The Grace Design m101 is a single-channel microphone preamp that represents the pinnacle of transparent, uncolored preamplification, designed for engineers and recordists who want to capture the purest possible representation of their microphone and source without any tonal alteration. The m101 uses a fully balanced, transformerless signal path with proprietary transimpedance amplifier topology that achieves extraordinarily low noise, vanishingly low distortion, and a ruler-flat frequency response from below 10Hz to above 100kHz. This transparent approach means the preamp adds nothing to the signal, revealing every nuance of the microphone and source with startling clarity and three-dimensional depth. The preamp offers up to 75dB of gain in precise 1dB steps through a ribbon-type gain control, with continuously variable trim for fine adjustment. A unique ribbon controller provides smooth, detented gain adjustment. The front panel includes 48V phantom power, a 20dB pad, polarity inversion, and a high-pass filter, along with a detailed multicolor LED meter. The build quality is exceptional with precision machining, premium components, and assembly at Grace Design's facility in Colorado. An optional A/D converter module adds high-resolution digital output. The m101 is ideal for classical recording, acoustic music, and any application where sonic transparency is paramount. The deliberately uncolored character may seem clinically neutral to engineers who prefer the warmth and harmonic richness of transformer-based designs, and the premium price is substantial for a single-channel unit.

Preamps

The pinnacle of transparent preamplification with transformerless topology achieving extraordinarily low noise and ruler-flat response, designed for capturing the purest possible representation of any source.