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Golden Age PRE-73
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Pre-Order: Temporary Backorder ?
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Golden Age Project
Pre-73 Description
Taking pre-orders to begin shipping again Sept 10 estimated.
Want
to hear the PRE73?
Listen To The ZenPro
"1073 vs The Clones" Shooutout
Option: RACK KIT allows 2 PRE-73 units to
mount side by side in a single space.
Get closer to the
real thing with these quality upgrades. Choose from stock or 2 levels
of modification!
"TT" Mod: Tantalum
/ Transistor upgrade, all capacitors replaced with original Neve value
tantalum style, output transistor is replaced with new old stock
Motorola 2N 3055 and re-biased.
Full ZenPro Mod:
Complete upgrade includes both TT mod and adds Carnhill mic input and
line output transformers, closest to original values and sound.
Our FULL mod is just that,
a full modification with both the mic input and line output (Carnhill,
formerly St. Ives) transformers (two total), Neve value tantalum
capacitors and the Motorola 2N 3055 output transistor used in the
1073...it all adds up, we've tested and confirmed!
The PRE-73 is the
first one-channel low-cost preamp on the market that is using
a fully discrete signal path with three separate transformers for the
balanced
mic input, the line input and the output. The circuit is very
similar to the classical preamp section of the Neve 1073
pre/eq module with a corresponding sound character that is warm,
punchy, sweet
and musical.
This classical sound has 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 PRE-73 has a maximum gain of 80 dB on the mic input
and the gain range on
the Line input is -20 to + 10 dB. There is also a high-impedance
instrument
input. The PRE-73 is perfect for almost any signal source, no matter if
it’s a
microphone with a high or low sensitivity (like a passive ribbon mic),
a
syntheziser or sound module or an electric guitar or bass. The input
impedance of the microphone input can be switched between 300 and
1200 ohms, which makes it possible to affect the tone of most
microphones.
There is also phase switch and an simple 4-step LED signal level meter.
The output level control makes it possible to make fine gain
adjustments and
also to overload the main gain stage for more character and then lower
the
signal to a suitable level before the output stage.
Option: RACK
KIT allows 2 PRE-73 units to mount side by side in a single space.
Download
the PRE-73 manual.
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Golden Age Project PRE73 Review / See All ZenPro Audio
Reviews Here: Review Page
Coming in at an excellent
price
point for those who might only want a single channel (you can also
neatly rack
a stereo pair side by side with the Golden Age rack) Golden Age Project
has
done a good job at delivering high gain and character in a very decent
1073
clone. The bright red box looks good too, along with the black / silver
knobs
in the rack.
The PRE73 features
transformers on
the mic and line inputs (yes, it accepts line level separately) and an
output
transformer. There is a direct instrument input on the face. It is a
discrete
design, no IC’s in the signal path. The power supply is the “wall wart”
type
(yeah, I know). Mic input impedence ratings are selectable between
300ohm and
1200ohm (ala original Neve) and phantom power and phase reverse is
available on
the front panel as well.
In comparing the PRE73 to
an all
original Neve 1073 there are certainly some differences. However,
comparing
this price range with a street price easily 10x higher for a re-issue
(or up to
20x higher for an original) we’ve got to be somewhat forgiving here.
The fact
is that the PRE73 right out of the box is easily within that 1073 family
of sound and character. It has its share of that rock n roll attitude
and a bit
of drive when pushed. The PRE73 is somewhat brighter by comparison, but
not
worlds apart. The low end of the original 1073 is certainly deeper and
more
harmonically rich by comparison in the low and low mids. If you did not
have an
original 1073 to compare it to though, well it’s not like you’d
consider it
lacking either.
Our ZenPro mods offer two
levels of
enhancement: the “TT” mod which upgrades all capacitors in the signal
path to
tantalum style using original Neve values, and our “Full ZenPro” mod
which is
the TT mod + replacing the mic input and line output transformers with
Carnhill
brand (formerly St Ives). The TT mod brings a cool but slight edge to
the
sound, and more harmonic content is heard as well as clarity. The full
mod
brings this but also a richness to the midrange and a depth and
character to
the lows and low mids that is so close to the original 1073 it’s scary.
Still I
have to say, for the cost of the TT mod it brings a lot to the table
and don’t
consider it being TOO cheated by not having the original transformers.
You can
hear our test page clips linked off the product page as well.
