Coveted by top engineers and producers since its introduction in 1970, the Neve 1073 channel amplifier represents the Holy Grail of characterful microphone preamplification. The 1073 mic/line input module defined the punchy, authoritative sound of the legendary Neve 80-series consoles that dominated professional recording studios in the Golden Age of Analog. Today, you can obtain this iconic sound for your studio with the AMS Neve 1073DPA 2-channel Mic/Line Preamp rackmount unit. Handwired true to the original vintage design and updated to meet the demands of modern workflows, the 1073DPA gives you a rich tonal palette for making audacious statements with your music.
Since the 1970s, the Neve 1073 has reigned as the most sought-after mic preamp and equalizer on the planet — one reason being its inimitable sound, another its impressive versatility. With a generous 80dB of gain on tap, the 1073 handles even your lowest-output passive ribbon mics on quiet sources. While today’s 1073DPA retains all its vintage bona fides, AMS Neve remains an R&D-driven company that continually improves their classic designs to meet and exceed the performance requirements of today’s hybrid analog-digital workflows. The name Rupert Neve is synonymous with custom transformer-balanced Class A circuitry, and AMS Neve continues to innovate in that realm with their state-of-the-art Neve Marinair specification transformers, found on the input and output stages of the 1073DPA. With their “big iron” transformers, Neve consoles deliver wide, linear bandwidth while maintaining audiophile quality throughout the spectrum for rich, full-bodied sound with formidable lows, assertive midrange presence, and sweet, airy highs.
Decked out in classic RAF blue-gray livery, the 1073DPA 2-channel Mic/Line Preamp offers a user experience like no other. The robust build quality — including its rotary switches, stout metalwork, and internal handwiring — is manifestly superior even to most of today’s high-end pro audio gear. Everything feels just right, from the spoon-in-honey throw of the pots to the satisfying precision click of the switches. As was all pro audio gear of the era, vintage Neve equipment was built with mil-spec parts and materials, which, together with their extraordinary sonics, explains why half-century-old Neve consoles are still found in major studios worldwide. This is how professional audio equipment used to be built — and AMS Neve still does.
At Music Experience, the name Neve commands reverence. Rupert Neve started designing audio equipment in the tube console era but made his mark with solid-state designs. Setting up shop in Little Shelford in the ’60s, Mr. Neve faced many obstacles establishing his brand amid a new technological landscape. Transistors were new, expensive, and difficult to obtain in quantity in the UK. Reliable faders didn’t exist yet — a far cry from today’s world, where parts are affordable and readily available from multiple suppliers, all competing to win bids. Nevertheless, Rupert persisted. By the early 1970s, the Neve company was humming along, taking orders and building custom transformer-balanced consoles for recording and broadcast studios around the world.
Neve 80-series consoles had a huge, punchy, and authoritative sound that defined the sound of ’70s rock. From London to New York to Los Angeles and beyond, top studios were installing Neve desks as fast as they could. By 1978, with the introduction of the majestic 8078 — the pinnacle of handwired analog “production” consoles — and NECAM automation system, Neve boards were the main component of the success formula for any recording studio with world-class aspirations. In the decades since, AMS Neve has innovated with groundbreaking products such as the VR, VX, and 88R series consoles. Today, the company continues to advance the state of the art with cutting-edge pro audio gear that sounds incredible and intelligently addresses the challenges of the digital age.
The 1073DPA provides two Class A Neve® 1073® microphone preamplifiers in a single rack space, without the additional EQ found on the classic 1073 unit — offering the very essence of the legendary 1073 sound. Exclusive Marinair® transformers are used on the input and output stages to produce that classic 1073® tonal character.
The 1073DPA retains the discrete, Class-A topology made famous by the classic 1073. The audio path is fully discrete and constructed using through-hole methods, including mounting the Marinair® transformers and Class-A transistor-based amplifiers. The classic 5dB stepped Elma switch delivers precise gain levels throughout the gain range. This unique layout eliminates the need for a separate mic/line switch, as the pot itself selects the preamp and input.
Three distinct gain stages, provided by two independent transistor-based preamplifiers, supply gain for DI, line input, or microphone signals. The 1073® preamp produces up to 80dB of microphone gain. By combining multiple gain stages and utilizing the output trim control, the 1073DPA can be driven hard, bringing out the musical drive and harmonic saturation that made the 1073 legendary.
The 1073DPA impedance can be optimized for a wide range of modern or vintage microphones, with quickly selectable settings of 1.2kΩ and 300Ω. Additionally, the 180-degree phase flip feature is ideal for multi-microphone setups, such as top and bottom snare micing, ensuring perfect phase alignment in complex recording situations.
| Preamp Type | Solid State |
|---|---|
| Number of Channels | 2 |
| Phantom Power | Yes |
| Polarity Switch | Yes |
| Analog Inputs | 2 x XLR (mic), 2 x XLR-1/4" combo (mic/line) |
| Analog Outputs | 2 x XLR (line) |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz-40kHz (±0.5dB) |
| Rack Spaces | 1U |
| Power Source | Standard IEC AC cable |
| Height | 1.75" |
| Depth | 10" |
| Width | 19" |
| Weight | 11 lbs. |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 1073DPA |
