The 8 Best Two Channel preamps (2023 reviews)

The presonus two channel preamp's high-end materials makes sure that it ages well with use. Live or in the studio, the bluetube dp v2 is a great-sounding tool you’ll use on a variety of sources. It provides a wide range of sounds. It is built to travel, its rear panel sports two combo mic/instrument inputs and unbalanced 14” and balanced xlr line outputs. It takes mic and line level signals.

It's presence is quite noticeable when using the Rode dynamic mike. It's designed for the output of a record player. This is a reasonably good pre-amp to add warmth to vocals. It is designed for the output of a record player.

Why We Like This:

A warm sound while practicing guitar whilst listening through headphones
Dual path, with both 12ax7 vacuum tube and solid-state gain stages
Added in the t-12ax7-s vacuum tube for a slightly warmer sound

Best For home Studio: Neumann Two Channel Preamp

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The neumann two channel preamp is capable of outshining several other preamp featured in this list in overall features for the price point. It is a state-of-the art dual channel microphone preamplifier with an integrated studio grade headphone amplifier. It is designed for the highest degree of linearity and sonic purity. It is designed to remove pops and rumble without signal degradation. It can withstand extensive wear and tear.

A switchable 20 dB pad allows the V 402 to be used with high level sources up to 28 dBu without distortion. Independent volume controls for each channel allow you to dial in a latency-free monitoring mix without affecting the recorded signal. It is thus the perfect complement to all Neumann microphones in order to unveil the true character of voices and instrument. It is designed to preserve the integrity of the microphone’s sound image.

Why We Like This:

Di inputs with high impedance for a brilliant sound
Studio quality headphone amplifier for precise monitoring
Fully transparent sound without unwanted coloration

Best With XLR Output: ART Pre amp

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate preamp. The art pre amp is exactly that - it's a simple preamp that hits all the right notes. Jazz vocals frequently cover a pretty wide range of dynamics within a given tune, from whispered phrases to near "power rock" levels at other places. The difference between both is that the ART Pro ChannelII has an equalization stage (semi-parametric EQ) that will be very usefull for you if you want to sculpt your voice tone. It is fast, fat and a bit aggressive, and is guaranteed to become a legend among compressors as has the pro vla.

With "in/out' front panel buttons for compressor and EQ, it's easy to control what's in the signal chain. It only has analog audio outputs. It's just sweeping through and finding the most ugly sounding frequencies and lessening them. 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 can also give hiss and also it is a wonderful piece of equipment.

Why We Like This:

Works great as a bass preamp
You can play with the frequencies easily
Excellent quality sound, quiet, 1/4" mono jacks, xlr plug, for microphone, musical instruments

Best For drum: Warm Audio Two Channel Preamp

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Best part: warm audio two channel preamp costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. It provides 4 channels of classic american console preamps in a sleek 1ru design. It is known for its high headroom and low distortion characteristics and has much to do with the coveted sound of these classic console preamps. It has all of the features one would expect from this style of preamp. This thing is punchy as heck, and captures drum kits with a detail and body that makes mixing a breeze. It also has plenty of gain for ribbon mics.

A tone switch (transformer input impedance) is also available on each channel, which allows you to choose between a warm and punchy classic console tone, or go for a more open & neutral sound. It's an amazing piece of gear not only because of the value but because it really sounds fantastic on a number of instruments. The Tone button definitely adds a mid range boost, but you have to be careful not to overdrive it, but the top end is musical.

Why We Like This:

Clear mid range when tone button is disabled
Fully discrete, transformer coupled, through-hole component topology
New and hot release

Best With ADAT: Audient Two Channel Preamp

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate preamp. The audient two channel preamp is exactly that - it's a simple preamp that hits all the right notes. It is an eight-channel microphone preampadc that delivers transparent, world-class audio.

Why We Like This:

Eight-channel microphone preamp/adc with burr brown converters
Good investment for long term

Best With Phantom Power: Great River electronics Two Channel Preamp

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The great river electronics two channel preamp is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. This single-rack-space pair of preamps offer the same definitive sonic fidelity and expert craftsmanship as all Great River products, with the ability to fine-tune gain effects like 1970 s-era 1073 s Transparency and vintage harmonic structure are both achieved with NV. It is a fundamentally important audio tool that brings out the best in every microphone and instrument.

Why We Like This:

High-current 70ma class a bias on output stage
10 dbv output for no-latency daw monitoring
High quality, custom wound sowter transformers

Best For Guitar: Presonus Class XMAX Mic Preamplifier

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The presonus class xmax mic preamplifier 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. It features a 12ax7 tube that operates on voltages double that of other preamplifiers in its class, producing lots of headroom and big tone. When it’s engaged, your signals flow through the tube preamp, and you can achieve anything from gentle warmth to edgy distortion.

It comes with two combo mic/instrument inputs, the half-rackspace bluetube dp v2 is a great choice for guitars and basses as well as for vocals. Each channel has an illuminated vu meter so you can visually monitor your input levels. It provides a wide range of sounds.

Why We Like This:

New and hot release
Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For Mic Preamp: ART Two Channel Preamp

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Art makes beautiful and great preamp with classic and smartly choosen materials. The new ART ProMPA II is the next generation in affordable high performance microphone preamp technology. It is a 2-channel mic preamp with selectable 48v phantom power. Each microphone input circuit, with selectable 48v phantom power, features variable input impedance which can radically vary the overall performance of any high quality dynamic or ribbon microphone. It is housed in a standard 2 rack unit with a rack-mountable steel chassis.

The ProMPA II can operate at either a low or high plate voltage on the two integrated hand-selected 12AX7 tubes for wider variation of preamp tone and performance. It is designed to deliver years of reliable operation in the studio, production facility, or on the road for live sound reinforcement. The ProMPA II can be configured for dual mono or stereo operation with selectable mid/side mic support, summing the adjacent channel, to decode left/right signals.

Why We Like This: