Great River Debuts ME-1NV Preamp"A variation of the classic Neve sound"
April 17, 2003Great River Electronics has introduced the ME-1NV single-channel preamplifier, a desktop professional audio device that brings the classic 70s vintage sound to project and personal studios. The ME-1NV offers identical performance and specifications to its dual-channel predecessor, the MP-2NV "Mercenary Edition," bringing together modern electronic circuitry and classic design to recreate the vintage sound of the legendary Neve 1073 preamp for today's digital recording processes.
Like the MP-2NV, with which it shares identical circuitry, the ME-1NV represents a collaboration between Great River Electronics, Mercenary Audio and Sowter Transformers and is something of a departure from Great River's typical design goals. The custom-designed Sowter transformers and modern components of the ME-1NV result in a lower noise floor, extended frequency response, and superior bass clarity yet also provide the "tunable" richness of tone associated with the classic Neve module.
Great River has reproduced the sonic signature of the 1073 to allow for transformer saturation or the soft distortions of a single-ended amplifier while offering greater clarity and focus in the low end than the original, and with a more open soundfield. Pushed hard, the ME-1NV will add all the punch and vitality of the original device yet with a larger, clearer, and more distinct sound.
The front panel includes a 12-position, gold-plated gain control adjustable in 5dB steps from 5dB to 60dB, and an output amplifier continuous gain control that can be adjusted from -25dB to +10dB, giving an overall maximum gain of 70dB. The front panel quarter-inch, hi-Z instrument input feeds an input transformer and a unique FET buffer amplifier. The output amplifier is a single-ended proprietary transformer-coupled design.
Switches are provided for phantom power and signal polarity, as well as input impedance selection between 1200ohms and 300ohms and output transformer loading in/out. Dual six-LED ladders allow the metering of both the second amplifier and output stages and the optimization of levels through the device.
The fully balanced inputs and outputs are accessed via rear panel XLR connectors, and a TRS patch jack additionally allows insertion of a compressor or equalizer ahead of the output amplifier. A quarter-inch, -10dbV output jack is provided that may be used to feed a no-latency monitor mix.
List Price: $1,499
For more information, visit their web site at www.greatriverelectronics.com. | 
