D.W. Fearn VT-2 Dual Channel Vacuum Tube Microphone Preamplifier

VT-Series Microphone Preamplifiers have long been the weapon of choice for top artists, engineers, producers, and other audio professionals. Designed to deliver unparalleled performance in ultra high-fidelity tracking sessions, any microphone or sound source will benefit from the improved clarity, definition, and lack of solid-state artifacts that are the hallmarks of the VT-Series.

In designing the VT Series of Microphone Preamplifiers, no compromise in sonic quality, reliability, or ruggedness was permitted. Like the best tube equipment of the 1950s and ’60s, each VT preamp is hand-built on a heavy-gauge aluminum chassis, utilizing point-to-point wiring. Additionally,Each and every vacuum tube is selected for minimum noise and microphonics, and to deliver maximum sonic clarity. The front panel switches control sealed, gold-contact precision relays for all audio switching, totally eliminating the possibility of dirty contacts degrading the sound quality while minimizing the internal audio path. Four class-A triode amplifier sections (in two tubes) in each channel comprise the entire active circuit.

This elegantly simple circuit, expertly executed with top-quality components and careful design optimization, provides the sonic superiority that the VT-Series preamps have become known for.

The VT-2 Preamplifier also features an integrated, switchable 43 dB pad, enabling it to be patched into the Master Bus at line level during mixdown and mastering to provide the unique D.W. Fearn sonic signature to the final product.

VT-2 Videos

VT-2 Tutorial - Part 1

VT-2 Tutorial - Part 2

Features

  • All vacuum-tube design

  • Lo-Z input position for superior performance with transformerless microphones

  • Phase (polarity) reverse switch

  • +48 volt phantom power (completely disconnected when off)

  • Integrated, switchable 43 dB pad for Line Level processing

  • Custom-design Jensen input and output transformers

  • 20 dB input pad (switchable)

  • True VU meters (amplifier isolated)

  • All point-to-point audio wiring

  • Gold input and output XLR connectors

  • Polypropylene and polystyrene coupling capacitors

  • All audio switching through gold-contact, sealed precision relays

  • International operation on 100, 120, or 220 VAC, 50/60 Hz

  • CE certified, RoHS-compliant

  • +4 dBm output

  • Conservatively rated precision components and rugged construction for stability and long life

Specifications

  • Input 150 ohms

  • Input Load Impedance 1.5k ohms

  • Minimum Input Level -65 dBm nominal

  • Maximum Input Level @ 20 cps -30 dBm without pad, -5 dBm with 20 dB pad

  • Gain 53 dB

  • Frequency Response +/-0.25 dB 20 cps to 20 kc; -3 dB @ 0.5 cps and 55 kc

  • THD+Noise less than 0.25% 20 cps to 20 kc

  • Intermodulation Distortion SMPTE less than 0.02%

  • Signal to Noise Ratio 74 dB minimum

  • Equivalent Input Noise -124 dBm maximum

  • Output low-Z, transformer-balanced

  • Maximum Output Level +22 dBm, 20k ohm load

  • Power Requirements 100, 120, or 220 VAC, 50/60 Hz

  • Dimensions 19” (48.26cm) W, 5.25” (13.34cm) H, 14” (35.56cm) D