Authentic Neve 1073 preamp for your 500 series rack
Coveted by top engineers and producers since its launch in 1970, the Neve 1073 channel amplifier represents the Holy Grail of microphone preamp with character. The 1073 mic/line input module defined the strong, authoritative sound of the legendary Neve 80 series consoles that dominated professional recording studios in the Golden Age of Analog. Today, you can get this iconic sound for your studio with the AMS Neve 1073LB 500 Series Mic/Line Preamp. Employing the same preamp circuit architecture and matching components as the original 1073, and updated to meet the demands of modern workflows, the 1073LB offers a rich tonal palette for making bold statements with your music.
Legendary and authoritative “big iron” sound
Since the 1970s, the Neve 1073 has reigned as the most sought-after microphone preamp and equalizer on the planet – one reason being its inimitable sound; another is its impressive versatility. With a generous 80dB of available gain, the 1073 handles even your lowest-output passive ribbon microphones on quiet sources. While today's 1073LB retains all of its vintage authenticity, AMS Neve remains an R&D-driven company that continually improves its classic designs to meet and exceed the performance requirements of today's hybrid analog-digital workflows. The name Rupert Neve is synonymous with custom transformer balanced Class A circuitry, and AMS Neve continues to innovate in this domain with its state-of-the-art Neve Marinair specification transformers found in the input and output stages of the 1073LB. With their “big iron” transformers, Neve consoles deliver wide, linear bandwidth while maintaining audiophile quality across the spectrum for rich, full-bodied sound with formidable bass, assertive midrange presence, and smooth, airy highs.
Military-grade build quality
Decorated in classic RAF blue-grey livery, the 1073LB 500 Series preamplifier module offers a user experience like no other. The 1073LB's robust build quality – including its rotary switches, robust metal frame and internal circuitry – is manifestly superior to even most of today's high-end professional audio equipment. And it's a joy to use. In operation, everything feels perfect, from the drop of the spoon into the honey in the Trim pot to the precise, satisfying click of the switches. Like all professional audio equipment of the time, early Neve equipment was built with mil-spec parts and materials – which, along with their extraordinary sound, explains why we still see half-a-century-old Neve consoles in major studios around the world. . That's how they built professional audio equipment – and AMS Neve still does it.
AMS Neve 1073LB 500 Series Microphone Preamplifier Module Features:
- Class A balanced microphone/line preamplifier with Classic Neve transformer
- Proprietary Neve Marinair transformers in the input and output stages
- Both microphone and line inputs are transformer-balanced and ground-free
- Gain button with signal presence LED; Phase inversion switch (180° phase)
- +5/-20dB level trim control with integrated 48V phantom power on/off switch
- Reverse polarity, impedance and front input selector switches
- Front XLR/TRS combo connector with intelligent phantom power switching
- The audio processing insertion feature allows processing from adjacent 1073 LBEQ and/or 2264ALB modules to be inserted into the 1073LB pre-out stage
- Line input: 4kΩ impedance bridge, -20dB to +10dB gain in 5dB steps
- Microphone input: Selectable impedance (300Ω/1200Ω), gain from +20dB to +80dB in 5dB steps
- The output is transformer-balanced and ground-free
- Distortion: <0.07%, 50Hz to 10kHz at +20dBu output
- Frequency response: ±0.5dB, 20Hz–20kHz, -3dB at 40kHz
- Compatible 500 series chassis with required power supply and line-level I/O connectors, not supplied
- Designed and manufactured in England by AMS Neve engineers
