Pre-BX

Class A/B mic preamp with vintage character and integrated BAX EQ.

“A stylish and characterful 500‑series preamp that offers a sound somewhere in between two very well‑known vintage transformer‑based designs, and cleverly implements a miniature Baxandall EQ with a dual‑concentric pot.”

Sound on Sound Review | Dec ‘23

Full-fat analogue tone.

The Pre-BX is an all analogue microphone preamplifier with character and versatility at the forefront of its design ethos. It features an API-style input and Carnhill transformer output, integrated BAX EQ for subtle tone shaping, and a clean, intuitive interface for ease of operation.

The PRE-BX employs an integrated Baxandall EQ with both high-end and low-ends controls independently adjustable via the dual-concentric pot. Whether adding natural-sounding top-end sparkle to acoustic instruments or darkening harsher sounding program material it is perfect for honing a stunning vintage tone at the source.

A 1:1/3:1 output attenuator switch allows the Carnhill Transformer to be driven into saturation on bass-heavy material, alongside controls for phase switching, Mic/Hi-Z front input selector, +48v Phantom power for condenser microphones and an internal impedance selector for low-output mics such as vintage ribbons or dynamics.

Key Features:

  • Integrated Baxandall EQ (20Hz – 20kHz @ -/+7dB approx)

  • Fully analogue signal path with approx 60dB mic gain

  • Carnhill output transformer with 3:1 attenuator

  • API-style input transformer

  • Alternative front-panel mic/hi-Z input

  • Phase Switch

  • Hand-built in the UK