73-style mic preamp.
The top of the line dual mono/stereo microphone preamplifier from Heritage Audio, there is no other current offering from any other major brand giving as much, in terms of authenticity, quality of construction and sound.
The Heritage Audio DMA 73 is a true dual 3-stage 73-style mic preamp in a 1 rack unit format. Added to the vintage accurate features, there are some key ones added for covering all needs of modern producers, engineers and musicians.
Employing only discrete circuitry and conventional, vintage-style componets, the DMA 73 is a faithful 3-stage all Class A 73 preamp. Custom styroflex and tantalum capacitors have been used throughout, no corners cut.
The DMA 73 is completely hand-made and hand-wired in our Madrid, Spain facility, employing only traditional through hole componentry, just like it was done in the 70s. It indeed takes a massive amount of qualified labor to get one unit ready for studio operation. The result is simply impressive.
Carnhill input transformers are hand wound at the Oxford factory exclusively for Heritage Audio, enclosed in vintage correct green metal cases for the ultimate in detail nailing.The vintage character is indeed guaranteed and you won´t find them in any other brand´s products.
The line mode allows for reamping prerecorded tracks and is perfect for adding the magic vintage Class A mojo to lifeless recordings. It indeed makes use of the mic input transformer.
The DI circuit is an all discrete Class A JFET circuit ahead of the microphone transformer, so none of the magic is compromised.
Since its introduction in 2012, the Heritage Audio´s DI circuit has become a classic for recording bass directly.
When looking to spend top $ for the ultimate vintage 73 preamp experience, always do the following fact check:
THE DMA 73 TRANSFORMERS:
No 73 preamp is such without the correct transformers. Heritage Audio went a step further than the competition. The output transformer, the same used all along Heritage´s line of products, is a Carnhill gapped one made exclusively for us in the St Ives factory. The input one, again exclusive to our company, is made in Carnhill´s Oxord factory, and has a big impact on the extra mojo of the unit. It is the same one found in our higher end 80 Series modules and produces one of the main sonic differences between the DMA 73 and the competitors.
When looking for an exclusive sound, do not settle for non-exclusive transformers.
- Microphone input impedance: HI=1200 Ω minimum, LO=300 Ω minimum. Higher gain positions gradually have greater impedances, optimum for lo gain ribbon mics. Input is Carnhill transformer balanced and floating.
- Line input impedance: 10 kΩ bridging, Carnhill transformer balanced and floating.
- DI input impedance: Greater than 2 MΩ, unbalanced.
- Output impedance: Less than 75 Ω , Carnhill transformer balanced and floating, to drive a load of 600 Ω (factory terminated).
- Maximum output: Greater than +26 dBm into 600 Ω.
- THD: Less than 0.025 % at 1 kHz, less than 0.05 % at 100 Hz.
- Frequency response: 20 Hz (+0.3 dB) to 20 kHz (-0.2 dB).
- Maximum gain: Slightly greater than 80 dB.
- Noise: Less than -100 dBm.
- Power consumption: 88 mA per rail @±16 V DC.