Conclusion: Nobody offers
anything
as cool in a preamp in this price range. The Golden Age guys have been
dealing
with high end gear for years in
Sweden and have
taken an
excellent swing at bringing a Chinese 1073 clone to market that is nice
to have
around in home and pro environments. Hard to say you can go wrong
stock,
partial or fully modified.
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Fake Price: $29.00
Real Price: $25.00
Chameleon Labs Power Adapter for 7602 MKII and 7720
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Rack Mount Two Golden Age PRE-73 Units In A Single Rack Space
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Reviews From Reviewing Reviewers Say:
| (7 Ratings, 7 Reviews) |
Average Rating:
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AMAZING PRODUCT!!!!
Matt Willinger
(Miamisburg, OH)
8/20/2010 9:12 PM
I just bought and received a fully modded Pre 73, Very fast shipping, Which is great. The fully modded pre has a nice smooth sound throughout all frequencies, with a very nice extra low mid, and sound very full and deeper or spacious i quess you would describe it. I couldn't imagine getting this product from anyone else except Warren, and he threw in a great bonus, But you will have to buy from here in order to find out what i is!!
Thank so much Warren, I will for sure buy more from you very soon.
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mojo filter
Jonathan Byrd
(carrboro, NC)
7/9/2010 10:30 AM
The fully modded Golden Age preamps are precisely what I wanted. I've used a real 1073- I don't know how similar they are, but the Golden Age gives me the same *feeling.* The thing that makes you take your hands off the knobs and listen. Getting EQ and levels is effortless. There's a cushy pillow of forgiveness. There is a beautiful, dark silence behind the sounds.
I just started a mix project for a country music duo. A guy in New Mexico recorded them with 57s, Pro Tools, and a rack of Presonus preamps. The recordings are actually clean and quiet, but very two-dimensional. Gray. Kind of cardboard-ish.
I re-recorded their vocals through the Golden Age pres and the guitars through my ART MPA II. Dorothy wakes up and the world is in color. Somehow colored and transparent at the same time. Sounds like a Twin Reverb on 11. Enormous, detailed, sweet and intimate. An aural paradox. It's perfect for their sound, very professional, and definitely vintage. Beautiful job, Warren. Thank you for helping me achieve classic sound for an unbeatable value. I wouldn't have thought it possible.
Jonathan Byrd
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A Serious Consideration Right Here
Alexander G.
(Las Vegas, NV)
5/28/2010 12:52 AM
Recently purchased a fully modified Pre-73 from Warren. (For me it was a step up from Behringer Ultragain Tube 200 preamp for $35) What an amazing sound!!! Tight lows and sweet, crispy highs. Along with my Avantone C-12 mic this preamp makes my vocals sound "commercial". At this price you'd be a fool not to get one! Having something so unique is worth getting, even if it's not a full or a partial mod. I went through a dozen of preamps and they all had flaws. This one is an exception! You might be spending more money on tobacco and/or liquor each month when you could get this instead and enjoy the heck out of it!
Warren, thank you so much! It was worth the wait!
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Owner, Memphis Indie Recording Svc.
Brian Knight
(Memphis, TN)
5/20/2010 4:16 PM
I have one, and I've ordered another with the rack kit. I like the sound of them stock and I like the sound of them modded. I will have mine modded after a thorough evaluation of the stock units (work them to death for a few months).
I've used a few Neve desks in my time and this thing sounds pretty good stock, better modded. It does the glow trick stock pretty well, but, once the tantalums are put in the even order harmonic distortion helps the transformers glow a bit more and more musically pleasantly.
Do you NEED the Carnhill/St.Ives transformers put in?
I'd say it is a preference and one that I definitely have.
For the money, in any case, any version, you can not do better than this if you are shopping for a Nevish sound on budget prices or more than budget prices. Get one or two and let them warm up, then let them warm up your recordings. A FULL Four Stars for the money!
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Awesome!
John Niffenegger
(Raleigh, NC)
1/25/2010 11:21 AM
First off, thanks to War for the excellent service and delivery (it showed up at my door w/in 24 hours). After recording with the PRE-73 (w/ TT mod), I'm amazed at its musical sound and versatility - especially for its price. I'd read plenty of rave reviews for the PRE-73, and now I can say it's just ridiculous how good it sounds. I've had the chance to record w/ pres costing considerably more, and this one definitely holds its own. Anyone looking for a pre to pair w/ an SM7B - this is for you. Anyone looking to add a different flavor to their pre collection, at its price, this is a no brainer. The coffee is quite tasty, too.
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