What makes a good preamp?

[Hemmick Reef]

What does an expensive preamp do to a signal compared to a cheaper one?
I've always wondered what's happening in the box....don't make it too technical please if possible!

Thanks

 

[Eurocide]

A preamp should amplify a signal to a reasonable recording level with the lowest amount of noise and distortion.

Cheap preamps tend to have less headroom and so they distort much earlier than a \"bigger\" one. Also the cheap ones have got more noise.

The \"character\" & colour which is added by the preamp depends on your personal taste. So you have to test several devices to find the one you like.

 

[Hemmick Reef]

Some of the cheaper preamps/strips like the Focusrite Platinum range (Voicemaster Pro for example) are supposed to have low noise & distortion with good headroom, although they don't seem to get great reports from users, although it has had some very good magazine reviews!

 

[Michael]

Some of the cheaper preamps/strips like the Focusrite Platinum range (Voicemaster Pro for example) are supposed to have low noise & distortion with good headroom, although they don't seem to get great reports from users, although it has had some very good magazine reviews!

I use this preamp quite a bit I think its a nice clean micpre

 

[Eurocide]

Some of the cheaper preamps/strips like the Focusrite Platinum range (Voicemaster Pro for example) are supposed to have low noise & distortion with good headroom, although they don't seem to get great reports from users, although it has had some very good magazine reviews!

Sorry, I meant REALLY cheap (<600$). I won't put Focusrite into the cheap corner!
Focusrite is fine, but not my taste.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

The Rane MS 1b is $149 & has the same noise/distortion specs as the Grace 101. It doesn't have much character but is probably the best preamp for the price.