Grace Design
Grace Design M201 MKII
Best transparent preamplification for professional studio recording and critical listening.
Capture pristine audio with this professional two-channel microphone preamplifier. Its transformerless, fully balanced design ensures a transparent signal path with exceptionally low noise, ideal for any microphone. Features a dedicated ribbon mic mode and precise 24-position gain controls for detailed sound. Versatility is enhanced with front-panel DI inputs and a built-in M+S decoder for stereo width control, making it a powerful tool for studio engineers seeking ultimate clarity.
More M201 Options
Owner Satisfaction
4.8
/ 5
Category Rank
3
/ 606
#3 in Microphone Preamps
Channels
2
Who it's for
- Recording engineers, audiophiles, mastering professionals
- Studio professionals, classical music producers, sound designers
- Engineers using ribbon microphones, vintage gear enthusiasts
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious producers, home studio owners, aspiring engineers
- Engineers seeking character preamps, producers desiring vintage tones
- Users expecting all-in-one solutions, project studio owners
Performance breakdown
Signal Transparency
The transformerless design delivers an incredibly clean and uncolored sonic path.
Noise Floor
Exceptionally quiet operation ensures your recordings remain free of unwanted hiss.
Gain Precision
Gold contact rotary switches offer repeatable, surgical control over your input levels.
Ribbon Mic Versatility
Dedicated mode provides the specific impedance needed for delicate ribbon microphones.
Stereo Imaging
Built-in M+S decoding makes managing complex stereo arrays effortless and intuitive.
Build Integrity
High-end components and sealed relays ensure long-term reliability for professional studios.
Key Specs
Channels
2
Design
Fully balanced, transformerless
Outputs
Dual parallel XLR outputs per channel
Special Modes
Ribbon mic mode
Inputs
Front panel DI/instrument inputs
Features
Built-in M+S decoder with dedicated outputs and front panel width control
Gain Control
Precision 24 position gold contact rotary switch
Capacitors
No electrolytic capacitors in signal path
Know before you buy
The M201 MKII includes a dedicated ribbon mic mode that optimizes the input impedance and gain structure for sensitive ribbon elements. This ensures you get the best performance and protection for your vintage or modern ribbon mics.
Yes, the unit features high-quality front-panel DI inputs specifically designed for instruments. These allow you to plug your guitar or bass directly into the preamp to capture a clean, detailed signal before it hits your interface.
The M+S decoder allows you to process Mid-Side stereo microphone configurations directly within the preamp. It provides dedicated outputs and front-panel width control, making it much easier to manage stereo imaging without needing additional plugins or external hardware.
By removing electrolytic capacitors from the signal path, Grace Design minimizes potential coloration and phase distortion. This design choice contributes to the preamp's signature transparent, high-fidelity sound, ensuring your recordings remain as accurate as possible.
The gain controls use precision 24-position gold contact rotary switches. This design provides consistent, repeatable gain settings, which is essential for maintaining perfect channel matching when recording stereo sources.
Yes, the preamp is designed with an extremely low noise floor, allowing you to use high-gain settings on quiet sources without introducing unwanted hiss or artifacts. It is well-suited for demanding applications where clean, transparent amplification is required.
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