inputs.text: quality price - using micpre year no problehems used preamp largediaphragm condenser mic 48v line level converter active di box highimp converter di box three passed flying colors encounter no noticeable additional hum noise unit though recommend letting tube warm minutes recording keeping gain minimum 26db crucial avoiding excess noise hum many tubebased micpres common increase gain accordingly adjust output level means force warm \\tube compression\\ sound unit would recommend opposite output even max surprisingly clean noisefree output nears 10db max start toying gain really need \\tube\\ sound go expensive model not say not get tube compression mic100 subtle like unit get warm touch wish switch come power cable clip though easy enough unplug without loosing wire behind equipment builtin limiter nice addition though prefer disable instead record safer ie lower level adding necessary limiting andor compression post led level monitors highly responsive giving quick accurate level readouts recommended