True tube stereo preamp with unique tone switches offers boutique performance at an affordable price.
There
aren't many companies that can design and build one preamp that engineers and producers feel that they could make an entire
record with. A Designs Audio has built two. The all-tube MP-2A and the solid-state Pacifica but we're here to talk about the
MP-2A (you can check out the Pacifica later). With A Designs Audio's MP-2A not only do you get a never-ending sweetspot and
sonic majesty it also gets top marks in "works and plays well with others." Meaning while some preamps are picky when it comes
to mics the MP-2A welcomes all — and sounds great no matter what you put through it — ribbon dynamic or condenser.
Better still while the MP-2A falls squarely into the realm of "color" preamp it never overwhelms a track with too much character.
If you've been searching for an all-tube preamp with a rich bottom end sweet and airy top end and enough tonal versatility
to record all of your tracks without over-colorization at mixdown think A designs Audio MP-2A.
A Designs Audio
MP-2A First Take:
- True tube in tube out stereo mic preamp
- World-class custom-wound transformers
- Two "tone" switches give you four unique tone signatures.
- Audiophile quality and components and a price
below comparable boutique preamps
True tube mic preamp
The MP-2A is a classic 1-channel
tube mic pre based on the celebrated MP-1. It offers the same true tube in / tube out design plus the same quality that made
the original MP-1 and MP-2 the buzz of the professional audio industry. New features include a -20 db pad switch two selectable
tone switches for four possible tones plus 60db of gain (perfect for next generation ribbon mics) Classic features include
a world-class Cinemag input transformer coupled with a custom wound output transformer delivering the low noise and top quality
sound that you demand from a high-end high-priced mic-pre. Additional features include a balanced combo XLR/1/4 inch input
a true VU meter phantom power and phase reverse switches and a front panel line level input jack.
Custom transformers
the key to punchy sound and quiet operation
A lot of preamp builders believe that transformers are things
to be avoided but in reality they're responsible for the sound we prefer in rock/pop music. The trick is finding good ones.
Bad transformers can ring or decimate the upper frequency range but when a transformer is properly designed and built such
as those by Cinemag (whose lineage includes making transformers for the top consoles in recording history) they are a thing
of beauty delivering a full punchy sound like no other. Plus thanks to the superior electronic isolation of transformers noise
and hum is reduced. That's why you can overdrive an MP-2A and get rich milky distortion without the extra noise. The transformers
you find in A Designs Audio's preasmps are hand- and "ear-" built by Tom Reichenbach of Cinemag. Tom is the son of the designer
of the legendary Quad Eight consoles whose sound rivaled Neve and API consoles at one-tenth the price.
Tonal
Versatility
With a lot of preamps you'll find that they tend to have only one setting where you hear the magic.
Move past it and the magic is gone. The problem is that you can't always run it at that setting based on the strength (or
lack of) of your input source. Then you have the A Designs Audio MP-2A all-tube stereo preamp. Thanks to its fixed-gain amplifier
design (with input attenuator) you get consistent behavior whether the preamp is turned up or down. Add to this the fact that
you have 2 "tone" switches per channel that give you a palette of four unique world-class sonic flavors and you'll understand
why we say you could make an entire record with just this one preamp.
Audiophile quality and sound made
affordable.
Built to audiophile-quality standards with a price tag well below other boutique preamps in the
same class the MP-2A is a true tube preamp with no solid state components in the signal path. The MP-2A relies solely on tubes
film capacitors and custom transformers. To maintain the integrity and purity of its sonic signature bells and whistles are
kept to a minimum. This serves two purposes. First the more switches in the circuit path the more sound quality can be negatively
affected. Second by keeping only necessary features costs are kept down—and your money goes where it really counts—sound
quality.
With the A Designs MP-2A has obviously succeeded in their mission "Pro audio made affordable." Here's what
users are saying about the MP-2A:
"Stunning sound quality with serious bass response and a warm airy top."
"Adding
the MP-2 to my Direct-to-Disk DAW was like finding the holy grail of warm analog sound. I use it on everything from bass to
guitars to vocals to drum mics and more. Absolutely incredible."
"Few pieces of gear get serious audio hounds salivating
like a nice juicy tube microphone preamp... The A Designs MP-2A is among the cream of the crop"
To sum it all up The MP-2
is a professional class preamp for use on a variety of sources that delivers warmth transparency and a quality sound with
a clean and airy high end like only a high quality all-tube pre-amp can.
A-Designs
MP-2A Stereo Tube Microphone Preamplifier Specifications:
- Input
Impedance: 1.4k Ohm
- Gain Range: 60 dB
- Noise (EIN): -128 dB
- Mic Phantom
Power: 48 Volt Switchable
- Mic Input Phase: 0-180 Switchable
- Instrument Jack Input: dual
XLR rear plus dual 1/4" front
- Input Impedance: Min > 100k Ohm
- Balanced Output: dual
XLR
- Output Impedance: 600 Ohm switchable to 10k
- Maximum Level: +22 dBu
- Output:
Low-Z transformer-balanced
- Frequency Response: 28 Hz - 60k Hz
- Distortion (THD): > .08
@ 1 Khz
- Power Requirements: 100/120/230 VAC - 42 Watts
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 19" x
3.5" x 10" (482 x 89 x 254 mm)
- Weight: 18 lbs. (6.8 kg)
- Shipping Weight: 20 lbs (7.7
kg)
A-Designs MP-2A Stereo Tube Microphone Preamplifier Features:
- All True Tube Design
- Dual EF86 Input Tubes
- Dual 6N1P Output
Tubes
- Dual Cinemag Input Transformers
- Dual Custom Wound Output Transformers
- Dual
VU Meters
- Dual Level Controls
- Dual -20dB Pad Switch
- Dual Polarity
Switch
- Dual Phase Switches
- Two pairs of Selectable Tone Switches
- Custom
Milled Face Plate
- Solid Vented Metal Frame
- 2U Rack size
- Toroid Power
Transformer
- Dual XLR Input Connectors
- Dual XLR Output Connectors
- Dual
1/4 Inch Direct Injects
- High Gain (60 dB)
The
MP-2A brings the warmth and richness of analog to your recordings while maintaining a crystal clear spectrum of sound. Order
yours now and feel the love.
Customers who shopped for the A-Designs MP-2A Stereo Tube Microphone Preamplifier ultimately
bought:
