The low shelf overlaps the high pass filter, diving all the way down to 35Hz and topping out at 220Hz. This particular EQ has been famed over the decades for its ability to enhance the musicality of any number of sources.Īt the bottom of the range, there’s a high pass filter that starts at 50Hz – for cleaning up any subsonic rumble – climbing all the way up to 300Hz for extreme filtering. So even without engaging the EQ, the sound is crisp and powerful.īut of course, to actually reshape the sound, you have EQ options across the width of the frequency spectrum at your disposal. It also means that it’s less susceptible to distortion (unless you want it to distort).

While this doesn’t make for the most power efficient design, it is reliably linear – meaning that the output can produce an accurate copy of the input. Basically, this means that the input and output stages are on at full power at all times. So, super high quality transformers at the input and output of the unit, promising high fidelity representation of the audio source: check!Ĭlass A is also a term worth exploring when it comes to the spec sheet of the 1073. The higher the quality transformer, the less likely your signal will be affected by radio interference and ground loops. For the crucial job of developing the 1073’s transformers, Neve worked in conjunction with fellow British firm, Marinair. Transformers play the role of matching the impedance between audio sources and provides isolation between circuits. Even the units built today follow the original specs to the letter (more on that later). In the case of the 1073, all components are hand-wired. This means that there is no integrated circuit board and therefore, all components within can be designed individually and without compromise.

So what are these key ingredients?įirstly, there is the fact that the unit operates with discrete components. From beginning to end, every component was designed with the highest possible quality in mind. As such, there is no one component that makes the 1073 such a desirable preamp. From the very beginning, Rupert Neve was able to ensure that all of his products were built with the maximum amount of care and craftsmanship.

Neve 1073 preamp vs 1073 plugin