Tube Preamps

[Ed J]

I have an ART TubeMP thingy (the cheap one).
I have broken it (too much time clipping, now it distorts horrifically).

Does anyone have any tube preamp recommendations? I'm looking for something that sounds good, doesn't mind being a little in the red (for saturation and warmth purposes) and is around £300 to 600.

Currently looking at a TL audio one, but it has a compressor and EQ built in, which I don't really need or want, and I'm not sure it's worth it.

[JoshR]

I just got UAD's Twinfinity, which is popular and gives you the option between solid state and tube. Haven't used it enough to have an opinion yet. How many inputs/outputs do you need?

[Ed J]

Yeah, had a look at that one: seems to be pretty popular on thomann !

I'm looking for the fewest pres I can get for that price, I only really need one: I figure that the more you have in the unit, the cheaper each one has to be, so I want to get the best single one possible !

I've got a saffire pro40 so my non-tube needs are very nicely taken care of there (focusrite pres are very crisp), this is just for warmth and saturation, dpending on whether I'm recording vox or just running out a plugin to give it some life

[JoshR]

Aha. The Solo/610, then, maybe? 1 xlr and 1 DI.
(No, I don't work for UA:)

[Ed J]

TL Audio 5051 was what the guy at Dawson's advised me was a good choice for that price range, but I'm not too sure.

Any comments on there?

[mbenigni]

Are you sure the Art Tube MP you already have doesn't just need a new tube? I think there's a 12AX7 in there, which would set you back about $10. Standard maintenance costs for a tube preamp no matter what you decide on.

[Ed J]

Are you sure the Art Tube MP you already have doesn't just need a new tube? I think there's a 12AX7 in there, which would set you back about $10. Standard maintenance costs for a tube preamp no matter what you decide on.

It's a £35 preamp, I figured breaking it was probably a good time to go for something with a bit more class

[mbenigni]

OK I can relate to that. I've got guitars I'd like to replace just because they're out of tune.

[towers of silence]

Groove Tubes "The Brick".
Basic but sounds great as a mic preamp or tube DI box. Not a starved plate design like a lot of lower price t00b pre's

[allanaceflyer]

5051 here.
Hi you can bypass eq and comp or better still let it run flat if not needed .Sounds really great use it vocals ride the gain output, guitars to make amp vsts better. much better
it more warms than saturates
but its how it warms
go and try it out before you buy
i think it well fab

[Ed J]

yeah, the brick came up when I did a search aboutt on google, it's meant to be ok but not amazing for colouring purposes.

Allanaceflyer - first hand experience would be great but I doubt there's anywhere in manc that has one, neither of the shops I usually go to stock tghat kind of thing!

[Ed J]

c'mon guys: more of you must have opinions on pres!

how about an SPL goldmike 9844? seems like a decent bit of kit, and leaves some extra bidget room