Warm Audio TB12 500 "Tone Beast" 500 Series Tone Shaping Microphone Preamplifier

Warm Audio's TB12 500 "Tone Beast" is a customizable 500-series mic preamp that's designed for those who enjoy removing stock opamps and replace them with their own, while capturing a range of sources well.

The goal being—for the first time—to build an affordable mic preamplifier with no compromise in the quality and design parameters that make this type of unit so desirable.

It includes 2 opamps—one vintage 1731, one cleaner 918 style—which are socketed and swappable from a choice of 2,520 6-pin footprint opamps (available separately). The unit also features 2 Cinemag USA transformers with multiple discrete signal paths for a bold sound, with the character of these appearing when one drives the pre into harmonic distortion. The output control allows users to limit the signal exiting the device, even when pushing the gain to high levels.

Features

• -20 db Pad
• LED VU Meter
• Premium components
• Designed for use in standard 500 series power racks

Specifications

• Discrete 312 preamp design with coupled CineMag Transformers
• 71 db of gain
• Transformer selection provides both Steel and 50% Nickel CineMag output transformers for varying character
• Transformer bypass switch allows for removal of the output transformer from the circuit
• Discrete opamp selection provides both the classic 1731 (vintage) and 918 (cleaner) style opamps
  • These are socketed/swappable with your choice of 2,520 6-pin footprint opamps (opams sold separately).
• Impedance switch labeled TONE to switch between 150 and 600 Ω input impedance
• Capacitor selection between Tantalum and Electrolytic for different sonic characters
• 80 Hz hi-pass filter
• Polarity reverse
• +48V phantom power
• Output attenuation allowing for saturation flexibility of both the opamps and transformers
• Balanced XLR mic, balanced TRS line, and ¼" instrument inputs