Best Microphone Preamps Under $1000

When you really get down to it, microphones and microphone preamps are essential for getting anything done in the recording studio. Over the years, microphone preamplifiers have evolved in numerous ways, making it extremely easy to acquire one with a distinct sound and feature set at a very reasonable price.

Just how "reasonable" can the cost be? That's what we're here to explore as we look at some of the best microphone preamps for under $1000. Everyone perceives the concept of budget differently, but for our discussion today, setting a limit of a grand allows us to explore a diverse selection of standalone 500 Series, desktop, and 19-inch rackmount preamps.

Best 500 Series Microphone Preamps Under $1000

Cranborne Audio Camden 500 Series Microphone Preamp

Cranborne Camden 500

We're kicking things off with the lowest-priced preamp on our list and moving up from there. However, the distinction of being first says loads about Cranborne Audio's ability to create high-quality gear at a wallet-friendly price. The Camden 500 has been one of Vintage King's best-selling pieces of outboard gear in the past decade. That's not just preamps; that's all outboard in all sizes.

This 500 Series module is a stunner with an ultra-clean sound, but it also has a Mojo knob that gives you control over two saturation circuits. Thump focuses more on low-end content, while Cream features a more tube-like sound with mid-frequency compression and increased high-end harmonics.

Solid State Logic SiX CH

After the success of the SiX, Solid State Logic got a lot of requests for a standalone 500 Series module featuring the preamp from the desktop mixer. They went one better by packing an entire channel strip into the SiX CH. This compact channel strip features SSL's patented SuperAnalogue preamp design, in addition to a two-band EQ (HF and LF), and a versatile one-knob that utilizes a feed-forward circuit design. At $399 a pop, filling up a 500 Series rack with these is a no-brainer.

Rupert Neve Designs 511

Any list of preamps that doesn't mention Rupert Neve is bunk. The legendary designer is critical to the recording world, and his preamps remain a high watermark of what gear can do. When starting Rupert Neve Designs in the mid-2000s, Rupert combined the best of his previous creations into the new Portico series.

The Portico design philosophy lives on in the 511 mic preamp. This transformer-based pre comes correct with a 12-way rotary switch for gain control from 0 to 66 dB, a Trim control, +48V phantom power, and a level meter. There's also the addition of the Silk Red circuit, which enhances harmonic content in the highs and mids. Imagine getting some extra sparkle on all your sources, and you'll get the idea.

Pope Audio PRE-BX 500 Series Microphone Preamp/BAX EQ

Pope PRE-BX

The Pope Audio PRE-BX is one of the newest releases to make our list of the best microphone preamps under $1000. This 500 Series module comes from designer Adam Pope, whose inspiration was classic American consoles. The pre has a padless input stage topology and utilizes a 2520-style opamp and 2522 input transformer on the front end. You can switch this transformer between 600R and 150R depending on the impedance of your microphone. Adam uses another 2520-style opamp on the PRE-BX's output stage and then employs a Carnhill transformer. Let's not forget the onboard Baxandall EQ, a signature part of Pope Audio's designs.

API 512C/API 512V

Speaking of American-made consoles, API Audio continues to be a leader in the industry in the United States. The brand kicked off the whole 500 Series movement decades ago and still utilizes the modules in its current console designs.

Two favorite mic preamps from API under $1000 have to be the 512C and 512V. The two modules have some subtle differences, but both are faithful to the brand's classic sound. The 512V is the newer of the two and features additions like a variable gain control knob, a 3:1 transformer output button, and a combo XLR / 1/4" line input.

Heritage Audio 73JR II

When Rupert Neve introduced the 1073 in 1970, he changed the sonic landscape of microphone preamps forever. Decades later, many brands are still trying to capture the magic and deliver a dose of color with their reimagined 73-style preamps. The Heritage Audio 73JR II falls into this category with a three-stage Class A design that utilizes Carnhill transformers and features 80 dB of gain, a hi-pass filter covering 20 to 220 Hz, and an auto-switching DI mode.

