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River Electronics MP-500NV Description
The MP-500NV is a professional quality microphone preamplifier designed to re-create the vintage sound characteristics of the early 1970s large consoles. Modern components give the MP-500NV more clarity, punch and performance under normal use. In addition, features like metering before and after the major gain stages let the user drive it 'hard' to greatly expand the range of sonic options. All microphones will benefit from the power of the MP-500NV preamplifier, including dynamic, condenser and especially ribbon types. The MP-500NV uses the same audio and metering circuit board found in the NV series preamplifiers. This unit is designed to fit into a '500' series rack using 2 available slots. It receives its power supply from the host rack. The unit is equipped with a HI-Z instrument jack that has its own input amplifier and was designed for 'DI' applications. All specifications and performance details are identical to the NV series preamplifiers with the exception of size, weight, patch jack, -10dBv Out.
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River Electronics MP-500NV Features
- I/O connections: XLR balanced; high-Z input on front panel (disconnects mic input)
- Adjustable gain stages: input in 5db steps to 60db; output from -25 to +10db; maximum overall gain 70db; 2 to 3 stages of single ended solid state amplifier gain blocks, depending on gain structure; high-current 70ma Class A bias on output stage
- Input and output meters on each channel (dual-stage metering is a
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River exclusive)
- Front panel switches: polarity; phantom power; input impedance (1200 / 300 ohm); output loading (600 ohm resistor across output transformer)
- High quality, custom wound Sowter transformers
- Gold plated switching contacts
- 3 year warranty with registration
- Mounts in 2 spaces in a '500' rack
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River Electronics MP-500NV Benefits
- 'Big Iron Vintage Sound' from custom-wound transformers
- High-Z input is ideal for bass, guitar, and sound modules (FET-buffered and routed into the input transformer, a
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River exclusive)
- Gain stage monitoring via dual meters (also a
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River exclusive)
- Ultra quiet noise floor for outstanding performance at any gain setting
- Powered by '500' Rack's internal power supply
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River Electronics MP2NV Review /
See All ZenPro Audio Reviews Here: Review Page
Loosely based on the Neve 1073
design, Dan Kennedy struck out to create a preamp with the sound of iron but
with more clarity and depth. The NV series was born, and well people have been
re-sizing their audio with it ever since (it has a BIG sound). With a max gain
of +70dB and switchable input impedence of 300 or 1200 ohms, the NV series can
handle hot output condenser mics or low output dynamics and ribbons with ease.
That last +10dB of gain is from the variable output fader pot, which when
turned DOWN allows you to crank the input UP for more character and gain
staging possibilities, depending on what your track calls for.
A good friend of mine who owns the
NV series preamps said to me once while pointing at the gain knob: “that ought
to say TONE, because you keep turning it and it keeps adding flavor”. I agree
with that statement. The NV series preamps have this way of going from clean
(OK just to be clear, this isn’t a transparent type of pre by any stretch but
it does get fairly clean) to a heavily driven sound that is downright ‘gravel-y’
when the input is cranked. There is a lot of harmonic content that makes it
through this unit, and that heavy iron sound is at work as well. The bottom end
is typical of Sowter transformers, somewhat exaggerated and deep (I am not
kidding, during a bass DI shootout once, when we switched over to the NV series
it reached so low and pumped up the bottom so much, a tiny bit of the drop
ceiling fell off on the desk). The midrange character can be driven hard, it’s
a bit more forward of a midrange sound than some preamps, but not in any odd
way at all. There is good and natural presence with the pre, but it’s not real
airy up top either. You can also drop the output impedence to change the
relationship between the
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River NV preamp and your
next piece in the chain (the LOAD switch).
Conclusion: The
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River NV series has more
tonal variations than most preamps on the market. Turn the output up and hit
the input lighter for a more natural response, do the opposite and see how fierce
it can become. The low end will reach down and shake your teeth, just a
downright fun pre to use but insanely useful all around.
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