Grace Design M201-GRACE m201 Dual Channel Microphone Preamplifier

The Grace Design m201 delivers unmatched audio performance, with massive headroom, ultra-wide bandwidth and a very open, musical character. The signal path has been hot-rodded to be fully balanced from start to finish, resulting in a wider dynamic range, while new high-current output drivers enable even longer cable runs without signal loss. This means the m201 can translate a sonic picture of astonishing clarity and detail, which serves to capture the essential character of the music being recorded.

The m201 has an optional 24-bit/192kHz A/D converter module, from the factory or as a retrofit to existing units. With the A/D converter module installed, the microphone preamplifier section or the M+S matrix can be routed to the A/D converter input directly for standard recording applications. Or, with the additional analog line inputs on the A/D converter module, the mic preamplifier and A/D converter sections can be used separately, which allows for external processing to be inserted between the mic amp and the A/D converter.

External synchronization to word clock or Digidesign LoopSync is available, and features a proprietary dual stage PPL with s-Lock for extremely low jitter and rock solid digital stability without the use of sample rate conversion.

An exclusive ribbon mic mode is standard, which shifts the gain range up 10dB while deactivating 48V phantom power, bypassing the decoupling capacitors and optimizing the input impedance. Each channel has an ‘input mode’ rotary switch which selects between a standard 48V phantom input, ribbon mic mode, a front panel DI input or optional DPA high voltage inputs (130V or 190V).

Included is the M+S (mid side) decoder circuitry with a built-in width control. The front panel width control is wired with a precision 12 position rotary switch whience amplifiers feed a set of dedicated outputs, allowing simultaneous recording of discrete mid+side signals as well as the stereo matrix.

The front panel-mounted HI-Z inputs are designed to accommodate a wide variety of high impedance input sources, making the m201 an excellent choice as a DI box which will flawlessly preserve the sound of any plugged-in instrument.

Grace Design m201 Features:

• fully balanced, transformerless design
• dual parallel XLR outputs for each channel
• ribbon mic mode
• front panel DI / instrument inputs
• DPA microphones 130V (190V) phantom power option
• built-in M+S decoder with dedicated outputs and front panel width control
• precision 24 position gold contact rotary switch gain controls
• higher current outputs drive even longer cable runs
• no electrolytic capacitors in the signal path
• sealed gold contact relays for all signal switching
• large two-color, bi-phase LED peak indicator
• regulated linear power supply with custom wound toroidal transformer
• highest quality components used throughout
• Comes with Grace Design's transferrable EON Limited 20 Year Warranty

Grace Design m201 Specifications (without A/D converter):

• Frequency Response
  • @ 40dB gain 0.2dB (50 ohm source) 18Hz-65kHz
  • @ 40dB gain 3dB (50 ohm source) 4.5Hz-350kHz
• THD+N
  • @ 20dB gain +25dBu out, 1kHz < .0008%
  • @ 40dB gain +25dBu out, 1kHz < .0009%
  • @ 60dB gain +25dBu out, 1kHz < .0070%
• Intermodulation Distortion
  • @ 40dB gain +25dBu out
  • SMPTE/DIN 1:1 (50Hz, 7kHz) < .0020%
  • SMPTE/DIN 4:1 (50Hz, 7kHz) < .0030%
• Noise - Referred to Input
  • @ 60dB gain 50 ohm source -130dB
  • @ 60dB gain 150 ohm source -127dB
  • @ 60dB gain 600 ohm source -123dB
• Phase Deviation
  • 100Hz-20kHz @40dB gain < 3
• Crosstalk
  • Any Channel @ 40dB gain 1kHz -125dB
  • Any Channel @ 40dB gain 10kHz -115dB
• CMRR
  • @ 60dB gain, 3.5Vcm, 1kHz >70dB
  • @ 60dB gain, 3.5Vcm, 10kHz >70dB
• Maximum Output Level
  • 1kHz, 100Kohm load +28dBu
• Impedance
  • Input 8100 ohms
  • Input, ribbon mode 20k ohms
  • Output 190 ohms
• Peak Led Meter
  • Green threshold -14dBu
  • Red threshold +16dBu
• Weight and Dimensions
  • 2U, 19 rack mount x 10 deep 16.5lbs (7.5kg)
• Power Consumption
  • A/D module specifications (line input)
• Dynamic range
  • 20Hz-20kHz >115dB
  • A weighting >117dB
• THD+N
  • 1kHz, -1dBFS, 20Hz-22kHz < 0.00026% (-112dB)
• Frequency response +/-0.2dB -3dB
  • 44.1kHz Fs 5Hz-21kHz 22kHz
  • 48kHz Fs 5Hz-23kHz 24kHz
  • 88.2kHz Fs 5Hz-41kHz 44kHz
  • 96kHz Fs 5Hz-45kHz 48kHz
  • 176.4kHz Fs 5Hz-54kHz 72.5kHz
  • 192kHz Fs 5Hz-59kHz 79kHz
• Full scale input level +16dB or +24dB (+/-2dB trim)
• CMRR
  • 60Hz >65dB
  • 1kHz >80dB
  • 10kHz >60dB
  • IMD SMPTE 4:1 60Hz, 7kHz, -3dBFS < 100dB (0.0008%)
• Interchannel crosstalk < -120dB
• Group Delay
  • 44.1-48kHz 13/Fs
• Sample rates, internal crystal (kHz) 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
• External Clock Lock Range
  • Wide lock mode 40.1kHz-207kHz (+/-8% at each sample rate)
  • s-Lock mode +/-250ppm (+350, -400ppm typical)
• Intrinsic Jitter, 200Hz-20kHz BW
  • Wide lock mode < 60ps RMS
  • s-Lock mode < 40ps RMS
• Jitter Rejection Corner Frequency
  • Wide lock mode, -3dB, 12dB/octave 800Hz
  • s-Lock mode, -3dB, 12dB/octave 10Hz
• A/D sensitivity
  • Range A +22dBu = 0dBFS (18dB headroom*)
  • Range B +18dBu = 0dBFS (14dB headroom*)
  • *can be calibrated for any setting between +18dBu = 0dBFS and +24dBu = 0dBFS

Note

NOTE: The rear panel image and one of the front panel images pictured above show the m201 with the optional A/D module installed. Please see the "Accessories" tab to order that option.