The Golden Age Project PRE-573 MKIII is a single-channel 500 Series microphone, line, and instrument preamplifier packed with vintage-style electronics and tone-enhancing functions, a great addition to any 500 Series rack for recording studios, live rigs, and mobile setups
With 48V phantom power, up to 80 dB of gain, and selectable input impedance, the PRE-573 MKIII offers the versatility required to properly handle any mic from a classic ribbon to a broadcast-style dynamic or your favorite condenser. Additionally, it can accept line-level signals and a variety of electric instruments. The front-panel 1/4" input includes a dedicated toggle switch to set the impedance, and either route through or bypass the transformer.
The onboard high-pass filter lets you attenuate bothersome bass frequencies at 45 or 180 Hz, while the AIR circuit can be switched on to add a high-frequency boost for extra sheen. Impart even more character by overloading the input gain and lowering the output level control to avoid clipping.
- Vintage-style electronics with tantalum capacitors—no integrated circuits in the signal path
- Fully floating, transformer-balanced output can drive a 600-ohm load up to levels of about +28 dBu
- Up to 80 dB of gain in mic mode, enough to handle passive ribbon mics with quiet sound sources
- Switchable impedance on the mic input will change the tone of many mics
- Mic/line switch accommodates line-level signals by lowering the gain by about 30 dB and increasing the input impedance to about 10 kilohms
- Flexible front-panel 1/4" instrument input with a switch for high-impedance active mode or mid-impedance passive mode
- Selectable 6 dB/octave high-pass filter at 45 or 180 Hz
- Selectable AIR equalizer adds a boost of about 6 dB centered at 30 kHz
- Output level control for fine gain adjustments
- Insert jack—activated by removing a jumper at the back of the module—for inserting Golden Age Project and Premier 500 Series EQ and effect units
- Soft-start circuit ramps up the supply voltage slowly to avoid a power-on current surge
- Phase switch and switchable phantom power with an LED indicator
- Signal/overload indicator starts glowing red at about +4 dBu and increases its intensity up to the maximum output level
- The 6.8-kilohm phantom power resistors are matched to within 0.1% to maintain good common-mode rejection in the circuit
- Selectable 600-ohm output termination at the back of the module
- Circuit board star grounding scheme
- Requires 500 Series rack (available separately)