ART Pro MPA II Preamp Review

I just recently purchased the PRO MPA 2 channel tube pre from ART after doing some extensive research on quality mid-priced preamps. This particular unit has not only the normal gain/output knobs, but a variable impedance knob as well, which is a very cool feature when you want to get a certain response or color from your mic. I had this preamp in mind particularly for recording vocals, acoustic guitar (as it automatically decodes the figure eight mic signal when using a mid/side technique) and for running bass or guitar direct.

My first session with this unit was last week doing vocals on a track for Aaron Accetta with Katty Pleasant singing. I had her on an Shure SM7B with the MPA's plate voltage set on high. That really widened the bandwidth (15Hz-120kHz) and made her voice sound more open and airy. I played around with the impedance knob a bit, but ultimately settled somewhere around 300-350 ohms which seemed to work really well with the SM7B. I drove the tube hard enough so it was just barely clipping on the loudest sections, however with the high plate voltage it was still very transparent and clean (the normal plate voltage is appropriate for the majority of instrument applications, as opposed to the high setting being perfect for vocals).

In summary, I am very pleased with this preamp so far. It gives me a ton of flexibility concerning mic choice and coloration due to the variable impedance knob, and the tubes add such a warm, fat presence to the source signal. I have heard some of the best preamps out there and this thing is proving to be quite competitive sonically, not to mention its cost. I also just purchased the ART TubeOpto 8 and am excited to test/review it as well.

Factory Specs:

  • Frequency Response 15Hz to 48 kHz (+0, -1dB) @ normal plate voltage
  • 15Hz to 120 kHz (+0, -1dB) @ high plate voltage
  • Dynamic range: >110dB ("A" weighted)
  • CMRR: >90dB
  • THD: <0.005%
  • Equivalent Input Noise: -129dBu (XLR, "A" weighted)
  • Maximum Input Level: +19dBu (cannon)
  • Maximum Instrument Input: +17dBu
  • Input Impedance: 150-3000 Ohms adjustable (XLR)>800K Ohms (Instrument)
  • Maximum Output Level: +27dBu (XLR)
  • Output Impedance: < 47 Ohms (XLR)
  • Maximum Gain: 75dB
  • Meter Calibration: 0 VU = +4dBu output (+4dB mode)0 VU = -10dBV output (-10dB mode)
  • High Pass Filter: single pole, 10-200 Hz adjustable
  • Power Requirements: USA - 105 to 125 VAC / 60 Hz
  • Dimensions: (H x W x D in) 3.50 x 19.0 x 8.75
  • Dimensions: (H x W x D mm) 88 x 482 x 222
  • Weight: (lb/kg) 10.5 / 4.7