The 11 Best Studio Mic preamps (2023 reviews)

The triton audio studio mic preamp is capable of outshining several other preamp featured in this list in overall features. The Fethead is just a simple inline pre to give you around a. It provides improved sound for ribbon and dynamic microphones. It is an ultra-low noise, high quality, in-line microphone preamplifier. It plugs right into the mic and into the preamp, and works just as well either way using the Shure SM7B. It provides noise-free boost to signal from low output ribbon microphones, eliminating need for boutique ribbon preamps.

This model requires phantom power to boost the dynamic mic output. It will only work with dynamic mics and does need phantom power to work properly. It is a clean pre-amp for a dynamic mic.

Why We Like This:

Really comes in handy when you need that little bit of gain
Adds more than enough db for any dynamic mic
Designed for ribbon and dynamic microphones
Perfect tone and no background noise at all

Best For home Studio: ART Pre amp

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The art pre amp should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. It can be used for Microphones or Guitar Amps as it comes with 2 XLR jacks 1 in and 1 out as well as 2 1/4" jacks 1 in and 1 out. The center rotary switch allows you to dial in the tone you would like in a manner similar to an equalizer but with that sound only a tube can give the voice or instruments for you musicians out there. It's controls allow setting of gain and output, and it will supply phantom power to the mic.

The upper overtones are also accentuated and that's what makes the overall experience really unique. It does the job for small studio work and recordings. It will give you some warm tube boost to a guitar tube amp or warmth/boost to a non-tube amp as well as giving mics warmth. This is a good choice to start with, especially for vocals.

Why We Like This:

Very good bang for the buck, and highly portable
Adds a lot of welcome color to vocals, acoustic instruments, mic'd cabs, etc
Great for turning mic volume up and down

Best For boosting weak Dynamic Mic Signal: DBX Studio Mic Preamp

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The dbx studio mic preamp is specially designed for your daily usage and has all useful features. It's one of the most incredible radio quality equipment. It is perfect for cardioid mics like the Shure SM27B which needs a lot of gain. As a mic preamp it works great for dynamic mics such as the Shure SM27B which needs a lot of gain. It is easy to configure the settings for professional high quality sounding broadcasts.

The DBX 286s offer a full complement of metering and status leds to visually guide you to achieving the right sound. Not only will it save time but it gives professional body to your voice. It is great for boosting quiet voices so that the noise gate works properly. If you are passionate about getting the right sound, this will be a great addition plus it will save you precious time not having to go back for sound.

Why We Like This:

Enhancer and de-esser, and compressor, and expander gate
Xlr balanced for the mic, and 1/4 inch trs for your insert and output
Highly recommend product for recording musicians
Built robustly and the controls have a positive click like feel to them

Best For controlling The dynamics Of electric basses And guitars: Focusrite Studio Mic Preamp

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Focusrite makes beautiful and great preamp with classic and smartly choosen materials. If you need an audio interface and some solid recording software, the PreSonus Studio Series will do the job. Building on the features of the scarlett octopre, scarlett octopre dynamic brings you the ultimate scarlett expansion with eight scarlett mic preamps and analogue compression on every input channel providing a musical, soft-knee style of compression for more subtle control of your dynamics. It offers eight balanced line outputs, sourced directly from their respective mic preamps for use on stage in a live environment.

The Scarlett octopre dynamic is the ideal way of adding eight extra mic/line inputs to your daw. It lets you control the dynamics of all your input signals with an easy-to-use single-knob analog compressor on every channel. This can be connected to an audio interface or recorder with ADAT inputs. The eight outputs give you the option of expanding your analog outputs over and above the scarlett octopre. It is ideal for expanding any high quality, multi-channel recording system.

Why We Like This:

Pro performance with eight of the finest mic preamps
Create powerful guitars, luscious keys and huge drums
Lot of satisfied buyers

Best With reverb: Presonus Tube Preamp

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If you often find yourself scrambling for appropriate and satisfactory preamp, presonus tube preamp should be your first option for buying. It comes with the bluetube dp v2 dual-path preamp, you get the best of two worlds. It has instrument inputs on the back. It gives it a real tube amp sound. It's a nice sounding unit. The adapter reduces it to 12 Volts that this preamp runs by. It has a very nice build quality that looks like it will stand the test of time. It is designed for the output of a record player. It is great for home studios.

