TK Audio DP3 Preamp

The TK Audio DP3 Preamp is a versatile, hybrid-design stereo microphone preamp that includes vintage and modern circuits to deliver a broad range of creative tonal options.

With the DP3, you’ll get  the mid-range germanium crunch of the mid ‘60s; the low-mid punch and thick sound associated with British class-A preamps from the early ‘70s; and the more modern tones of the ‘80s and ‘90s.  Get vintage color, modern transparency, or even something in between — all in one rack space. The DP3 from TK Audio. 

Tons of Tones
While the DP3 includes TK’s proven input stage and germanium circuit from the DP2, we’ve also incorporated a new saturation circuit that — together with the vintage class-A stage — gives you a broad palette of character choices. The input stage is designed around a high quality Swedish Lundahl transformer and high gain stage, followed by selectable saturation and germanium circuits for even more color and harmonics. Instead of switching output stages, as was done in previous models, the class-A stage is now inserted in front of the Output level control, letting you drive the transformer harder without overloading your A/D converters while making the output less sensitive to different impedances. The class-A stage uses a heavy, custom-made Carnhill transformer that produces a fat, punchy sound with mid-range character and a warm top end.

Ideal for colorful DI recording
The Hi-Z direct mode function bypasses the input transformer and input stage, and sends the instrument signal directly to the high-pass filter and the selectable saturation and germanium circuits. The dedicated Hi-Z instrument input has a separate activation switch, so you can leave your instrument connected all the time! Direct mode gain is +14 dB, which is perfect for bass recording together with the class-A stage. The sweepable high-pass filter goes from 30 Hz to 400 Hz for precision crafting of the low end.

TK Audio DP3 Preamp Features

• Stereo microphone preamp with vintage and modern circuits
• Hi-gain input stage with up to 80 dB of gain
• Selectable vintage class-A stage
• Lundahl and Carnhill transformers
• Selectable germanium and saturation circuits for more color and harmonics
• Sweepable high-pass filter, 30-400 Hz, 12 dB/octave
• Instrument input with 2 Mohm impedance
• Output level placed after class-A stage
• Headroom meter with eight LEDs

TK Audio DP3 Preamp Specifications

• Input impedance: 1600 ohm / 400 ohm
• Instrument input impedance: 2 Mohm
• Max output level: +26 dBu
• DI-direct gain: +14 dB
• Frequency response electronic balanced: -0,2 dB @ 80 kHz
• Frequency response class A inserted: -0,5 dB @ 20 kHz
• THD+N @ +20 dBu: 0,007%
• THD+N @ +20 dBu, class-A inserted: 0,01%
• THD+N @ +20 dBu, saturation stage active: 0,3%
• THD+N @ +20 dBu, germanium stage active: 1%
• Power requirement: 115 v or 230 v internally selectable
• Power consumption: 15 VA

TK Audio DP3 Preamp Controls

• Hi-Z input: High impedance instrument input with 2 Mohm input impedance
• In: activates the instrument input
• Direct: bypasses the mic input stage and feeds the Hi-Z input stage directly to the HPF
• 48v phantom power switch: with separate LED indicator
• Gain switch in 5dB steps: -25 to -80 dB, +5 dB to -25 with -30 dB pad selected
• Headroom meter: This LED meter is a headroom meter, NOT a VU-meter. It is connected before the Output level control to show the internal headroom even if you have lowered the output level. With the level at max, the meter indicates clip at +25 dB.
• -30 dB: pads the input signal by -30 dB (for best signal to noise ratio, avoid the 30 dB pad if not needed)
• Impedance: Switches the mic input impedance (1600 ohm/400 ohm)
• Sweepable high pass filter: 30-400 Hz, 12 dB/octave
• Saturation: inserts a saturation stage for extra harmonics after the HPF
• Germanium: inserts a germanium stage after the HPF (for more color, select higher gain and back off a little with the output level control)
• Class-A: engages Class-A Carnhill transformer stage for fat, punchy sound
• Output level control: adjusts the output level after the class-A stage if inserted
• Polarity switch: flips the output polarity

TK Audio DP3 Preamp Includes

• TK Audio DP3 Preamp
• Power Cable
• Manufacturer Warranty