Preamps / Channel Strips

Black Lion's designers set out to bring versatility and lower noise to a classic preamp without sacrificing character — have they succeeded?

With its ability to deliver anything from super-subtle saturation to downright despicable distortion, could this be the only valve preamp you'll ever need?

This ADAT-equipped preamp offers one-knob compression on every channel.

There are plenty of very heavily distorted examples already out there to be heard, but I’ve gone for some tones that I think challenge the technology a little more.

Offering everything from pristine cleanliness to tube-driven colour, this preamp can hold its head high in the company of more expensive designs.

Can I get good results on a Dobro that has a Shertler Basik on‑board mic, or will I need a piezo pickup?

Widely touted as Boss's response to UA's popular OX, the Tube Amp Expander actually offers a contrasting approach. Will one of them be a clear winner?

Little Mikey is a classic preamp in a sturdy 8HP module, designed to get your instrument and live microphone signals into the modular as cleanly as possible.

The idea of an in-line gain booster placed between a moving-coil or ribbon mic and a mic preamp isn't new — so what makes this one special?

'Good enough' is rarely good enough for SPL, as this thoroughly over-engineered preamp testifies!

Overstayer's versatile stereo processor offers endless ways to manipulate — or obliterate — any input signal!

Find out how just how well this vintage recreation compares with the original that inspired it.

Though a great recording front‑end, this versatile and characterful processor could just as easily find a home on your stereo mix bus...

I've recently bought a Klark Teknik KT-2A compressor to use with my Warm Audio TB12 preamp and noticed the TB12 has insert input and output sockets. What is the best practice when using outboard compressors with preamps when tracking?

Golden Age's new Premier brand takes their popular Pre‑73 preamps to the next level.

We put sE's claims of truly transparent gain to the test...

Find out what this vintage-inspired preamp has to offer the modern recordist.

This D-A converter boasts a range of useful features — as well as impressive performance.

This debut product from a new British company is not just another mic preamp...

Skulpter 500 is ostensibly a mic preamp, but there’s much more to it than that — in fact, you could argue that there’s enough on offer to call it a channel strip.

Crammed with discrete electronics and boasting huge headroom, this box has rather more to offer than the average DI...