Golden Age Project PRE-73 MKIV Preamp and DI Box.

The Golden Age Project PRE-73 MKIV is a one-channel vintage-style microphone, line, and instrument preamplifier. The signal path uses only discrete components such as resistors, capacitors, and transistors. The input and output stages of the pre are transformer-balanced with each transformer optimized for its purpose.

The circuit in the unit is similar to the classic 1073 module with a corresponding sound character that is warm, punchy, sweet, and musical. These characteristics have been heard on countless recordings through the years and are appropriate for a wide variety of sound sources and music genres. In this latest iteration, the MKIV adds an output pad, so you can experiement more freely with the gain and overdrive without overloading the output, and offers a more ergonomic interface with updated buttons.

Classic British Console Sound on a Budget

The Pre 73 MKIV is Golden Age Audio’s latest and greatest update to their best-selling ‘73-style preamp series. The spirit of classic British consoles lives on in the Pre-73 MKIV—it sounds warm, punchy, sweet, and musical. Use it to add tone and color to your favorite mics, or keep things clean; it also doubles as a line-level preamp and DI box for electric guitar and bass. Get classic console tone, and get the most out of your mic locker.

Classic Console Color When You Want It

Get vintage color and punch by cranking up the Gain knob without fear; now with a dedicated Output control that lets you attenuate the signal, so you can drive the preamp without overloading your interface. Engage the -14 dB pad for even more control of hot signals, or keep things clean and transparent by backing off on the Gain and turning up the Output. Further sculpt your tone via the selectable low-pass filter to eliminate unwanted low-end rumble at the source, and use the selectable top-end Air EQ to add some shimmerand presence to your top-end. Use the Low-Z switch to toggle between 1200 or 300 Ω resistance and hear how your mics react.

Connect to Anything

The Pre-73 MKIV’s switchable +48v mic input lets you use both condenser and dynamic microphones, while its 80 dB of Gain make it idealfor use with sensitive ribbon microphones on delicate sound sources. Line- and instrument-level inputs allow further connection to nearly anyaudio source, and you get an Insert jack for using external processors like EQs and compressors. You have your choice of TRS or XLR out.

Quality First

True to classic preamps of yesterday, the Pre 73 MKIV was designed with focused attention to component choices and build quality not found in other preamps near the same price. No surface-mount components or integrated circuits are used, and all inputs and outputs are transformer-balanced, using two different purpose-optimized transformers. Its external power supply eliminates the risk of self-noise, and its metal half-rack chassis is both sturdy and portable.

Updates in MKIV Edition

• The 48V, Line, DI, and Low-Z controls were changed to Neve-style push buttons.
• The Power and Phase buttons functions were changed from a button to a toggle switch.
• The Output level was updated to a different style knob for better differentiation between Input Gain and Output Drive.
• A Power LED was added.
• The overall layout was changed to put the Highpass, Air EQ, and Output pad (new) between the gain and output knobs for a more ergonomic layout.
• An Output Pad has been added that allows users to craft their tone balance between Gain and Drive without clipping the output.

At a Glance

• Vintage Style electronics. No integrated circuits in the signal path
• Maximum gain in MIC mode is 80 dB, enough to handle passive ribbon mics with quiet sound sources
• Gain switch range 20 to 80 dB. Gain/Line mode switch, gain is reduced by 30 dB in Line mode
• Selectable two-position high-frequency Air boost EQ, 3 or 6 dB at 30 kHz
• Selectable 6 dB / octave two-frequency high-pass filter at around 40 (HP1) and 170 Hz (HP2)
• Tantalum capacitors in the signal path
• Switchable impedance in Mic mode, 1200 or 300 ohms, will change the tone of most mics. The input impedance in Line mode is 10 kilohms
• Switchable phantom power and absolute phase
• A high-impedance instrument input for any sound module, electric guitar, or bass
• A simple but effective 4-step LED output level meter
• The output level control makes it possible to make fine gain adjustments and also to overload the main gain stage(s) for more character and then lower the signal to a suitable level before the output stage
• Combo XLR/TRS input jack and separate output XLR and TRS jacks for flexible connections
• Insert jack for inserting EQs and other units
• Selectable 600-ohm output termination
• External power supply to avoid interaction with the audio circuits and transformers