Microphone Preamps

The mic preamps developed by dbx are so widely used and respected by sound engineers that the name of one of our most popular preamps – the 286 – has become a universally used term that means “mic preamp.” Our mic pre’s set the standard in the broadcast and studio worlds by providing sound engineers all the processing they need for their mics.

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Three Microphone Preamps

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286s

Microphone Pre-amp Processor

Gain 0 to +60dB

Input Z ~4.2kΩ

Phantom Power +48V

CMRR >40dB

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676

Tube Microphone Preamp Channel Strip

Type Tube Preamp

Input Z 1.9kΩ

CMRR >85dB

Inst. Input 1/4" TS

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580

Mic Preamp - 500 Series

Format 500 Series

Type Mic Preamp

Input Z 1.7kΩ

Max Gain 60dB

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Tech Tip

Tame pesky plosives

The "P" sound is one of the toughest things to record cleanly. Pop filters help, but if you don't have one on hand — or it's just not cutting it — grab a drum stick, a wooden spoon handle, or a long screwdriver and hold it upright between your mouth and the microphone. It slices through those plosive bursts of air before they hit the capsule, greatly reducing the pop while keeping your tone and volume intact.

Two lanes compared. Without a stick, the burst of air from a P sound travels straight into the microphone capsule and pops. With a slim upright object held between mouth and microphone, the air splits around it while the voice passes through to the capsule. — The stick is too narrow to block the voice, but wide enough to break up the column of air a plosive throws at the capsule.

Not sure which one?

Clean and simple 286s Solid-state preamp, one channel, straightforward gain. Want tube warmth 676 Tube mic preamp channel strip for characterful, high-end sources. Building a 500 Series rack 580 The same warm gain stage in a single rack module.