Maag Audio PREQ2-500

Mäag Audio PREQ2-500 Microphone Preamplifier w/ Air Band®

FEATURES
Convenient front panel ¼-inch Instrument Input and Instrument/Microphone Thru outputs.
Discrete Class-A transformer-coupled preamp with reamplification capabilities.
71dB of gain available, making it optimal for multiple instruments and ribbon mics.
The globally acclaimed Air Band®, featured on numerous chart-topping records.
Continuously variable large red GAIN knob
Ideal for capturing various audio signals, refining tonal nuances, and elevating euphonic qualities.

Mäag Audio PreQ2-500 is a single channel, 500-series version mic pre-amp with the same circuit topology and sound as their top-of-the line Mäag Audio PREQ2 Dual-Channel Strip with Air Band®.

The PreQ2-500 has a total of 71dB of Class-A gain that starts with the same Mäag Audio-built nickel-core input transformer as the 1U dual channel PREQ2. Just like the PREQ2 Dual Channel Strip, it includes a front panel ¼-inch (1-meg-ohm) Instrument Input jack that when used, automatically routes its signal to the input transformer and also disconnects the 48-volt phantom power if already turned on.

The front panel continues with a ¼-inch Thru/Output jack that provides an unbalanced, isolated and boosted "duplicate" of either the low impedance microphone or the Instrument inputs. The Thru/Output signal is capable of driving a long line out to guitar amps in the studio and/or effects pedals effectively and without quality loss. Great for creating unique effects, you may "re-amp" and externally process either the low impedance microphone input signal or any instrument directly connected to the PREQ2's front panel ¼-inch input jack.

The PREQ2-500 has an Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) level of -128dBu, +25dBU of headroom, plus the acclaimed AIR BAND® EQ with up to 9dB of boost at your choice of 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40-kHz frequencies.

Microphone gain is continuously variable using a single, large control knob that is switchable between two gain ranges of either +20dB to +42dB for most recordings or +42dB to +71dB using the +25dB boost button. This higher microphone gain is noise-free and perfect for very quiet sources like Foley/sound effects or low output, old vintage mics.

The compact front panel finishes with push-button switches for +48-volt phantom power on/off, -20dB attenuation pad, a 70Hz, 2nd order 12dB/Oct high pass filter, phase or polarity reverse, and AIR BAND® EQ on/off.

EQUALIZATION
The 70Hz high pass filter activates a 2nd order, 12dB/octave high pass filter.
The Air Band® shelving allows selection of 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40kHz frequency choices with its own control and up to 9dB of maximum boost.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Max Gain 71dB
Noise level at the lowest gain setting is -100dB. EIN is -128dB
Balanced XLR output headroom is +25dBu
The microphone transformer feeds a differential set of front-end Class A discrete transistors paired with a FET input operational amplifier.
High and low gain push button switch. Low range: +20dB to +42dB. High range (gain +25 switch with green LED): +42dB to +71dB. Switchable -20dB pad
+48-volt phantom power, switchable, with red LED. Phase reversal switch: switches the phase of the balanced output.
Green signal present LED, red peak LED lights at +25dBu.