Why We Like This:

Added in the t-12ax7-s vacuum tube for a slightly warmer sound
A warm sound while practicing guitar whilst listening through headphones
Delivers what they promise

Best With XLR Output: Donner Studio Mic Preamp

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention donner studio mic preamp for regular usage. If you’re running something like an MXL microphone this thing will give it a booze that you will hardly believe is a distraction. The Donner Preamp is built well so it should last if used properly. Like a headphone amplifier it just makes the mic sound not only louder but clearer. The preamp is built like a tank and it's weight helps it to just sit tight when run on a cable across a floor. It is clearer in the highs and the lows are a little fuller.

This device is fairly unobtrusive and it plugs in line. The resulting sound is clear, clean, and professional, making it an excellent choice for recording vocals or other instruments. This is especially useful for recording podcasts or streaming sessions where background noise can be a distraction.

Why We Like This:

Great for dynamic non phantom mics
Works great for boosting quiet dynamic mics
Nice clean gain with absolutely zero hiss
Pretty good little preamp for recording on your computer

Best For stuff: DBX Low level Output Signal

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Best part: dbx low level output signal costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. The Dbx 580 microphone preamp is the perfect partner to your microphones, providing sonically-transparent gain that will reveal the detail and audio signature of even the weakest mics (Shure Sm7) and also has phantom power onboard for condensers. It adds a very nice air to vocals and sheen to acoustic guitar. The bypass button takes the compressor out of the circuit chain and feeds the audio signal downstream as if the dbx was not there.

The Dbx 580 has plenty of gain for even the weakest mics (Shure Sm7) and also has phantom power onboard for condensers. It's a very neutral and transparent pre that does still add some depth to the recordings. It is a 500 series unit, so requires a 500 series chassis. This thing is a workhorse.

Why We Like This:

Come in handy to add in some bottom end weight back in
Great compressor, classic sound in 500 series version
Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For The money: ART Studio Mic Preamp

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The art studio mic preamp should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. It features many new and exciting design enhancements to art’s pro and home studio staples, including the addition of a tube circuit to the compressor module. The compressor is pretty transparent, but if you use it right and not overdo it, it will help much more than just an interface to bring out clarity and punch to your vocals. It is fast, fat and a bit aggressive, and is guaranteed to become a legend among compressors as has the pro vla.

As a "channel" it has a pre amp, compressor and equalization. There are lots of knobs and buttons to configure each left and right signal to keep you busy. The instructions are well organized and clear. With "in/out' front panel buttons for the compressor and EQ, it's easy to control what's in the signal chain. The EQ is basic but provides better recordings and saves time on mixing and mastering.

Why We Like This:

Excellent quality sound, quiet, 1/4" mono jacks, xlr plug, for microphone, musical instruments
You can play with the frequencies easily
Wide leaders in tube dynamics signal

Best For Professional singer: Windlim Studio Mic Preamp

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The windlim studio mic preamp might be a relatively new release, but it's still nothing short of impressive this year, thanks to multiple price cuts and added new features over the past few months. If you’re a podcaster or radio brodcaster, a simple one-channel preamp could meet your needs. It is a device that takes the output of a microphone (low in terms of nominal level) and amplifies it to line-level, a standard used by pretty much all professional audio gear. By amplifying the mic's signal, the mic preamp maintains the natural sound of your microphone. It provides +25 db of clean, transparent gain for studio-quality sound.

The dynamic microphone amplifier is well built and once you plug in your xlr cables (not include), a microphone preamplifier will link to the output side, the hiss of any kind or audio illusion are significantly reduced. It is suitable for all passive dynamic microphones and ribbon microphones with no transfer of phantom power. This mic booster works great with no additional noise.

Why We Like This:

Safe for all passive dynamic& ribbon microphones
25 db of clean gain boost
Good brand reputation

Best For podcast: rolls Studio Mic Preamp

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Not everyone likes to purchase preamp for their daily usage, but the rolls studio mic preamp would be an anomoly. The Roll mp222 studio pro preamp is a professional, two channel microphone preamp designed for use with both large diaphragm and standard studio mics. It provides both individual channel xlr outputs and a dual 1/8 inch stereo output for connection to a computer sound card or mini stereo input. It really takes the richness away from the mic or line level so you should have no prob. If you need a device that allows you high-quality on-hold music for your business telephone system, this is what you need.

Why We Like This:

Good investment for long term
One of the new comers and featured product

Best For Professional And project Studio: Presonus Studio Mic Preamp

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Next on the list, we've got yet another preamp that manages to win our hearts. It's the presonus studio mic preamp and it's widely considered as one of the best convenient preamp you can buy.

Why We Like This: