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The 6 best mic preamps for recording vocals and instruments

Whether you’re a bedroom producer or a veteran audio engineer, investing in a high-quality mic preamp is crucial if you want to take your recordings to the next level.

The Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre tops my list as the best microphone preamp for a wide range of recording applications. Reasonably priced, it offers great preamps and plenty of connectivity – an ideal option if you’ve got the space in your studio.

The Behringer ADA8200 is my top budget pick. At under $200, it’s one of the most versatile and flexible options for small-scale studio owners.

For those seeking something more portable, the sE Electronics DM2 TNT is a compact mic preamp with balanced sound and minimal noise.

Contents

Use these jump links to navigate to the desired section of the review.

Why you should trust me

Brandon Schock, writer at Higher Hz

I’m a producer and audio engineer with over 15 years of experience in the music industry.

I’ve worked with a diverse spectrum of gear throughout that time, in both studio environments and live productions.

Working with brands such as Neve, Focusrite, and Universal Audio, among many others, has given me nuanced insight into the practical use of audio equipment and the value it offers users, from novices to seasoned professionals.

How I chose the preamps for this list

When I was looking through preamps for this article, there were a few components I had in mind when making my selection.

Obviously, sound quality reigns supreme, so I sought performances with detail and transparency above all else.

Second to this was versatility, seeing how different recording scenarios will inevitably require different functionalities.

Lastly, I structured this article around different budgetary needs, aiming to include at least two standout preamps in each price bracket to help you find the best fit for your setup.

Here are the best mic preamps you can buy in 2025:

Check out the Honorable mentions for two other preamps that are well worth considering.

Best compact: sE Electronics DM2 TNT

  • Type: Inline (booster)
  • Channels: 1
  • Gain: 15 dB or 30 dB
  • Phantom power: No
sE Electronics DM2 TNT
Image: Higher Hz

The sE Electronics DM2 TNT is a cute little preamp designed for passive microphones. It provides two gain settings (15 dB and 30 dB) as well as eight load impedance settings.

The DM2 TNT delivers a fairly balanced sound with very minimal noise. It’s slim and compact, and a great option to consider if you’re looking for a more portable option.

The downside here is that it is not compatible with phantom power, so you can’t use it with your favorite ribbons or condensers.

What I like

  • Clean gain for passive mics.
  • A lot of settings for such a small preamp.
  • Low noise.
  • Portable.

What I don’t like

  • Not for phantom-powered mics.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best budget: Behringer ADA8200

  • Type: Solid state
  • Channels: 8
  • Gain: 60 dB
  • Phantom power: Yes
Behringer ADA8200
Image: Sound On Sound

The Behringer ADA8200 is an affordable option that combines a mic preamp and an A/D converter into one unit. It provides you with eight Midas preamps, as well as Cirrus Logic 24-bit converters.

This is one of the more versatile budget options for small-scale studios, especially with its flexible sample rate options, and its ability to work as a master clock for your external sources.

The ADA8200 preamp is perfect for small home studio owners looking for something under $200.

What I like

  • 8 channels.
  • Awesome A/D and D/A conversion.
  • Digital I/O on ADAT optical.

What I don’t like

  • Isn’t as luxurious as higher-end pres.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best at $500: Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre

  • Type: Solid state
  • Channels: 8
  • Gain: 50 dB
  • Phantom power: Yes
Focusrite Scarlett audio interface and mic preamp
Image: Focusrite

The Scarlett OctoPre is a great option for anybody looking for more connectivity. It offers eight second-generation Scarlett preamps with plenty of headroom, clean and transparent gain, and low noise and distortion.

At just around $500, this unit also provides ADAT for further expansion, making it one of the best-value mic preamps on the market.

