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Hairball Audio Elements Gold 500 series microphone preamp - $385 (Stowe Township)
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Hairball describes the Gold preamp like this:
Clean. Open.
Gold is based around the classic Jensen 990 op-amp. The Hairball Audio 990 is assembled in the USA and built to the specifications of Deane Jensen’s now famous JE-990 paper published in the February 1980 AES journal. The 990 op-amp has become the GOLD standard for discrete op-amp performance.
To complement this pristine signal chain, we've worked with Jensen Transformers to create a 500 series sized version of their classic JT-16 input transformer. This transformer has set the bar for clarity and performance. To complete the chain we've used the equally impressive Jensen JT-11 output.
This is one of the highest quality clean and open pres available. Unlike the cheap transformerless pres that come with many common audio interfaces, Gold does not sound dull. It enables the kind of clarity and detail you'll only find with components of this caliber. It's the perfect pre for recording acoustic instruments and anything you'd like to remain true to the source.