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Gear / Technical Help => Battery Boxes, Preamps, Mixers, ADCs, and Processors => Topic started by: hammerhorror on January 08, 2012, 06:41:52 PM

Title: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: hammerhorror on January 08, 2012, 06:41:52 PM
Found this preamp while researching another product.

http://www.audioroot.fr/portable-battery-powered-stereo-microphone-preamp.html (http://www.audioroot.fr/portable-battery-powered-stereo-microphone-preamp.html)

I'd love to hear one in action. Anyone ever heard of this preamp?
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: rastasean on January 08, 2012, 07:59:00 PM
I remeber reading about these last year on TS
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=143139.msg1845264#msg1845264
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: acidjack on January 09, 2012, 03:57:34 PM
Costs a lot more than a Naiant box and therefore had better sound a lot better to be a contender... but I liked this:

"5 hours typical battery autonomy with 2 Schoeps CMC6Ug
10 hours battery autonomy with dynamic microphones"
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: hi and lo on January 09, 2012, 04:05:23 PM
I can definitely say I've lost much of my interest in this pre since that thread came up last year. Having gotten a lot of experience with the Naiant products since and considering these are roughly similar in form factor and feature set, I cannot to save my life justify their price tag.

If you check out their other products, they do make some nifty stuff and I'm sure it's all rather high-quality, but the price / feature set isn't anywhere close to where it needs to be.
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: rastasean on January 09, 2012, 05:16:50 PM
What a REAL, HONEST testimonial!
 

I can definitely say I've lost much of my interest in this pre (uPRE) since that thread came up last year. Having gotten a lot of experience with the Naiant products since and considering these are roughly similar in form factor and feature set, I cannot to save my life justify their price tag.


--Live Music Archivist's opinion on Nainat products vs a $1130 pre-amp.
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: hi and lo on January 09, 2012, 05:35:31 PM
What a REAL, HONEST testimonial!
 

:)

When Jon finishes his high-current, low noise op-amp design, I imagine it will be an even closer comparison. If he can also add output transformers and retain the internal battery, it then becomes a no-brainer.

Would still love to hear a uPRE recording, but doubtful we ever will due to its pricetag and European location.
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: hi and lo on January 09, 2012, 10:55:47 PM
When Jon finishes his high-current, low noise op-amp design, I imagine it will be an even closer comparison. If he can also add output transformers and retain the internal battery, it then becomes a no-brainer.

All of that is already done and the PCBs arrive tomorrow.  I don't think too many people will choose the low-noise amp though, it uses too much current and noise has not been a frequent complaint with the standard amp.

I'm not sure what your price point will be, but I definitely wouldn't underestimate a consumer's need to have the best. :)

If the battery life of a Tinybox were cut to a fraction of its stated 12-20 hours, which is conservative, I think more than a few people will be ok with that sacrifice for a sonically superior* unit. As long as it runs 5+ hours I imagine there will be more interest than suspected, including myself.

*being subject to the whims of ts.com, of course  ;D
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: aaronji on January 10, 2012, 10:51:19 AM
^^^ Those run-time estimates are for the P48 tinybox, I assume?
Title: Re: uPRE - Portable battery powered stereo microphone preamp
Post by: Todd R on January 10, 2012, 06:30:34 PM
Sorry, not to keep mucking up the uPRE thread, but those phantom draws are for a single mic (x2 obviously), or do they represent the complete phantom load?

I have mics that draw 4ma/each and 4.6ma/each -- uh-oh!