BEHRINGER MIC100 TUBE ULTRAGAIN VACUUM TUBE PREAMPLIFIER w-LIMIT

Having had great success with the PRE-73 preamp, we have received many requests for a version for the 500 eries rack format. We are therefore happy to present the PRE-573, expected to start shipping in late September.
 
The PRE-573 is a one width module that has the sound and the features that made the PRE-73 so successful and a few additional ones.
The circuit still uses the preamp and output section from the classic 1073-module, adapted to work in the api rack format. It has a total  gain range from -15 to +80 dB. The 10 - 70 dB range is handled by a turn switch  and there is a separate toggle switch to select an additional 5 or 10 dB gain. The input can be configured to accept line level signals by another switch, the gain is then lowered by about 25 dB and the input impedance increased to about 15 kohm.
 
The input impedance of the mic input mode can be switched between 1200 and 300 ohm. Phantom power and phase reverse is also selectable by front panel switches.
 
An added feature, using the same circuit as in the PRE-73 DLX, is the active DI-input with a high input impedance of about 1,5 Mohm. The output signal from the active DI circuit passes through the input transformer for some extra character.
The DI-input is very flexible since it can be changed to a purely passive one by a front panel switch. The DI input is then exactly the same as in the PRE-73 Mk2 where the signal is feed directly into the second gain stage, bypassing the transformer and with an input impedance of about 100 kohm.

These two DI-options makes it possible to get different tones from electric instruments and the passive DI input mode is more suited for injecting active units like sound modules. 
 
A new feature is the switchable AIR mode that  adds a small boost above 10 kHz that peaks at 2 dB at about 35 kHz.

A simple but effective signal and overload indicator is offered by a single LED that starts glowing red at about +4 dBu and then increases its intensity up to the maximum output level.
 
The PRE-573 has a dedicated insert connector at the back allowing it to interface with other GAP 500 modules. The insert can be activated by removing a jumper connector at the back of the module.
The second Golden Age Project module for the api 500 rack will be the EQ-573, expected to ship in November 2012. The EQ-573 consists of the inductor based high pass filter section  and the 3-band eq section from the classic 1073 module with some added frequencies. These two modules together will offer a fully fledged 1073-module in a compact format at a very low cost.
 
There is a second jumper at the back of the module that selects 600 ohm termination on the output. The standard mode is termination on, since it gives the flattest response when the PRE-573 is used with modern line inputs that typically has an input impedance of 10 kohm or more. The user can chose to remove the jumper and deactivate the termination resistor, this will increase the level above 10 kHz and create a peak in the response for an even more pronounced  "Air" effect.
The output is transformer balanced and fully floating and can drive a 600 ohm load up to level of about 28 dBu.

• • Ultra-high quality 8-channel A/D and D/A interface for virtually any digital recording/mixing environment
  • 8 state-of-the-art MIDAS designed Mic Preamplifiers
  • Phantom power on all microphone inputs
  • Reference-class Cirrus Logic 24-bit converters for ultimate signal integrity
  • Processes 48 and 44.1 kHz sample rates
  • External sample rate synchronization via word clock or ADAT input

• Optical ADAT in/out interface for ultimate compatibility
• All mic/line inputs routed to the ADAT output
• ADAT input routed to all Line outputs
• “Planet Earth" switching power supply for maximum flexibility (100 - 240 V~), noise-free audio, superior transient response plus low power consumption for energy saving
• High-quality components and exceptionally rugged construction ensure long life
• Conceived and designed by BEHRINGER Germany

Mic Inputs
• Frequency response at minimum gain (0dB): -0.35dB at 20Hz and –3dB at 122kHz
• Frequency response at maximum gain (60dB): –2.5dB at 20Hz and –3dB 103kHz
• Gain range: 0dB to +60dB in 10dB steps, plus 0dB to +20dB continuously variable trim
• Maximum headroom: +7.4dBu
• THD+N: 0.0009% (measured at 1kHz -20dBu input signal, at 30dB gain setting, with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise EIN: -126dB (measured at 60dB of gain with 150Ω termination and 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise at main output with unity gain: -98dBu (measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• SNR: 123dB (relative to max output 25dBu)
• SNR: 120dB (relative to 0dBFS (+22dBu)
• CMRR: 88dB.
• Input Impedance, variable: 600Ω, 1400Ω, 2400Ω, 6800Ω

Line Inputs
• Frequency Response at unity gain (0dB): -0.3dB at 20Hz and –3dB at 94kHz
• Gain range: -20dB to +10dB in 10dB steps, plus 0dB to +20dB continuously variable trim
• Maximum headroom: +25.4dBu
• THD+N: 0.002% (measured with +4dBu input signal, 0dB gain setting, with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise at main output with unity gain: -91dBu (measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• SNR: 116dB (relative to max output 25dBu)
• SNR: 113dB (relative to 0dBFS +22dBu). Input Impedance: 10kΩ

