Black Lion Audio B173 mkII Single-channel British-style Mic/DI Preamp with Cinemag Transformer

Classic British warmth; small footprint.
The B173 mkII mic preamp packs a massive punch, delivering the muscular lows, assertive mids, and glossy highs characteristic of a vintage ‘73 preamp in a budget-friendly half-rack unit. It’s the most portable 1073-style British-sound preamp around, bringing you classic British tone to both microphones and DI-captured instruments.

Cinemag transformer-driven weight and color.
B173 mkII leverages Cinemag transformers on both the input and output stages. As a result, it delivers a whopping 70 dB of gain with a low noise floor for clean tones with minimal distortion. You get plenty of low-noise headroom ideal for using low-output ribbon mics on quiet sources. B173 mkII imparts a bold sonic assertiveness that beefs up any signal that passes through it.

The front-mounted DI (Hi-Z) input adds a harmonically rich tone to guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers. The stepped input gain and variable output attenuation allow for perfect control over transformer saturation.

• Preamp Type: Solid State
• Number of Channels: 1
• Phantom Power: Yes
• Polarity Switch: Yes
• Analog Inputs: 1 x XLR (mic), 1 x 1/4″ (Hi-Z)
• Analog Outputs: 1 x 1/4″ TRS
• Rack Spaces: Half-rack
• Power Source: 24V AC Adapter (included)
• Height: 1.75″
• Depth: 6.5″
• Width: 9.5″
• Weight: 3.2 lbs.
• Manufacturer Part Number: B173MK2