Golden Age Premier PREQ-73 PREMIER

  • 5 595:-

A 1073 style preamp with 3-band inductor based equalizer with  high quality components and build quality.

GA video

Sound on Sound review

The PREQ-73 PREMIER is a  one-channel vintage style microphone-, line- and instrument preamplifier  with a three-band band equalizer with inductor based midrange offering a  smooth and effective sound shaping. The signal path uses only discrete  components like resistors, capacitors and transistors. The microphone  and line input and the line output are transformer balanced, using three  different transformers, each one optimized for its purpose. This is the  way audio components were built before integrated circuits became  available. 

The circuit used in the PREQ-73 PREMIER is similar to the preamp and the  equalizer section in the classical 1073 module with a corresponding  sound character that is warm, punchy, sweet and musical. These classic  characteristics have 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 essence of this sound is now available  at a surprisingly low cost, making it available to nearly everyone.

FEATURES

-  Vintage Style electronics. No integrated circuits in the signal path.

-  Maximum gain in mic mode is 80 dB, enough to handle passive ribbon mics with quiet sound sources.

-  Classic 23-position Gain/Line switch with 5 dB steps and a gain range of 20 to 80 dB for mic and -10 to +20 dB for line. 

-  A two band LF (+/-15 dB) and HF (+/-20 dB) shelving equalizer with two selectable frequencies for each band.

-  Inductor based  +/- 15 dB midrange equalizer  section with three selectable frequencies. The lowest one is selectable  between 350 and 700 Hz.

-  Switchable impedance in mic mode, 1200 or 300  Ohm, will change the tone of most mics. The input impedance in line mode  is 10 kOhm.

-  Switchable phantom power and absolute phase.

-  A high-impedance instrument input for any sound module, electric guitar or bass.

-  A simple but effective 4-step LED output level meter.

-  The output level control makes it possible to  make fine gain adjustments and also to overload the main gain stage(s)  for more character.

-  Separate combo XLR/TRS jack for the MIC and LINE input and separate output XLR and TRS jacks for flexible connections.

-  Selectable 600 Ohm output termination.

-  Classic style knobs and buttons.

-  Prepared for mounting one ot two units in the  UNITE PREMIER rack kit. It can also be mounted in one of the other UNITE  rack kits and combined with --the red and black Golden Age Project  products.


-   Connector free internal wiring, all connections except the ones to the  gain switch  --are soldered for the purest signal and most longterm  stable signal path.

-  UK made Carnhill microphone input and line output transformers. 

-  The pcb is prepared for the Carnhill 9046M line input transformer. 

-  Polystyrene capacitors in the amplifier circuits. 

-  Tantalum capacitors in the signal path.

-  Beefed up power supply.

-  Sturdy toggle switches with gold plated contacts.

-  External power supply to avoid interaction with the audio circuits and transformers.

-  A solid build quality that will last many years of normal use.

PREQ-73 PREMIER manual



MEASUREMENTS
Flat with and without termination engaged
No EQ  + EQ in flat + 2 x LF boost
No EQ + EQ-in flat + 4 x MF boost
No EQ + 2 x HF boost