When it comes to "warming" things up, any improvement in your signal chain will improve the quality of sound. A higher quality tube or solid-solid state preamp might be part of the equation.

If you think that a higher quality tube preamp is for you, then you should consider the A Designs MP-1. It's a one-channel tube mic preamp. The MP-1 is a 2U sized piece of gear. It's got a retro look and feel. Inside and out, the build quality conforms to what you'll find in the best pro audio brands.

As to sound, I hear a solid low end and an airy top end. And, it's clean. As a bass DI, I found it to possess a big, bombastic bottom end -- thick with a little smoothness. With all sources, I liked how the MP-1 put a big image in the monitors.

I tried the MP-1 with dynamic and condenser mics. I liked it with dynamic mics the best. It kind of gave them a hint of pleasing audio growl along with that airy top end I noted earlier. There is one singer I've used it with who likes to be in the control room and listen through the monitors while he sings into a Shure SM58. The MP-1 provides the best sonics of any pre I've used in this difficult situation. With the condenser mics, I kind of thought of the MP-1 as a candidate as the perfect preamp in most any vocal chain.

While the MP-1 is one of the cleanest sounds I've heard, it does possess a personality. It reminds me of classic tube hi-fi gear. And, don't forget that hint of pleasing growl. You hear it more with some sources than others. But, it's always there. I think of it as the imprint of the MP-1's personality on the sound. The A Designs MP-1 proves high fidelity and clean can be musical.

Peter Montessi of A Designs wants quality. When working with the designer, Peter insisted that no guitar tubes appear anywhere in the signal path. You won't see a 12AX7 tube on the schematic of the MP-1. You'll see tubes better suited for a mic preamp. The MP-1 uses 6NI-P and EF86 tubes. On the front end, there is a Jensen input transformer.

I tried to coax noise out of the MP-1. It seemed quiet across the entire gain range. A Designs says the MP-1 posseses 46 dB of gain. I'm a realist about gain. What matters to me is will it power up my mics while keeping noise out of the picture. One of my favorite tests is the Electro-Voice RE20 test. The RE20 is a classic dynamic mic. I've had problems getting enough power into this mic with some expensive mic pres with 60 to 65 dB of gain available. The MP-1 passed my RE20 test by fully powering up the mic with plenty of room to spare.

The MP-1 stands out in most any rack. It's tasteful retro vibe makes it an inviting piece of kit.

The Bottom Line: Highly recommended. A mic preamp of quality design, construction and sound. USA retail price is $1,400.

Link relating to this review: A Designs