Instrument Inputs
• Frequency Response at +10dB gain: -0.2dB at 20Hz and 0dB at 200kHz
• Frequency Response at +40dB gain: -3dB at 20Hz and –3dB at 38.4kHz
• Gain range: +10dB to +40dB continuously variable
• Maximum headroom: +11.5dBu
• THD+N: 0.006% (measured with –20dBu input signal, at minimum gain (+10dB), with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Noise at main output with minimum gain (+10dB): -95dBu (measured with a 20Hz/22kHz bandpass filter)
• Input Impedance = >1MΩ

High Pass Filter
• Roll off = 18dB per octave 3 pole filter
• Frequency range: 16Hz to 420Hz (continuously variable, measured at the 3dB down point)

Meters
• 6 LED meter is calibrated 0dBFS = +22dBu (the maximum level which can be correctly converted by the optional internal A/D converter before overload occurs). The meter calibration points are as follows:

Meter panel calibration value in dBFS / Equivalent dBu value
0dBFS / +22dBu
-2dBFS / +20dBu
-6dBFS / +16dBu
-12dBFS / +10dBu
-18dBFS / +4dBu
-42dBFS / -20dBu



Front and rear connectivity

Analogue Channel Inputs (Inputs 1-4)
• 4 instrument 1⁄4” TS jack inputs on front panel
• 4 microphone XLR inputs on rear panel
• 4 line 1⁄4” TRS jacks on rear panel
• 4 insert return 1⁄4” TRS jacks on rear panel
• 4 ADC XLR inputs on rear panel

Analogue Audio Outputs (Outputs 1-4)
• 4 line XLR outputs on rear panel
• 4 insert send 1⁄4” TRS jacks on rear panel

Other I/O
• IEC power input connector 100Vac – 240Vac

Front Panel Indicators
• 8 output meters, 6 segment
• 4 30-60 mic gain range selection indicator
• 4 +48V phantom power indicator
• 4 Phase indicator
• 4 Insert In indicator
• 4 Filter In indicator
• 4 Input selection indicators (Mic, Line, Inst)
• 4 Z In microphone input impedance selection indicators (Low, ISA110, Med, High) Clock select indicators (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192)
• Ext clock indicators (Lock, Word clock, 256X)

Weight
5.5kg
12.2lbs

Dimensions (W x H x D)
480mm (W) x 88mm (H) x 280mm (D)
19" (W) x 3.5" (H) x 11" (D)

The PRE-73 MKIII is a one-channel vintage style microphone-, line- and instrument preamplifier. The signal path uses only discrete components like resistors, capacitors and transistors. The in- and output is transformer balanced, using two different transformers, each one optimized for its purpose. This is the way audio components were built before integrated circuits became available.

The circuit used in the PRE-73 MKIII 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 low cost, making it available to nearly everyone.

Features  :

• Vintage Style electronics. No intergrated circuits in the signal path.

• Maximum gain in MIC mode is 80 dB, enough to handle passive ribbon mics with quiet sound sources.

• GAIN switch range 20 - 80 dB. GAIN/LINE mode switch, gain is reduced by 30 dB in LINE mode.

• Selectable two position high frequency AIR boost eq, 3 or 6 dB @ 30 kHz.

• Selectable 6 dB/octave two frequency high pass filter at around 40 (HP1) and 170 Hz (HP2).

• Tantalum capacitors in the signal path.

• Switchable impedance in MIC mode, 1200 or 300 Ohms, will change the tone of most mics. The input impedance in LINE mode is 10 kohm.

• Switchable phantom power and absolute phase.

• A high-impedance instrument input for any sound module, electric guitar or bass.

• A simple but effective 4-step LED output level meter.

• The output level control makes it possible to make fine gain adjustments and also to overload the main gain stage(s) for more character and then lower the signal to a suitable level before the output stage.

• Combo XLR/TRS input jack and separate output XLR and TRS jacks for flexible connections.

• Insert jack for inserting EQ´s and other units.

• Selectable 600 ohm output termination.

• The pcb is prepared for the Carnhill input transformer.

• External power supply to avoid interaction with the audio circuits and transformers.

• A solid build quality that will last many years of normal use.

The MKIII has the following new features compared to the MKII:

• Tantalum capacitors in the signal path.

• Selectable two position high frequency AIR boost eq, 3 or 6 dB @ 30 kHz.

• Selectable two frequency high pass filter, 6 dB/octave at 40 or 170Hz.

• The pcb is prepared for the Carnhill input transformer.

• Revised and less complicated GAIN switch with a separate switch for MIC/LINE selection.

• All GAIN settings can also be used in LINE mode .