Swedish boutique professional recording equipment manufacturer TK Audio has announced the DP-2 dual microphone preamp.

Each of the DP-2’s two channels is transformer balanced, using a high-end Lundahl transformer. The amplification stage offers a whopping 80dB of amplification. This stage is switchable between two entirely different circuits, of which one is designed for maximum transparency and the other adds a bit of midrange crunch, thanks to its germanium transistors.

Similarly, the output stage is also switchable between two distinctly different circuits. One is electronically balanced – again, for maximum transparency and fidelity – while the other is a class-A output circuit based around a Carnhill transformer for the coveted British 1970s character, with its low-mid presence and pleasantly rounded top end.

These options can be combined in any way, and used in conjunction with the DP-2’s separate input and output gain controls – leaving it up to the user to keep a conservative input level for low distortion or deliberately overdrive the preamp for a more pronounced character. All controls are stepped for precise recall. All in all, these variations make the DP-2 a cost-effective way of achieving a wide range of preamp characteristics. Each channel also has a sweepable high-pass filter (ranging from 30–400Hz), switchable input impedance, 48V phantom power, a 30dB pad and a Hi-Z instrument input.

The DP-2is available worldwide from January 2018, priced at US$1649/€1329/£1149 excluding sales tax/VAT.

More: www.tkaudio.se