Dec 1, 2011 9:00 AM, By Matt Gallagher

A BUYER'S GUIDE TO A WIDE VARIETY OF FRONT-END OPTIONS

ONLINE EXTRAS

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Millennia Media HV-35 Mix Review

MILLENNIA MEDIA HV-35
Basics: front panel instrument input, DC-coupled ribbon mic mode with 10dB gain boost setting, 80Hz roll-off filter, 48V phantom, 15dB pad, polarity flip, continuously variable gain control up to 60 dB (70 dB in Ribbon Mode)
Extra: incorporates Millennia’s HV-3 circuit
Millennia Media HV-35 product page

NIXER NIX00205 CLIVE GREEN SIGNATURE SERIES LONDON MIC AMP
Basics: discrete Class-A circuitry, gain up to 70 dB in 12 steps, trim +/-15 dB in 3dB steps, 48V phantom power, phase-reverse switch, switchable to hi-Z instrument input on ¼-inch jack, 8-segment meter switchable from microphone out to main out
Extra: re-issue of one of Clive Green's 1970s microphone amplifiers used by Cadac in London, with a direct equivalent of the original microphone transformer; main audio path contains only through-hole components
Nixer NIX00205 Clive Green Signature Seriers London Mic Amp product page

NIXER NIX00220 CLIVE GREEN SIGNATURE SERIES BROADWAY MIC AMP
Basics: gain of 10 to 60 dB in 11 steps, trim +/-15 dB in 3dB steps, 48V phantom power, phase-reverse switch, switchable 20dB pad, switchable to hi-Z instrument input on ¼-inch jack, 8-segment meter switchable from microphone out to main out
Extra: reinterpretation of Clive Green's “theater” mic amp design used in "J"-type console; main audio path contains only through-hole components; equipped with high-quality electronically balanced output; also available with the optional Clive Green–designed transformer output stage as used in the "E"-type theater console
Nixer NIX00220 Clive Green Signature Series Broadway Mic Amp product page

NIXER NIX00230 CLIVE GREEN SIGNATURE SERIES VANGUARD MIC AMP
Basics: gain of 5 to 60 dB in 12 steps, trim +/-15 dB in 3dB steps, 48V phantom power, phase-reverse switch, switchable 20dB pad, switchable to hi-Z instrument input on ¼-inch jack, 8-segment meter switchable from microphone out to main out
Extra: output uses the latest THAT Corporation balanced driver to achieve a very high CMMR; also available with the optional Clive Green–designed transformer output used in the "E"-type theater console
Nixer NIX00230 Clive Green Signature Series Vanguard Mic Amp product page

PHOENIX AUDIO DRS1R/500
Basics: Class-A discrete output stage, custom-wound output transformer, 70 dB of mic gain (in 5dB steps) with another 10 dB on the output fader, highpass filter set at 120Hz @ 6dB per octave roll-off, Mute button, phase reverse, a 30dB pad/line-level button, XLR connectors on rear panel of API rack, -30dB push-button mic/line switch (mic input), ¼-inch hi-Z instrument input, red/green LED gain metering, switchable 48V phantom power, phase reverse, mute, +24dB typical headroom
Extra: true balanced mic input stage, onboard power supply boosts 16V to 24V, current draw is 103 to 119 mA
Phoenix Audio DRS1R/500 product page

PRODIGY ENGINEERING BELLA
Basics: input and output transformers for maximum noise rejection, relay stepped gain from 18 to 60 dB in 1dB increments, switchable HPF (-3 dB @ 78 Hz), 48V phantom power, polarity inversion (0/180 degrees), -22dB attenuation pad, mute functionality
Extra: can be remotely controlled from DAWs including Logic and Pro Tools, and from Avid ICON control surfaces
Prodigy Engineering Bella product page

PURPLE AUDIO BIZ MK
Basics: three-amplifier discrete switchable mic/line preamp, discrete op amps, 75 dB of gain, transformerless DI input with load selection switch
Extra: custom input and output transformers, selectable single or dual gain stage and phase
Purple Audio Biz Mk product page

PURPLE AUDIO PANTS
Basics: differential, switchable mic/line preamp, four op amps, “high” switch changes the feedback network to provide 78 dB
Extra: custom-design dual-bobbin input transformer, DI uses input transformer
Purple Audio Pants product page

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