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MF MD HG Fun In The Sun 06-17-13

ART Digital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion 

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Have a Question? Call Our Experts: 888-410-7558 ART Digital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion  
  • MSRP:
    $539.00
  • Your Savings:
    - $140.00
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  • Your Price:
    $39900

Order Now! Expected to ship 06-27-2013

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An affordable 2-channel preamp with quality A to D conversion.

The ART Digital MPA-II delivers all of the same great features of the ProMPA with the added versatility of digital output. Like the ProMPA-II, each input circuit has 48v phantom power and features variable input impedance which can radically vary the overall performance of any high quality dynamic or ribbon microphone. The Digital MPA-II can be configured for dual mono or stereo operation with selectable mid/side mic support, summing the adjacent channel, to decode left/right signals.

The input section of the Digital MPA-II operates at either a low or high plate voltage applied to the two integrated hand-selected 12AX7 tubes for wider variation of preamp tone and performance. Large back-lit analog VU output meters display input or output levels while multi-colored LED arrays, with average or peak hold, show tube gain and digital output levels.

In addition to XLR and 1/4" analog outputs, the Digital MPA-II features a high quality A to D converter which offers digital connectivity on S/PDIF, ADAT, or AES/EBU outputs. A rotary control on the front panel allows selection of format and sample rates from 44.1 to 192 KHz and 16 bit dithering. There is also a push button for, and two wordclock jacks, allowing loop-through.

The Digital MPA-II comes in a standard 2 unit space rack-mountable steel chassis, with CNC routed black anodized aluminum face panel.

Features

  • Variable Input Impedance For Flexible Microphone Voicing (150 Ohms To 2400 Ohms)
  • Selectable Plate Voltage
  • Large VU Meters
  • Backlit Function Switches
  • Discrete Class-A Input Microphone Preamplifier
  • Low Noise at Lower Gain Settings
  • Extremely Low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
  • Wide Frequency Response
  • Additional Front Mounted Instrument Input Jack
  • Supports Mid/Side Miking Technique
  • Operates at +4dbm/-10dbv Output
  • Selectable Stereo/Dual Operation of Output Controls
  • Automatic Instrument Input Selection
  • 24-204KHz External sample rate
  • 44.1K, 48K, 88.2K, 96K, 176.4K, 192K Internal sample rates
  • 24/16 bit switchable dithering
  • Wide dynamic range A/D
  • Rotary Encoder for quick selection of sample rate
  • Separate analog and digital output level controls
  • Digital Level LED meters display both Average and Peak level
  • ADAT optical I/O
  • Sync to incoming ADAT data rate
  • Switch selectable optical output (S/PDIF or ADAT)
  • AES/EBU and S/PDIF outputs
  • Two wordclock jacks allowing loop through

Own a stereo input channel that combines the advantages of tube sound with digital conversion.

Digital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion Specifications:

  • Analog Section:
  • Frequency Response 15Hz to 48 kHz (+0, -1dB) @ normal plate voltage
  • 15Hz to 120 kHz (+0, -1dB) @ high plate voltage
  • Dynamic range: >110dB ("A" weighted)
  • CMRR: >90dB
  • THD: <0.005% (typical)
  • Equivalent Input Noise: -129dBu (XLR, "A" weighted)
  • Maximum Input Level: +19dBu (cannon)
  • Maximum Instrument Input: +17dBu
  • Input Impedance: 150-3000 Ohms adjustable (XLR)
  • >800K Ohms (Instrument)
  • Maximum Output Level: +27dBu (XLR)
  • Output Impedance: < 47 Ohms (XLR)
  • Maximum Gain: 75dB
  • Meter Calibration: 0 VU = +4dBu output (+4dB mode)
  • 0 VU = -10dBV output (-10dB mode)
  • High Pass Filter: single pole, 10-200 Hz adjustable
  • Digital Section:
  • A/D Frequency Response:
  • @44.1KHz sample rate: 10Hz to 21.25KHz (+0, -1dB)
  • @88.2KHz sample rate: 10Hz to 42.50KHz (+0, -1dB)
  • @196KHz sample rate: 10Hz to 81KHz (+0, -1dB)
  • A/D Dynamic Range: >112dB "A" weighted (typical)
  • A/D THD: <0.001% @1K (typical)
  • A/D Input Sensitivity: +12dBu min
  • A/D Insert Input Impedance: >10K Ohms
  • Power Requirements: USA - 105 to 125 VAC / 60 Hz Export units configured for country of destination
  • Dimensions: (H x W x D in) 3.50 x 19.0 x 8.75
  • Dimensions: (H x W x D mm) 88 x 482 x 222
  • Weight: (lb/kg) 10.5 / 4.7
Customer Reviews
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by PowerReviews
ARTDigital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion
 
