Coil Audio CA-70S Single Channel Mic/Line Amplifier

Tube preamps bring a lot to the table in the studio. They offer warmth and smoothness, a touch of grit as you turn up the gain knob, and the nostalgic appeal of recording just like in the classic era.

A common misconception about tube preamps is that they require a significant financial investment. While high-end models can be pricey, there are plenty of affordable options available at various price points.

In this blog, we'll explore some of the best tube preamps for any budget. Our list includes gear starting below $1000 and tops out at around $6400. We'll break down what each tube preamp offers and help you find the perfect fit for your rack.

Best Tube Preamps For Any Budget

Warm Audio WA-MPX

Price: $749

Format: 19" Rackmount

The first tube preamp on our list is also the newest, as Warm Audio released the WA-MPX and its dual-channel brethren WA-2MPX ($1399) in March 2023. This single-channel preamp revives the design of the legendary Ampex 351, and features three tubes, a custom-wound Cinemag transformer, and 90 dB of gain. Aside from the Preamplifier Gain and Output Level knobs, there are several tone-shaping options onboard, including a high-pass filter, low-pass filter, high gain control, and tape saturation.

 

Retro Instruments 500PRE

Price: $995

Format: 500 Series

Leave it to Retro Instruments to build a stunning tube preamp for the 500 Series realm. The brand is renowned for recreating classic designs for the modern studio, and with the 500PRE, they've gone above and beyond by adapting the classic Sta-Level limiter's preamp. The three-tube gain stage delivers a rich tone that can be pushed from clean to overdrive, and when you're done tracking, you can use the 500PRE as a limiter during the mixing process.

 

Universal Audio Solo/610

Price: $1199

Format: Desktop

Universal Audio's 610 console holds a special place in recording lore. It was the desk behind timeless records by the Beach Boys, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Ray Charles, and countless others. With the Solo/610, the brand has revived the preamp from Bill Putnam's original console in a desktop form factor, making it easier for anyone working on a budget to get tube console sounds. The preamp features Gain, Level, Lo-Cut filter, and DI/Thru inputs on the front, as well as an XLR input and output on the back.

 

Electric & Co EC3

Price: $1599.99

Format: 19" Rackmount

Electric & Co. is an Austin, Texas-based brand dedicated to creating the best tube preamps around. In fact, their entire product offering consists of four different preamp designs. For our purposes today, we're talking about the EC3, which is an impeccable pre based on the Ampex 351. The unit closely follows the circuit of the tape machine and features 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes, a Jensen input, and a Cinemag output. Engineers can expect way less noise than a 351 and a delicious array of tonal options that will sound good on every source you run through it.

 

Coil Audio CA-70S

Price: $1899

Format: 19" Rackmount

You can't talk about tube preamps without mentioning Coil Audio. This brand is deeply rooted in tube technology, offering designs inspired by circuits from as far back as the 1910s. The CA-70S draws inspiration from the iconic two-stage circuit designed by Western Electric in 1913. This circuit was used through the 1950s and has become one of the defining sounds of tube preamps. With the CA-70S,  Coil Audio gives engineers a lot of room to shape their sound. In addition to Input and Output controls, there are knobs for controlling Negative Feedback (select a brighter or darker tone) and Low (boost or cut low frequency).

 

Chandler Limited REDD.47

Price: $2449

Format: 19" Rackmount

Chandler Limited's collaboration with Abbey Road Studios has produced some remarkable gear recreations, including the REDD.47. The original preamp was part of the EMI REDD .51 recording console, used at the iconic studio from 1964 to 1968. This modern version stays true to the circuit but includes some enhancements for today's engineers. Chandler Limited's REDD .47 offers more gain than the original unit, with up to 2% harmonic distortion before clipping. This can be dialed in with some additional help from the Fine Gain control. There is also a Rumble Filter, which uses the input transformer as a low-cut circuit.

 

Gainlab GLA-MP1 Bishop

Price: $2650

Format: 19" Rackmount

We've finally reached a channel strip on our list of the best preamps for any budget, and the Gainlab GLA-MP1 Bishop is certainly an impressive piece of equipment. The tube preamp section kicks things off with three tubes, stepped gain control, and two selectable gain scales (High/Low), offering up to 60 dB of gain. The channel strip also includes an optical compressor with a double slope design, enhancing the LA-2A-style design with added versatility. One of the most intriguing features of the Bishop is Gainlab's Session Recall software, which allows you to save your settings and instantly recall any configuration during a session.

 

Mystery Magicians M808A

Price: $3430

Format: 19" Rackmount

Mystery Magicians is a new boutique brand led by Arash Mafi, who has created a vintage-inspired gem in the M808A. Although Arash was influenced by the British tube consoles of the 1960s, the M808A features an original circuit design. This dual-channel preamp delivers up to 80 dB of gain and offers extensive sonic experimentation with its Pentode and Triode modes, as well as Gain, Attenuate, and Filter knobs. The unit's active tube filters provide four HPF and LPF frequencies with -6 dB per octave attenuation. These controls make it easy to achieve rich, clean sounds or push the M808A to its limits for the classic tube sound we all crave.

 

Manley VOXBOX

Price: $5499

Format: 19" Rackmount

Manley's VOXBOX lives up to its name as a comprehensive solution for vocal recording, yet its tube preamp, compressor, and EQ also make it a superb choice for other sources. The preamp section of this channel strip features Manley's renowned Mono Microphone Preamplifier, and offers controls for Input Attenuator, Bass Cut, and Gain. The Gain Switch acts as a variable feedback control, influencing gain level, slew rate, and the overall circuit character. A distinctive feature of the opto compressor is that it compresses before the signal reaches the tubes, preventing preamp clipping. Following this, the VOXBOX includes a passive Pultec-style EQ, de-esser, and peak limiter, rounding out its capabilities for shaping and enhancing audio with precision and warmth.

 

D.W. Fearn VT-2

Price: $6400

Format: 19" Rackmount

The final entry on our list of tube preamps at any budget is a dual-channel banger called the VT-2 from D.W. Fearn. Originally conceived as the single-channel VT-1, Doug Fearn created it while attempting to replicate his favorite RCA preamps from the 1940s. Doug's design minimized non-soldered connections and incorporated modern passive components, resulting in a preamp with reduced noise. The VT-2 delivers smooth, creamy sound with exceptional transparency, making a lovely preamp for any studio.

Have questions about any of the tube preamps we mentioned in this blog? Want to bring one home to your studio. We're here to help! Contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.

A great vocal performance deserves a great preamp—one that captures every nuance, adds the right amount of color, and elevates the recording from good to unforgettable. But with so many preamps on the market, how do you choose the right one for your voice? The answer depends on what you’re looking for. Some preamps deliver pristine transparency, letting the natural character of the vocalist shine through. Others add warmth, saturation, or harmonic richness, imparting a vintage vibe or modern polish. And then there are those versatile workhorses that can do a bit of everything, adapting to any genre or vocal style.  Continue reading →