ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp Reviews

[brandondrury]

ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp Description
The original Tube MP made pro-caliber tube preamping available to ordinary musicians and home studios. The MP Studio goes a step further by adding a VU meter for better level control and ART's OPL (Output Protection Limiter), which controls and maintains the output peak signal to protect hard-disk recording systems and soundcards. The VU meter reflects the impact of the OPL circuitry when it is activated, which allows more effective fine tuning of the audio signal. It is a valuable tool for recording in project and home studios and can also function as a DI box with impedance matching and preamplification for line-level sources. Includes a 3-year warranty.

[johncub]

Quality: 10
All steel construction, heavier than I would have expected. All connections are tight, buttons and knobs feel very solid. Analog VU meter is responsive and backlit. Tube is purported to be a 12AX7A but upon opening the device it is labelled as a 12AX7B. Internally there is quality foam for shock absorption. Tube appears to be a tight fit in the small enclosure. 12 volt AC power, cord supplied. High and low impedance inputs and outputs. It is not recommended, per manual, to use both inputs at once. In practice it does work. The outputs are balanced (xlr) and unbalanced (1/4") The manual does say it is ok to use both outputs at the same time. There is no on / off switch.

Sound quality is exceptionally high for the price. No hiss, no hum, no noise. Pots are smooth and do not make noise while adjusting during recording. Phase reversal works as expected, Output limiting functions well.

Reliability: 10
I have used this unit for approximately 30-50 hours with no problems of any kind to report. I have not dealt with support.

Overall Rating: 10
Especially for the price this is an outstanding value. Lower in price than many DI boxes and functions that most DI boxes don't have. Smooth sound for guitar, bass, and vocals. Rugged case. The input power is 12v AC so will not work with most multi-plug effects type power units. Wall wart is of standard size, not slimlined. Made in USA.

This unit will never replace a high end tube preamp but for live work or the hobbyist this unit is worth twice the asking price. I plan to purchase at least two more and recommend it highly to anyone.

[Metal Marc]

NOTE: I am rating this portable mic pre against its peers - the under-$200 portable mic preamps - and NOT against UA, Great River, Manley, etc.

Quality: 8
It's definitely a solid, well-built little preamp. The only reason I've had to replace one is because it got ran over by my friend's big-ass pickup truck after a gig. The stock tube is a straight-up Chinese suppository, so the first thing I'd do is buy a brand new tube for it. I recommend:
- NOS JAN Phillips 5751 (my #1 recommendation; it's what I have in both my Tube MPs and what I've used since Date of Purchase +7)
- Tung Sol 12AX7 (very musical tubes; gotta say I'm impressed with the TSs)
- Mullard 12AX7 (another new reissue I'm impressed with)
If you wanna replace that tube with some more expensive NOS tubes, go ahead. I'm sure it wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it'd to much good.

Recording - 6.5
Please understand it's not the greatest preamp, not by a long shot. If you want to record with it, you should definitely switch out the tube with one of a better quality. I've had great success using these to record my friends' bluegrass group a few times. We used their mics...MXL V93M's. It sounded great for bluegrass. [note: I make the assumption that if you own a Tube MP, you probably don't own high-end mics]

Live Use - 9
I've used a Tube MP live on my bass for hundreds of gigs since 90 or 91 [this is the same thing, but with a meter] I highly recommend this for live use, especially for bass. I have passive pick-up basses, and the Tube MP adds that 'growl' I like. Several of my friends have used these - mine and stock Tube MPs - for their guitar rigs with decent results.


Reliability: 10
Extremely reliable. Never had a problem with it. It doesn't work when someone parks their big pickup truck on it. Ha ha ha!

Overall Rating: 8
A great starter preamp. Replace that dreadful valve/tube and you'll double the value of this tough, portable preamp.

[garageband]

Quality: 2
I have never heard a more useless, cloudy, distorted preamp anywhere: free-standing or as part of mixer or interface. The worst ever. It gets a 2 because it has 48V and is Chinese industry standard build quality, so the box itself ain't bad. Changing the tube for something good quality barely made a difference. I heard the other day that replacing the opamp helps. Hey, what are we running here?!?!

Reliability: 5
I got an RA from Musician's Fiend within the hour or getting it in the door. It is that obviously bad.

Overall Rating: 1
What a ridiculous product - pawned off on novices to take their money. An appalling product. In the distant past this was not made in China to the same low standard and was not this horrible. I bought a Dual MP in '92, replaced the tubes and it was almost nice. This is NOT the same unit.

[suprstar]

It's an entry level pre, cheap, marketable cuz of the 'tube'. But the tube barely glows at all, it's a starved plate design which means it's running at far lower than optimal voltage. There's a lot better pres out there, but this one is decent for the price. I think tolerances must be loose in manufacturing, cuz a lotta ppl complain about it being super-noisy, while some ppl say it sounds great. I also have a DMP3 which is waaaay better, so I really only use the tube mp as a bass DI now.

Quality - 5 - It sounds ok, w a r m s up your tone a little, sounds better than my mixer pres.. I can crank my gain/vol up to almost max and there's a little hiss but not bad, but it'd add up if you used it on a lot of tracks.

Reliability - 8 - I've never had a single problem with mine, but I've heard a few complaints.. It feels nice and solid, nice heavy metal case.

Overall - 6 - It's better than nothing. If you only have $40 and not too high of an expectation, get it.