Golden Age Premier PREQ-73 PREMIER | Preamp + EQ

Golden Age’s PRE-73 PREMIER is a vintage-style, single-channel microphone and instrument preamp. The signal path uses only discrete components such as resistors, capacitors and transistors. The input and output are transformer balanced, using two different transformers, each optimized for its purpose. Audio components were built this way before integrated circuits became available.

Integrated circuits are small and cheap and are used in most modern designs. However, it is clear that audio components built with modern technology do not always provide the best perceived sound quality or the kind of character that the modern user desires. On the contrary, the subjective sound quality of vintage gear is often preferred to that of modern gear, which becomes even more apparent when music is recorded with clean-sounding digital gear. This is the reason why so many vintage audio components are cloned and re-produced, and why vintage originals are often very expensive on the used market.

The circuitry used in the PRE-73 PREMIER is similar to the preamp section of the classic 1073 module with a corresponding sound character that is warm, punchy, charming and musical. These classic characteristics have been heard on countless recordings for years, and it’s a versatile sound that works very well with most sound sources and in most genres.

Included is an external power supply to prevent electromagnetic interference. The unit can be installed in Golden Age’s UNITE rack kit with a maximum of one additional preamp.