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Golden Age Project Pre-73 Premier Microphone Preamp

Single-channel Mic/Line Preamp with 80dB of Gain, Phantom Power, 80Hz/200Hz Highpass Filter, DI, Switchable Impedance, 2-position Air EQ Circuit, and 14dB Output Pad
$499.00

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Golden Age Project Pre-73 Premier Microphone Preamp
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The Pre-73 Premier

The classic 1073 wrote the book on characterful mic preamplification, so in designing their Pre-73 Premier mic pre, the Golden Age Project aimed high. Given its accessible price tag, it's amazing how well they succeeded. The single-channel Pre-73 Premier is a versatile mic/line/instrument preamp with 80dB of gain that lets you easily mic subdued sources with passive ribbons. Cranking the main gain stage provides your tracks with tasty vintage-style coloration. Also onboard: phantom power, a broad gain-range DI, an 80Hz/200Hz highpass filter, switchable impedance, polarity reverse, and Golden Age's Air EQ circuit, all in a robust half-rack chassis. If you want an affordable, well-equipped classic-style preamp with punch, the Golden Age Pre-73 Premier delivers.

The Golden Age Project

The Golden Age Project was founded in 2005 on the belief that vintage gear sounds best and on the desire to pass on this sonic legacy to a new generation of musicians, engineers, and producers. All-discrete, Class A signal paths with no integrated circuits; the use of transformers, stepped controls, and military-grade build quality: these are the cornerstones of the legendary British equipment deployed in world-class recording and broadcast studios in the 1970s — the Golden Age of analog. Fat, warm, punchy, and authoritative — this is the sound heard on countless hits for nigh unto half a century. Locating, purchasing, restoring, and maintaining vintage gear is time-consuming and costly. Fortunately, this small, family-owned Swedish company makes gear the same way it was made back in the day — at an amazingly gentle price.

A distributor of high-end studio equipment for many years, Golden Age Project founder, Bo Medin, wanted to be able to offer products with much of the same exclusive sound in a price range that made them available to a larger audience. Inspired by original designs, Golden Age uses modern technology to re-create that lush, opulent sound, making it surprisingly affordable. They use some modern ingenuity to add new functionality to superb classic designs and produce them in a cost-effective way, which allows them to be both optimized and affordable. Sweetwater's advice: from outboard equipment to condenser, dynamic, and ribbon mics, you can outfit your entire studio with vintage-inspired Golden Age gear without exceeding your budget.

Golden Age Project Pre-73 Premier Mic Preamp Features:

  • 1-channel mic/line/instrument preamplifier
  • UK-made Carnhill mic input and line output transformers
  • Tantalum capacitors in the signal path
  • Vintage British styling with Marconi Gain and fluted Output knobs
  • Amplifier circuits with polystyrene capacitors
  • Sturdy toggle switches with gold-plated contacts
  • Connector-free internal wiring, all connections are soldered for the purest signal path
  • Beefy power supply with external adapter to eliminate electromagnetic interference with audio circuits and transformers
  • Prepared for mounting of 1 or 2 units in the Unite Premier rack kit
  • Air EQ circuit, selectable for 3dB or 6dB at 30kHz
  • 80Hz/200Hz highpass filter, polarity reverse, and 14dB Output Pad
  • May also be mounted in the other Unite rack kits and combined with red and black Golden Age products

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Solid State
  • Number of Channels: Single channel
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • Pads: -14dB (output pad)
  • Polarity Switch: Yes
  • EQ: Air EQ, Highpass Filter 80Hz/200Hz
  • Analog Inputs: 1 x XLR-1/4" combo (mic/line), 1 x 1/4" (Hi-Z)
  • Analog Outputs: 1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4"
  • Channel Inserts: 1 x 1/4"
  • Power Source: 24V AC power supply
  • Manufacturer Part Number: PRE-73 PREMIER

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Smooth and Clean With Great Build Quality

I have this paired with an EQ-73 Premier using the insert function and have had excellent results. Being an older engineer I had the pleasure of using the original console back in the day and I must say this unit comes very close to that smooth, crisp sound. Possibly a tiny bit lacking in the clarity of top end but clean enough for my needs. Using the EQ-73 as an insert in the pre makes cleaning up a muddy input very easy and the two together compromise a pretty excellent input channel for just under $ which is tough to do these days.

As to the issues I've read in other comments, I now own 6 GAP units including pairs of the Comp 2A's and 3A's and have had absolutely no issues with any of them. Anyway, for me these are excellent units for the cost and represent a great compromise for those on a budget!
Music background: Old 80's Engineer.....
Rated 5/5

Perfect preamp for me

I was using a used Golden Age Pre 73 MKII for many years until it stopped working. Instead of replacing it with the same thing I decided to upgrade to the premier version. I loved the original on vocals, snare, and room mics but this preamp really takes it to a whole new level. It sounds especially great when paired with the Golden Age Comp 3A compressor. Its seriously the perfect combination for me. When I do vocal covers, what I get out of those two units together fit every production style. Also if you put a ribbon mic through this preamp behind closed doors of a drum room and squash it with the Comp 3A it sounds so awesome. Overall, I really love this preamp.
Rated 5/5

WAY better than stock interface pres

Prior to owning the GAP premier I was sending my mics directly into my Audient id44 preamps. These are very high quality preamps as far as interfaces go, but they sound super thin now that I compare it to the GAP pre. First off they sound much more detailed. It has made my mic way more sensitive and it picks up details in vocals/guitars/foley that I have never been able to achieve before. The transformers in the GAP pre act as de-essers in a way, I don't need to de-ess vocals like I did before. If you have an interface that allows you to bypass the stock pres and go directly to the converters (aka line in), do that, it makes a huge difference in sound quality.
Rated 5/5

Do your chain a favor and just get it!

I"ve recorded for 19 years... Grammy nominated among other awards.. I"ve tracked and mixed vocals on the Neve 1073 and it must say this one sounds amazing! Very very scary similar sound!!!
Music background: Professional recording engineer, producer 19 years experience
Rated 5/5

Remarkable

This preamp is remarkably identical, from sound to character, to an actual 1073 preamp. The build quality is solid. I bought a second one shortly after putting the first through it's fair share of session use. I use them both every day. I will say this much, the chassis holes on the rack mount they sell to join two units had terribly measured holes which I had to redrill to get a proper fit, and I still give it 5 stars :)
Music background: Producer, Engineer, Musician
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