Summer NAMM 2016: Advanced Audio MT8016 Dual Channel Preamp
Advanced Audio MT8016 Pre-amp · Source: YouTube Screenshot
Advanced Audio MT8016 Pre-amp Close up · Source: YouTube Screenshot
Advanced Audio Microphones is a small Canadian family-run company with Dave Thomas at the helm. Thomas has a mountain of knowledge about gear from first hand experience as an engineer and studio owner. Until now they’ve been releasing a series of microphones which aim to replicate many classics with modern, high-quality components, and have been well received. Announced at Summer NAMM 2016, they are now moving into the world of mic pre-amps as well. The first be the MT8016, which harkens back to the pre-amps Malcolm Toft designed for the Trident Series 80 desks.
MT8016 Dual Channel Microphone Preamplifier
Well, this is a serious case of solid state, transformer-coupled loveliness by one audio fanatic for the benefit of other like-minded gear heads. This product appears to have all the right ingredients and has clearly been lovingly designed by someone who actually uses studio equipment. Check out the video below, and once you’ve finished picking up the names Thomas drops all over the floor, you see someone wonderfully passionate about their product.
The MT8016 is Thomas’ own version of the pre-amps Malcolm Toft designed for the Trident Series 80 consoles, but with modern components. By using modern components Thomas has managed to keep the price down while, he believes, improving the unit’s performance. As an example, he is using 1% resistors and modern high quality transformers for low noise. The circuit design is an attempt to replicate the best in solid state pre-amps such as the Trident and Neve 1073. These place the input transformer at the beginning of the chain. A no-fuss layout has been employed with only gain, phantom power, phase invert and sweepable high-pass filter available, alongside a VU meter. This is a unit I’d really love to try.
Pricing and Availability
The MT8016 is currently in it’s final stages of development and testing. Advanced Audio are now accepting deposits for the first 50 that they will build, but an exact shipping date isn’t yet clear. This first run of 50 has an introductory price of 995 USD which feels like very good value for money considering the units are dual channel. If you’re thinking about going for one, then get in quick as these 50 are likely to go very quickly. See Advanced Audio’s website for more information.
Video
Here’s a video by Sound on Sound on their YouTube channel, interviewing Dave Thomas from Advanced Audio about the MT8016:
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