The Radial PowerPre 500-Series Preamp is a no-nonsense, high-headroom mic pre designed to deliver big, authoritative tone with the speed and punch engineers expect from Radial.
Built around a discrete Class-A signal path, the PowerPre brings serious weight and clarity to vocals, drums, guitars, and bass, making it a rock-solid front end for any 500-series rig—whether you’re tracking in the studio or capturing performances on location. At the heart of the PowerPre is a transformer-coupled input and a fully discrete gain stage that delivers up to 65 dB of clean, musical gain. The sound is bold yet controlled, with excellent transient response and low noise, even when pushed hard. A variable high-pass filter helps clean up low-frequency rumble, while the front-panel instrument input makes it easy to track bass or guitar direct with the same powerful tone and headroom as the mic path. Designed with Radial’s trademark attention to durability and audio integrity, the PowerPre is equally at home in modern digital workflows or classic analog setups. It’s a versatile, professional mic pre that delivers consistent results session after session.
Radial PowerPre 500-Series Preamp Features
- Discrete Class-A microphone preamp design
- Up to 65 dB of gain for low-output microphones
- Transformer-coupled mic input for rich, authoritative tone
- Front-panel ¼" instrument (DI) input
- Variable high-pass filter to control low-frequency buildup
- 48V phantom power for condenser microphones
- Polarity reverse switch for phase alignment
- LED signal and peak indicators
- Standard 500-series module format
Radial PowerPre 500-Series Preamp Applications
- The Basic Setup - The Radial PowerPre fits any 500 series rack. In its most basic setup, you connect a mic to the Radial PowerPre and send the XLR out to the recording system. Single dial control makes recording easy and efficient.
- The Mic Channel - Use the Radial PowerPre as the front end to drive an EQ and compressor to create the ultimate channel strip. Simple cascade one module into the next and send the final output to your recorder.
- Tracking Instruments - The Radial PowerPre is not just for mics! If you have a Workhorse, you can also use it as the front end when recording instruments or tracking a bass direct. Simply plug into the Omniport and you are set to go.
Radial PowerPre 500-Series Preamp Specifications
- Microphone Input:
- Circuit Type: 100% discrete, transformer coupled output
- Microphone Input: Accustate input fully variable gain control
- Current Draw: 130mA (maximum draw)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz ~ 20KHz +0/-1dB
- Input Impedance: 2.2k? (1.5k? with pad)
- Mic Preamp Gain: +55dB
- Maximum Gain: +70dB when used with Workhorse
- Maximum Output: +22dBu
- Output Impedance: 75? @ 1kHz
- Output Type: Transformer isolated
- Common Mode Rejection (CMRR): >75dB
- Equivalent Input Noise (EIN): -122dBu @ maximum gain
- Dynamic Range: >97dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD+N): 0.03% @ mid gain with +10dBu output
- Intermodulation Distortion (IMD): 0.012% @ 50dB gain with +10dBu output
- Instrument Input:
- Omniport Input Impedance: 150k?, unbalanced
- Instrument Preamp Gain: +55dB, unbalanced
- Equivalent Input Noise (EIN): -95dBu, unbalanced
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD+N): 0.05% @ mid gain with +10dB output
- Control Panel:
- Meter: 10 segment peak indicator with hold
- Pad: -15dB
- Polarity: Inverts pins 2 and 3 at XLR input
- High-pass Filter: 150Hz cut off, -3dB @ 100Hz
- Vox Control: 3 position preset EQ
- Phantom Power: 48VDC - 10mA (as supplied by 500 frame)
- XLR Configuration: AES spec: pin-1 ground, pin-2 (+), pin-3 (-)
- Ground Lift (rear panel): Lifts ground on front panel XLR input only
- Mechanical:
- Weight: 1.5lbs (0.7Kg)
- Shipping Size: 9 x 6.5 x 2 (inches)
- Compliance (API): Yes
- Compliance (WHOS-Doc): Yes
- Conditions: For use in dry locations only between 5°C and 40°C
Radial PowerPre 500-Series Preamp Includes
- Radial PowerPre 500-Series Preamp
- Manufacturer Warranty
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