5.0

(based on 4 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

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    (4)

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Reviewed by 4 customers

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(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Relatively Perfect

Comments about ART Digital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion:

I have a joemeek twinQ and a universal audio 4-710d, and this little guy holds its own. I end up using it a lot between vocals, synths and anything else, and all i had to do was change out the tubes. I went with c61 hammond AX7's, and they sound superb. This is a great addition to any home studio, and a fantastic alternative to spending 2 g's on an avalon. I am very happy i bought this, and fully expect you to be as well.
Has everything i wanted in a tube preamp for short money.

2 Hi-Z's, impedance &amp; low cut, able to raise the plate voltage (love that), SPDIF/ADAT, stereo mode and side micing?!? Pretty good.
Build quality is great.

Metal face, heavy knobs, big VU's, i don't gig it though.. so don't know how road-worthy it is.
Value is very high on this piece. If you bide your time and get it during a sale.. you'll be even happier. Remember you're going to spend a few bucks on new tubes.

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(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

Wow

By Jaws-QMq94

from around the corner

Comments about ART Digital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion:

I just bought this thing from MF hoping that I could get a more upfront and warm sound like the pro studios get. I'm feeding this into a Motu 2408 MK3 and all my recordings have always sounded a little flat and lifeless. I plugged this thing in and right away POW! like I just stepped into a much better studio than what I had. I'm getting much bigger, warmer, clear sound with this thing. I'm going to upgrade the tubes of course, but I like what I hear so far. Good job ART.

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5.0

Lots of

By Richie-BrgV4

from philly

Comments about ART Digital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion:

This pretty box does a lot of things for not a lot of dollars. It has every feature I wanted in a pre-amp, for a lot less than other brands. When the plate voltage is set low, the tube distortion sounds GREAT on guitar and vocals, adding a nice bite or growl to the dynamic peaks. At high voltage it sounds pretty clean. I really like the converter to S/PDIF which I send directly into a Yamaha AW4416 recorder. I like the seperate meters and seperate digital and analog output levels also.I should mention that my preamp has a gold faceplate, but this newer model appears to have identical features.One thing odd though, when the analog input is turned up very close to maximum, the knob seems a bit touchy or scratchy, and the gain really shoots up a lot. I thought it was a bad pot, but it's identical in the two channels. It's useable but annoying, I hope it's been tweaked in the II model. I've always used it in my home studio, I don't know if it's 'road-worthy'. I recommend it for the studio, it creates a nice tone, different from other pre-amps for not a lot of dollars, and it may do some things other pre-amps can't do.

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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

 
5.0

AMAZING!

By The Giant

from Undisclosed

Comments about ART Digital MPA-II 2-Channel Tube Microphone Preamp with A/D Conversion:

I used to record straight into my Mbox 2 and the pres are decent. But this blows the mbox pres away. REMEMBER TO CHANGE OUT THE STOCK TUBES!!! I switched to Tungsols. My vocals are now more upfront and following the manual really shows you how to get the oh so lovely tube saturation. I cant believe i thought my recordings were good without this preamp. With the waves ssl bundle, my vocals now sound like it was recorded at a major studio. great job ART. i am very pleased

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