signal from a ribbon mic. Also, the function of the Trim control has been altered so that, instead of cutting up to 10dB from the signal, it can now boost by the same amount. This, alongside a increased range of the main gain control, ups the gain range of the M101 to 65dB instead of 50dB of the original model.
Despite the improvements, the updated 101 retails for £468, which is the same as its predecessor. It’s shipping now, so expect to see it in shops shortly.
Aspen Media +44 (0)1296 681313
www.aspen-media.com
www.gracedesign.com
