The Golden Age Audio PRE-73 DLX MkII is a one-channel vintage style microphone, line, and instrument preamplifier that brings the legendary 1073 sound into a modern, affordable package. Evolving from the original PRE-73 DLX, which remained unchanged since 2011, the MkII version introduces several refinements while staying true to its roots.
The Golden Age Audio PRE-73 DLX MkII features classic style white rectangular switches and robust toggle switches for improved durability, a simplified internal layout with fewer circuit boards and connectors, a stronger power supply, and a redesigned 48V phantom power circuit capable of delivering the full 10 mA required by standard. The addition of a two-position AIR EQ further enhances tonal shaping possibilities.
Like its inspiration, the Golden Age Audio PRE-73 DLX MkII employs only discrete components in a class-A design, with transformer balanced microphone input, line input, and output stages using three transformers optimised for their respective roles. This design recreates the warm, punchy, sweet, and musical character of the classic 1073 preamp, a tone that has defined countless recordings across decades and genres.
With features such as selectable AIR boost, high pass filtering, switchable impedance, and enough gain to handle passive ribbon microphones on quiet sources, the Golden Age Audio PRE-73 DLX MkII is versatile and powerful. Its compact format, insert options, Carnhill upgrade preparation, and rugged build make it a professional-grade preamp accessible to engineers and musicians everywhere.
Features
- Vintage style electronics with no integrated circuits in the signal path
- High gain capacity, suitable for passive ribbon microphones
- GAIN/LINE mode switch with 30 dB reduction in line mode
- Selectable AIR EQ boost at 3 or 6 dB @ 30 kHz
- Two-position high pass filter at 6 dB/octave
- Tantalum capacitors in the signal path
- Switchable impedance in microphone mode
- Switchable phantom power and absolute phase
- High-impedance instrument input
- 4-step LED output level meter
- Combo XLR/TRS input and separate XLR/TRS outputs
- Insert jack for external EQs or processors
- PCB prepared for Carnhill input transformer upgrade
- External power supply to reduce interference
- Durable build quality designed for years of use