Retro Instruments 500 Pre

Retro Instruments has established a reputation for crafting some of the finest modern reproductions of outboard gear available. However, with the 500PRE, they've taken a classic limiter circuit and turned it into a two-prong tool. Designer Phil Moore has brought the Sta-Level circuit to the 500 Series world for use as a mic pre. Thanks to the Sta-Level's three-tube gain stage, you can take advantage of both clean gain and beautiful overdrive. The best part is that after you're done recording, you can use the 500PRE as a limiter during mixing.

500 Series Preamp Honorable Mentions

If you've got a few extra bucks in the budget, here are some more great preamps that are just over $1000:

Best Desktop Microphone Preamps Under $1000

Cranborne Audio Camden EC1

The Cranborne Audio Camden EC1 brings together the Camden preamp with a reference-grade headphone amplifier in a desktop-friendly format. You've got the three preamp flavors, including Clean, Thump, and Cream, at your disposal, along with true, zero-latency monitoring via the front panel headphone jack and stereo 1/4" Aux Input jacks on the back. It's an impressive set-up for engineers, musicians, podcasters, and VO artists, and can even connect to Cranborne's 500 Series racks via C.A.S.T technology.

Black Lion Audio Auteur MKIII

Black Lion Audio's Auteur MKIII is another desktop microphone preamp for under $1000. It features not one but two microphone preamps offering 62 dB of gain each. While the front end operates on an IC-based design, the output stage adds vintage-inspired characteristics via a Cinemag transformer. This unique combination ensures that sources can be captured swiftly while benefiting from the added warmth imparted by the transformer, resulting in a rich and dynamic sound profile.

Golden Age Project Pre-73 DLX Premier

It's no secret that the Golden Age Project Pre-73 DLX Premier is going for a 73-style preamp here. This desktop version boasts transformer-balanced inputs and outputs, featuring Carnhill transformers in its makeup. There is a traditional 23-position Gain knob that doubles as a switcher between mic or line input jacks. The Pre-73 DLX Premier will offer some warmth and can also handle some EQ duties with a high-pass filter and selectable two-position AIR EQ.

Focusrite ISA One

There are multiple reasons why the Focusrite ISA One has been around forever. 1. This is still the same basic circuit that Rupert Neve created all those years ago when he built the ISA 110 for Sir George Martin. 2. These things are built like tanks. Rugged construction aside, all the keys to success are here. We've got a Lundahl LL1538 input transformer, independent DI channel, switchable impedance, and a headphone output with volume control.

Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity Microphone Preamp/DI

Universal Audio Twin-Finity

It's hard to believe it, but the Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity has been around for almost 15 years! Regarding desktop offerings, UA obviously has a lot of interfaces with onboard preamps (See the Apollo lineup), but the 710 Series has something pretty special going on if you're looking for a standalone pre. The Twin-Finity has an innovative circuit that allows you to use both tube and solid-state gain stages, and mix the two together via a Blend knob.

Desktop Preamp Honorable Mentions

Here are a few more choice desktop preamps that are just over $1000.

Best 19-Inch Rackmount Microphone Preamps Under $1000

Warm Audio WA-MPX

The Warm Audio WA-MPX pays homage to the Ampex 351 tape machine, which features one of the most revered microphone tube preamps and is synonymous with the birth of rock 'n' roll. The 2U rackmount preamp delivers 300V of power and 90dB of tube gain alongside a whole host of other features, including tone control, high gain control, low pass filter, and a tape saturation switch.

Focusrite ISA Two Dual Mono

What's better than an ISA One? How about an ISA Two? For $300 more than the desktop version, you get a 1U 19-inch rackmount unit with two historic mic preamps.

Cranborne Audio EC2

We round out our look at the best preamps under $1000 with the circuit so nice, they racked it twice. Not only does the Cranborne Audio EC2 have two Camden microphone preamps, but it also doubles the number of reference-quality headphone amplifiers. One of our favorite features of the EC2 is that you can easily reamp guitars or bass by using the Hi-Z input and connecting the 1/4" link output from that preamp to the second preamp. The EC2 is also C.A.S.T. enabled for working with the 500R8 and 500ADAT.

19-Inch Rackmount Preamp Honorable Mentions

Finally, here are a few more popular rackmount preamps that are just a bit over $1000:

If you’re looking for microphone preamps on any budget, we're here to help. Contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.