Coveted by top engineers and producers since its introduction in 1970, the Neve 1073 channel amplifier represents the Holy Grail of characterful microphone preamplification and the epitome of definitive “British EQ.” Introduced shortly after the 1073 as an upmarket alternative, the 1084 offered increased flexibility with selectable HF shelf frequencies, selectable narrow or wide midband Q, and both lowpass and highpass filters. Like the 1073, the 1084 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 1084 80-series Microphone Preamp & EQ module. Handwired true to the original vintage design and updated to meet the demands of modern workflows, the 1084 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. Considered a “1073 on steroids” by savvy engineers, the 1084 delivers the same iconic sound, but is even more highly coveted for its added flexibility. With a generous 80dB of gain on tap, the 1084 handles even your lowest-output passive ribbon mics on quiet sources. While today’s 1084 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 1084. 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 1084 80-series Preamp & EQ module offers you a user experience like no other. The robust build quality of the 1084 — including its rotary switches, stout metalwork, and internal hand wiring — is manifestly superior even to most of today’s high-end pro audio gear. And it’s a joy to use. In operation, 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 we still see half-century-old Neve consoles in major studios worldwide. This is how they used to build professional audio equipment — 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. And by the early 1970s, the Neve company was humming along, taking orders and building custom transformer-balanced consoles for recording and broadcast studios the world over.
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. And 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.
While the 1084 builds on the same basic design of the world-famous 1073®, it offers a significantly different palette of frequency selections. The 1084 also features a “Q” switch, allowing the user to choose between two different Q types, either narrow or wide with respect to the parametric band. Hand-built in our 60,000 square foot factory in Burnley, UK, the 1084 follows the original 80 series module specification from the early days of Neve®.
The 1084 builds on the same basic design of the 1073®, but offers a significantly expanded range of frequency selections. Its improved EQ section features selectable high shelf frequency points for greater control over the airband, Hi-Q mid-band settings for precision over the presence range, and an added lowpass filter to complement the 1073’s highpass filter.
The 1084 uses the same Marinair® specification transformers as the 1073® for its microphone and line inputs, as well as on the balanced line output stage, helping to produce the classic Neve® module character. Discrete class-A circuitry is used throughout, ensuring the design is free from crossover distortion and produces a subtle, warm, and musical analogue hue to any line or microphone source.
The classic 5dB stepped Elma switch delivers accurate gain levels throughout the gain range, eliminating the need for a separate mic/line switch. Three distinct gain stages provided by two independent transistor-based preamplifiers supply gain for DI, line, or microphone signals. The 1073® preamp found in the 1084 produces up to 80dB of microphone gain, combining multiple gain stages to bring out the musical drive and harmonic saturation for which the 1073 is famous.
The 180-degree phase flip feature is extremely useful in multi-microphone setups, ideal for top and bottom snare micing. The 1084 module has two impedance settings accessed via the rear-mounted Hi/Lo switch, allowing optimization for use with a wide range of modern or vintage microphones. The 1084 comes in two orientations: vertical modules for installation into a console or 8-module rack, and horizontal modules designed for use in a 3U stereo pair rack.
| Preamp Type | 80 Series Solid State Preamp (horizontal) |
|---|---|
| Number of Channels | 1 |
| Phantom Power | Yes |
| EQ | 3-band EQ, Highpass & Lowpass Filters, Selectable Mid Q |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz-20kHz (±0.5dB) |
| Polarity Switch | Yes |
| Module Slot Size | Single |
| Power Usage | 24V DC, 106mA ± 10mA |
| Height | 1.8" |
| Depth | 10" |
| Width | 8.75" |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs. |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 1084-CLASSIC-H |
