The Fredenstein VAS Mic Preamp is designed to help you capture the best sound with clear, balanced preamplification. It is a convenient desk-top mic preamp combined with a high quality headphone amp and unbalanced insert for compressors and EQs.
The Fredenstein VAS Mic Preamp stands for Vintage Analog Sound. The powerful discrete Fredenstein OPA2 and an American steel core output transformer are used to achieve that familiar color. It has been described as smooth without being dark, harsh or just “mid-rangy”. The Fredenstein V.A.S. MicPre is also very quiet which may be a departure from some old designs. The features include an Input Gain control (15-65 dB), Output Level Control, a 20 dB Pad, switchable polarity, selectable input impedance, switchable Low-Cut filter, and Phantom-Power support. Metering is provided with a 50 dB range, 8 LED Peak display. The combination of Input Gain and Output Gain controls allows you to creatively add some “drive” to the sound by turning the Input up and the Output down, or you can keep it clean and clear.
The balanced input and the balanced output are available on XLR and TRS connectors. With the optional rack mount kit, two Fredenstein V.A.S. devices can be mounted together to form a 19 inch 1U enclosure. For easy touring and recording around the world, the Fredenstein V.A.S. MicPre has a built-in universal power supply ranging from 90Vac to 240Vac, 50-60 Hz, as well as being solid and well built using quality components. The Fredenstein V.A.S. MicPre has proven to be very reliable indeed. Supply ranging from 90Vac to 240Vac, 50 -60 Hz.
As all Fredenstein products, the V.A.S. MicPre is designed by a German-American team and manufactured in Taiwan.
Fredenstein VAS Mic Preamp Features
- Single-channel microphone preamplifier with DI input for electric instruments
- Clear, vibrant, balanced sound from OPA2 discrete op-amp and steel-core output transformer
- Insert point allows you to integrate external processors like compressors, EQs, de-essers and effects
- Impedance switch lowers the input impedance for use with some dynamic/ribbon mics
- 48V phantom power for condenser microphones
- Pad switch activates a 20dB attenuator at the input stage
- Low-cut switch activates a filter centered at 60Hz to remove low-end mud and rumble
- Output Level control allows you to achieve saturated sounds by increasing input gain while reducing output level
- Front-panel headphone output with volume control for convenient signal monitoring
- Perfect for desktop use, can also be mounted in the Fredenstein V.A.S. Rackmount Kit
- Universal power supply (90VAC–240VAC, 50Hz–60Hz)
Fredenstein VAS Mic Preamp Specifications
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz, +/- 1 dB
- Distortion: < 0.05 % at +4 dBu Output Level
- Input Noise: < -127 dB
- Gain Range: 0 db to 65 db (Using Pad)
- Input Impedance: > 1500 Ohms or 300 Ohms Selectable
- Low Cut: 60 Hz (Switchable)
- DI Impedance: > 100K Ohms
- Max. Input Level: + 24 dBu, Pad Activated
- Output Impedance: 600 Ohms
- Max. Output Level: + 26 dBu
- Input Attenuator (PAD): - 20 dB (Switchable)
- Mains Voltage: 90 VAC to 240 VAC, 50 – 60 Hz
- Power Consumption: 25W max.
- Dimensions:
- With Feet: (L x H x D) 200 mm x 51 mm x 170 mm
- Without Feet: (L x H x D) 200 mm x 44 mm x 170 mm
- Weight: 1200 g
Fredenstein VAS Mic Preamp Includes
- 1 x Fredenstein VAS Mic Preamp
- 1 x IEC Power Cable
- 1 x Operating Manual
Fredenstein VAS Mic Preamp Warranty
- 1 Year Warranty
3 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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VAS preamp
Aug 29th 2016I was surprised at how quiet this preamp was. It has plenty of volume for my ribbon mics in fact they sound awesome in it. I don't compress much going into tape and mine don't need any outside help. It really sounds great with my strat too, its the iron. Its a little dark but very well defined. Thats what I do for live stuff. It's very unique and hard to compare with other stuff but I love it
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Good value
Feb 27th 2016I use a Focusrite ISA One in my modest home studio. I wanted a second mic preamp for greater recording flexibility, primarily two mic recording of acoustic guitar but wanted a preamp at lower price than my Focusrite. While reading on-line reviews of numerous preamps in the $350 or lower range I found the Fredenstein. This was a new name to me but reviews were good so I gambled. I've used the preamp only a few hours so the jury is still out, but it is certain that the amp is clean and has no background noise that I can hear. I like that it imparts no particular "flavor" to the sound because I want a clean un-muddied sound. When I want to warm the tone a bit more I insert my Warm76 compressor. I'm not one with a golden ear who can hear a big difference between components such as transformers. Again, keeping in mind I've used it only a few hours, the Fred sounds as good as the Focusrite to me. Since I like my Focusrite that is a good thing!
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Great value and product!
Feb 24th 2015I was looking for a new preamp in the $300 or so range and found this floor model of a brand I'd never heard of frankly. But, I researched online and checked the specs and thought "What the hell, it's a great deal" and bought it. So far I've tracked vocals and guitars, it blows away my interface preamps and my trusty old Symetrix SX202. Nice, clean gain. I've tried with dynamics and with a Cloudlifter my vintage EV RE16 and 635A sound like butter. I didn't like it with my SM7B but it wasn't unusable. I think we'll be hearing a lot more about these preamps in the coming months.
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