RECORDING A Designs Audio MP-2 Tube Microphone Preamp - From Recording.Org Reviews A Designs Audio MP-2 Tube Microphone Preamp By e-cue Apr 10, 2003, 01:54 A Designs Audio MP-2 Tube Mic Pre by e-cue <table ALIGN=RIGHT BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=2 CELLPADDING=0 WIDTH="278"

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A Designs Audio MP-2 Tube Microphone Preamp
By e-cue
Apr 10, 2003, 01:54

A Designs Audio MP-2 Tube Mic Pre by e-cue

A Designs MP-2 stereo tube mic pre

I suggested a review of this item because I believe it's one of the better kept new secrets on the market. However, after trying the product out, I became an endorser of it so I was afraid some might see it as a conflict of interests. Keep in mind that I still paid for my unit as an endorser. But the editor here suggested I review it anyway so let's get right to it.

The A Designs MP-2 pre (not to be confused with other companies with mic pre's called MP2's) is a 2 channel tube mic pre. It's a 2 space, tube, zero feedback designed unit, and as I understand it, is wide open all the time, with a knob that basically acts as an attenuator. It has rather vintage looking backlight VU meters (yeah, remember those things?) and basically is a no brainier to use. The current units feature a direct input on the back of the unit to facilitate guitar and electronic instrument input. My only complaint with the unit is that these inputs are on the rear of the MP-2. When I asked A Designs about this, the company replied that it was an option added after the fact and that plans might be made in the future to place the 1/4 inputs on the front panel.

As of this writing, I've had my unit for a couple months so I'll spare the 1st impression b.s. other than to say I didn't have to a read a manual to rock this mic pre! The most noticeable thing about the A Designs MP-2 is it's bass response, which is superb. Sometimes I think a vocalist may need more ìfatî around 300 Hz. When I boost eq after the MP-2, I don't feel like I'm hearing a weakness in fidelity which I sometimes experience elsewhere. But with the MP-2, most of the time, I don't even need to do that.

The A Designs MP-2 presents a great example of how tubes introduce even order harmonics. While everyone seems to be "tube this" and "tube that" these days, often in design they neglect other vital components, specifically the input transformer. This unit uses a Jensen input transformer and a custom wound output transformer that I personally believe contributes to the unit being so quiet, in spite of it being a tube mic pre amp. I could be wrong, but the transformers in mic pre ampís are often, well, overlooked. Whatever the reason, the A Design's MP-2 Tube Mic Pre is clean and sounds great! I love overdriving tube pre's, but often most of them sound noisy, especially when you crank the input. This isn't the case with the MP-2. It has been a pleasure to use with a DAW, yielding the benefits of the tube processing without the added noise, that would otherwise blend in with the noise associated with analog tape Ö but in turn would be very apparent in digital recording. Since the unit runs open all the time and the input knob is basically an attenuator, any noise you do hear will be constant.

The unit features a 600 / 10K ohm output impedance switching. Other variable impedance units currently being marketed don't even have that. Not bad for a unit priced at less than half the cost of other 1 channel units, huh? The 10k setting gives me about 2 extra db of gain and I seem to prefer it most of the time. But I always tinker with it anyway, just to see. My observation shows the MP-2 strongest applications are vocals, bass DI, kick drum, any application with the Royer 122 active ribbons, steel stringed acoustic guitars, that you don't want to sound like an aural exciter, synth DI, and toms. The input control is quite sensitive, so I don't find myself making drastic cranks on the unit.

So in short, you'd be a missing out on a great value if you pass up the MP-2 which beats out pre's that are over double the cost.

SPECIFICATIONS
Technical Data

Input Impedance 1.4k Ohm
Gain Range 46 dB
Noise (EIN) -120 dB
Mic Phantom Switchable 48 Volt Power Source
Mic Input Phase Switchable 0-180
Instrument Jack Input 1/4 phono combo XLR
Input Impedance Min > 100k Ohm
Balanced XLR Output:
Output Impedance 600 Ohm Switchable to 10k
Maximum Level +22 dBu
Output Low-Z, transformer-balanced
Frequency Response 20 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"
Weight 18 lbs. 8.16kg (Shipping weight 20 lbs.)
MP-2 Features

Vacuum-tube design

Two (2) Level Volume Controls
Two (2) Polarity Switches
Two (2) Output Switches - 600 to 10k ohm
Two (2) Phantom Switch
Two (2) Backlit True VU Meters
Red Jewel Lamp On/Off
Two (2) Neutrik Combo XLR 1/4" Input Connectors
Two (2) XLR Output Connectors
Zero Feedback Loop
Two (2) U-Rack Space
Two (2) Jensen Input Transformers
Two (2) Custom Wound Output Transformers
Two (2) 6NI-P Tubes
Two (2) EF86 Tubes
Clean and airy high end
Warmth, transparency, and quality sound

SPECIFICATIONS
Technical Data

Vacuum-tube design

Two (2) Level Volume Controls
Two (2) Polarity Switches
Two (2) Output Switches - 600 to 10k ohm
Two (2) Phantom Switch
Two (2) Backlit True VU Meters
Red Jewel Lamp On/Off
Two (2) Neutrik Combo XLR 1/4" Input Connectors
Two (2) XLR Output Connectors
Zero Feedback Loop
Two (2) U-Rack Space
Two (2) Jensen Input Transformers
Two (2) Custom Wound Output Transformers
Two (2) 6NI-P Tubes
Two (2) EF86 Tubes
Clean and airy high end
Warmth, transparency, and quality sound

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In line with our company policy of continuous development, the above features are subject to change without notice.
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List Price of the A Designs Audio MP-2 is: $1499
A Designs can be contacted at: 818-716-4153,
www.adesignsaudio.com
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e-cue is an independent engineer working in the Los Angeles area. He prefers to remain anonymous but his credits include working with Missy Elliot, Wu Tang Clan, Christina Agulara, Coolio, Sinead O Connor and Justin Timberlake. More recently, he has mixed the Madonna "American Life" remix, and is currently working on the next Tweet record for Elektra records. ............... Kurt Foster / RO Review Editor