What I like

  • Amazing sound quality.
  • ADAT capabilities.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best value tube preamp: ART Pro MPA II

  • Type: Tube
  • Channels: 2
  • Gain: 75 dB
  • Phantom power: Yes
ART Pro MPA II in a stack with other unit

The ART Pro MPA II is a two-channel tube preamp that features flexible variable input impedance, allowing you to have more control over your tone.

The preamp supports dual-mono and stereo operation, as well as mid/side miking setups, providing versatility for various recording projects.

Monitoring is easy with huge VU meters and LED displays. It boasts a wide frequency response with minimal noise and little harmonic distortion.

What I like

  • Flexible variable input impedance for customizable tube tones.
  • Supports dual-mono and stereo operation.
  • Easy monitoring.
  • High-quality sound.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best at $1000: Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity

  • Type: Hybrid
  • Channels: 1
  • Gain: 70 dB
  • Phantom power: Yes
Universal Audio 710 Twin-Finity
Image: Universal Audio

The 710 Twin-Finity is an incredibly versatile and powerful mic preamp. It offers a huge variety of tonal possibilities by allowing you to blend between tube and solid-state tones.

The 710 Twin-Finity is a preamp that can provide a lot of warmth and character to your recordings.

What I like

  • Offers both tube and solid-state tones.
  • Great sound quality.
  • Versatile.
  • High-quality build.

What I don’t like

  • Only one channel.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Best high-end: Neve 1073SPX

  • Type: Solid state
  • Channels: 1
  • Gain: 80 dB
  • Phantom power: Yes
Neve 1073SPX
Image: Neve

This will be the last entry here on this list, and it is by far the priciest and best-performing.

The 1073SPX is an authentic recreation of the Neve 1073 channel amplifier. It faithfully captures the presence and power of the original, and also provides you with the iconic “British EQ”.

It boasts 80 dB of gain and a wide variety of features, from filters to phase reverse, insert loops, and more. The layout is tasteful and intuitive, and the build quality is beautifully robust.

Ultimately, regardless of whether you’re recording vocals, drums, or guitars, the 1073SPX will deliver amazing results.

What I like

  • Genuine Neve sound.
  • Extremely versatile.
  • High-quality build.

What I don’t like

  • Not the easiest on your wallet.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazon

Honorable mentions

  • Cloud Cloudlifter CL-1. This is a one-channel mic activator that provides up to 25 dB of amplification. While the Cloudlifter doesn’t provide you with any flexibility in its function, its performance is transparent and noise-free. If all you’re looking for is a bit of a boost for your low-output mics, look no further.
  • Warm Audio WA-MPX. This is a one-channel tube preamp, which was inspired by the iconic Ampex 351 tape machine. It sounds great, and I’m amazed at how well Warm Audio was able to reproduce the 351’s sound. While its tone feels fairly vintage, it also offers a great deal of modern features and flexibility.

Questions to ask yourself when choosing a mic preamp

What will I be recording?

Will I need phantom power? Will I need multiple channels? Am I looking for something to provide a warmer tone to my records, or do I want something with less coloration?

If you’re going to be recording drums, maybe look into a multi-channel preamp. Otherwise, if you’re just sitting alone in your bedroom while your parents try to sleep, maybe look into a more discrete single-channel pre, like the Cloudlifter!

Is portability important to me?

Or would a stationary rack-mount be better for my setup?

This question goes hand in hand with the last question. Where are you recording mostly, and how often? If you often find yourself recording larger multi-mic setups out of your house, hopefully you charge a decent enough rate to buy yourself an OctoPre. If not, consider heightening your rate!

Would I benefit from more features such as EQ or compression?

If not, would I still like the option?

If you do happen to have a rack-mount setup, maybe it’s worth considering how much wiggle room you have. Maybe you have an old compressor you could flip in favor of a preamp with compression built-in!

Conclusion

While choosing the best mic preamp isn’t the easiest task, I hope this article can at least aid you with enough guidance so you can be confident in your decision.

It may be a given that not all preamplifiers are created equally, but ultimately, it comes down to how you use them.

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