First Listen: Rupert Neve Designs 5211 Dual Mic Preamp

Whenever we talk about thought leaders or innovation in pro audio, one must begin with Rupert Neve. While he got his start creating monitors, Rupert will forever be known for his work designing consoles and mic pres. The timeless 1073 has long been lauded as the world's preeminent mic pre, a design which Rupert has continued to build upon with his current brand, Rupert Neve Designs.For their latest product, the 5211 two-channel mic pre, Rupert Neve Designs has taken elements from their original 5012 two-channel mic pre and given them a significant upgrade for 2019. One of the biggest updates is the addition of a variable Silk control, which offers users the ability to finely control Rupert's Class A output stage (the same as the Shelford Channel). The original only featured a single Silk button with no knob to control the output.

The 5211 offers a transformerless take on Rupert Neve's mic pre design, which gives you some interesting options to work with in the studio. Your sound can be completely pristine, especially with the mic pre's expanded headroom, excellent dynamic range and increased signal-to-noise ratio. Want something more saturated? Use the Silk knob to dial in something a little warmer.

We recently tracked some sound sources through the Rupert Neve Designs 5211, including performances from Stephanie Lauren (vocals) and Bryan Reilly (acoustic guitar, bass and drums). Watch our new demo below and hear what this dual-channel mic pre can offer up to your studio.

If you’re interested in purchasing the Rupert Neve Designs 5211 or have any questions about other RND products, contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160