Black Lion Audio B173 MKII Single-Channel British-Style Mic / DI Preamp

The B173 MKII is Black Lion's British-console-style channel: one solid-state preamp with Cinemag transformers on both the input and the output, delivering 70 dB of gain over a low noise floor. The control layout is what makes it useful rather than just loud, a stepped input gain switch paired with a variable output attenuator, so you can drive the input hard into transformer saturation and then pull the level back down before it hits the converter.

The front panel has switchable phantom power and a polarity switch. Inputs are one XLR for a microphone and one 1/4 inch Hi-Z for instruments, with a 1/4 inch TRS output. The half-rack chassis is 9.5 x 1.75 x 6.5 inches at 3.2 lbs and runs from the included 24 V AC adapter.