Heritage Audio HA73EQ Elite Microphone Preamp/EQ

The Heritage Audio HA73EQ Elite is made to the same specifications as the acclaimed 73JR and DMA73 Heritage Audio models. Leveraging time-consuming hand-soldered series, Heritage Audio is able to offer a zero compromise, high-quality, yet very affordable alternative to the growing entry-level brands.

Manufactured in the same Spanish facilities as the rest of the Heritage Audio line of products, the rack-mountable HA73EQ Elite presents the classic sounding recording preamp that, for generations, has been regarded for its rich, musical qualities and its ability to dramatically improve the sound of almost any source. Further, it includes the same exact great sounding JFET DI circuit found in the 73JR as well as a fully discrete Class A high-pass filter.

No 73-style equalizer will present the correct equalization curves without high-quality capacitors and, most importantly, correct “Vinkor” type pot core inductors. More than often this type of product employs generic ferrite core ones or, worse, the mid band dual inductor replaced with a single one. This is never the case with Heritage Audio products! The impact replacing these has on the EQ curves is dramatic, leading to incorrect curve shapes and high-frequency phase distortion which in no way honor the original design.

The HA73EQ Elite employs WIMA 5% capacitors in the EQ section as well as 3 correct vintage type “Vinkor“ pot core inductors so the EQ curves are virtually undistinguishable from the handmade equalizers in the Heritage Audio line. Customers can expect the same sonic quality and feel they have come to appreciate from Heritage Audio.

The HA73EQ’s preamp section features gain, output trim, -20 db pad, polarity reverse, a high-pass filter, and +48 V phantom power. The HA73EQ’s EQ section features a high shelving EQ, midrange EQ, low shelving EQ, a variable high pass filter, and EQ Bypass, The HA73EQ comes housed in a rugged 1RU British steel and aluminum chassis and utilizes an external power supply for low noise operation.

The key components to obtain that true vintage sound are maintained, like the industry standard Carnhill transformers, hand-wound in St. Ives, England.

Specifications:

• Microphone input impedance: HI, 1200 Ohm minimum, LO, 300 Ohm minimum, higher gain positions gradually have greater impedances, optimum for lo gain ribbon mics, input is transformer balanced and floating
• Line input impedance: 10 kOhms bridging, transformer balanced and floating
• DI input impedance: Greater than 2 Megohms, unbalanced
• Output impedance: Less than 75 Ohms, transformer balanced and floating, to drive a load of 600 ohms (factory terminated)
• Maximum output: Greater than +26 dBu into 600 ohms
• THD: Less than 0.025% at 1 kHz, less than 0.05% at 100 Hz
• Frequency response: 20 Hz (+0.3 dB) to 20 kHz (-0.2 dB)
• Maximum gain: Slightly greater than 80 dB
• Noise: Less than -100 dBu
• Power consumption: Less than 95 mA @48 VDC.