Black Lion Audio - Eighteen Preamp

With the Eighteen, Black Lion offers much more than a simple mic preamp: it's a real tribute to the legendary circuits of the great vintage consoles, redesigned with rigour and precision to meet the needs of today's professional studios. This 2U rack-mount model features a unique design combining CineMag transformers, a passive induction equaliser and a gain stage based on the BLA1831 discrete op-amp, specially developed for this project.

The heart of the Eighteen is a balanced microphone input via a CineMag transformer, ensuring warm, faithful signal reproduction. The preamplifier stage delivers plenty of reserve gain, with a very organic sonic response, and can be pushed to harmonic saturation using the output level control - ideal for adding character without ever sacrificing clarity.

But what really sets the Eighteen apart is its passive two-band EQ, based on inductors and transformers. Inspired by the great vintage equalizers with their gentle curves, it can simultaneously boost or attenuate bass and treble with musicality. The low band offers powerful control over the fundamentals, while the high band gives relief and air to vocals, overheads or guitars. There's also a high-pass filter at 80 Hz to eliminate unwanted rumble, and a low-pass filter at 10 kHz to smooth out the highs if necessary.

Designed for modern studios, the Black Lion Eighteen includes all the essential functions: 48 V phantom power for condenser microphones, polarity reversal, mic/line switching, and a large, easy-to-read backlit meter on the front panel. It fits perfectly into any production environment, from recording solo vocals to miking acoustic instruments, with a sound signature reminiscent of the heyday of analogue.

Solidly built and designed with attention to detail, this preamp is a true tool of character, capable of bringing a high-end touch to any source. Whether you're a fan of vintage console sound or looking for an expressive, musical preamp to enhance your setup, the Black Lion Eighteen deserves your full attention.