Grace Design m801mk2 Microphone Preamp

Grace Design m801mk2 is an eight-channel microphone preamplifier in a 2U chassis, the third generation of a line started with the Model 801 in 1994. A new trans-impedance amplifier circuit with a fully differential signal path, no electrolytic capacitors, 1% metal film resistors and 24-position gold-contact gain switches sets a new noise floor and bandwidth benchmark in its class, giving the engineer eight channels of reference, non-colouring preamplification ready for any source and any microphone.

A transparent front end for any microphone

An overly colouring preamp imposes its own character on a recording before the engineer has made a single creative decision. The m801mk2 is designed the other way: a fully differential trans-impedance path, no electrolytic capacitors in the signal and a bandwidth spanning 3.2 Hz to 530 kHz at 20 dB gain deliver a near-neutral transfer of the source to the DAW. THD+N below 0.0004% at 20 dB gain and -130 dB EIN with a 50-ohm source at 60 dB gain let the subtlest micro-dynamic detail of any microphone come through, from dynamic to condenser to ribbon.

Ribbon mode and a complete per-channel feature set

A ribbon microphone needs higher impedance, 10 dB of extra gain and phantom lockout, otherwise it loses dynamics and character. Ribbon mode on each m801mk2 channel raises the input impedance to 20 kΩ, shifts the gain range by 10 dB and locks out 48 V with a single push. Every channel has independent 48 V, polarity reverse, a -20 dB pad and a 24-position gold-contact gain switch with 1% resistors, ensuring repeatable, precise settings. Dual XLR outputs per channel allow feeding two recorders simultaneously or a console input and a converter input at the same time.

KEY FEATURES

• Eight-channel microphone preamplifier in a 2U chassis
• Trans-impedance architecture, fully differential path, no electrolytic capacitors
• 24-position gold-contact gain switch, 1% metal film resistors
• Ribbon mode: 20 kΩ impedance, +10 dB gain shift, 48 V lockout
• EIN noise: -130 dB at 50 Ω, 60 dB gain
• THD+N below 0.0004% at 20 dB gain
• Dual XLR outputs per channel (two recorders simultaneously)
• Internal 100-240 V supply, no wall-wart
• 20-year EON warranty

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Manufacturer: Grace Design
• Type: eight-channel microphone preamplifier, 2U
• Architecture: trans-impedance, fully differential, no electrolytic capacitors
• Input impedance: 8100 Ω (standard), 20 kΩ (Ribbon mode)
• Frequency response (20 dB gain): 3.2 Hz-530 kHz (±3 dB), 14.8 Hz-109 kHz (±0.2 dB)
• THD+N: below 0.0004% (20 dB), 0.0008% (40 dB), 0.0070% (60 dB) at +20 dBu, 1 kHz
• EIN noise: -130 dB (50 Ω), -127 dB (150 Ω), -123 dB (600 Ω) at 60 dB gain
• Crosstalk: -140 dB at 1 kHz, 40 dB gain
• CMRR: over 85 dB at 60 dB gain, 1 kHz
• Max output: +28 dBu
• Input: 8x XLR, output: 16x XLR (2x per channel)
• Phantom power: +48 V, switchable per channel
• Gain: 24-position gold-contact switch, 1% resistors
• Power: internal 100-240 V AC, max 40 W draw
• Manufacturer warranty: 20-year EON