Gearank – Music Gear Information for Live Performance or Studio

Golden Age Pre-73 MKIII Mic Preamp

90
GEARANK
90 out of 100. Incorporating 200+ ratings and reviews.
$249.99
Golden Age Project

Gearank Recommended

The Pre-73 MKIII appeared on our recommended list for Microphone Preamps in our first edition back in February 2017 and due to its high ratings it has remained there since.

Cons

  • Plastic parts could be made with better material

Pros

  • Accurate reproduction of the Neve 1073
  • Top shelf components and circuitry result in sweet harmonics
  • Sturdy metal housing

The Pre-73 MKIII is Golden Age’s reasonably priced nod to the classic Neve 1073, featuring vintage style tone coloration courtesy of its solid-state design with Tantalum capacitors.

This single-channel preamp gives you up to 80dB of gain, which makes it compatible with passive ribbon mics, while the high pass filter and 2-position high-frequency boost allow for sound shaping.

The unit is housed in a red mini-rack form factor that is easy on the eyes and sturdy enough to survive regular use.

The metal housing is sturdy, but the plastic parts leave a little more to be desired. But that doesn’t take away the quality of the circuitry. The sound is rich and sweet just like the preamp it’s based on.

Add an analog vibe to your recordings with the Golden Age Pre-73 MKIII, highly recommended.

Specifications

  • Channels: 1
  • Mic Preamp: 1 Vintage Style Preamp with Tantalum Capacitors
  • Input Connectors: 1 XLR/TRS Combo, 1 x Hi-Z
  • Output Connectors: 1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4″
  • Controls: 80dB Gain, Output, Phantom Power, Phase, Input Impedance, Highpass filter
  • Dimensions: 1.75″ x 9.5″
  • Weight: 6.8 lbs.

Rating Source Highlights

WebsiteSource*Rating Value
YouTuberecordingrevolution95/100
Bonedo (German)Nick Mavridis90/100
*Displayed values are prior to the Gearank Algorithm’s adjustments it makes when evaluating the source.