Preamps / Channel Strips

With an emphasis on clarity and speed, and a not insignificant price tag, this preamp/compressor combo promises a lot. Does it deliver?

The Blackbird from Effectrode is a two-channel, valve-driven guitar preamp. Essentially the front end of a valve amp stuffed...

Audio files to accompany the article.

For decades, Trident’s Series 80 consoles have graced world-class recording facilities. The new Series 80B dual channel strip makes this classic sound available with a much smaller footprint — and cost.

Frequency plot, internals and tech specs to accompany the main product test.

German manufacturers Microtech Gefell share origins with Neumann and make some of the best mics currently available. Does that pedigree come through in their first preamp?

Tubey or not tubey? That is the question you can answer with the help of these affordable preamps!

Warm Audio are a relatively new Texas-based company who have set out to produce a world-class preamp for rather less than a world-class price.

JoeMeek gear has always been about adding a nice vintage vibe to your recordings without having to pay through the nose. Does the new Q2 deliver the goods?

When we compared eight mic preamps with very different designs and price tags, we found it hard to tell them apart. Could SOS readers do better?

Chandler's Little Devil preamp takes the warmth and mangling side of things to another level.

The preamp from Neve’s “ultimate analogue console” is now available ‘to go’...

There’s a lot of hype about mic preamps, but there has never been a reliable way to compare them — until we got hold of the world’s cleverest piano...

Audio examples to accompany the article.

The man behind well-known French mixing console manufacturers Freevox has created a preamp — and it sounds très bon!

The following test plots were taken with an audio Precision Analyser during the course of Hugh's review.

Matt Houghton takes a look at this preamp that's much more than just a preamp.

Whether you prefer to record your sounds cleanly or with coloration, the Cartec Pre-Q5 can deliver the goods.

Audio files to accompany the article

Making professional‑quality preamps available at project-studio prices has been Focusrite’s forté for many years, and this design doesn’t disappoint.

Dan Lavry has gained a reputation for creating some of the best A-D converters on the planet — and this time you get mic preamps as well!