Amek

The Amek 9098DMA is a dual channel solid state mic amplifier. I'm not sure exactly what type of connections it has since the one that I have used was pre-racked in a studio, but I think it has both 1/4 inch and XLR. It is indeed rack mountable and will take up a single rack space. This unit was designed by Rupert Neve himself, so you have to trust what he has done here... UTILIZATION The make up of the Amek 9098DMA is pretty easy to follow as it has somewhat standard features and parameters. It has gain knobs for each channel as well as a slew of buttons that do various things including a low pass filter. If you have experience with mic preamps (which I will assume that you do if you are looking into this model), then you shouldn't have any trouble figuring out how to use this as it is pretty standard. I haven't seen the manual for the Amek 9098DMA so I don't know how well it is put together... SOUND QUALITY The sound of the Amek 9098DMA is pretty outstanding for all sorts of applications. It can be used with pretty much any microphone and for any application, but I like using it for vocals and for guitars mostly, but have also used it for all sorts of keyboards including Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, and acoustic piano. The preamp won't color your sound and is pretty transparent, but it does have a certain sound that works better in some situations than in others. If you are a fan of Neve preamps (and who isn't), you will definitely like the way that the Amek 9098DMA sounds. OVERALL OPINION I first used the Amek 9098DMA about a year ago and I've found it to be a pretty great set of preamps at a very reasonable price considering how good this sounds. It is quite easy to use as all you have to do is simply set your level or switch on one of the various buttons if you need to. This is one of Amek's best models because it was designed by Rupert Neve himself and really stands out as a great mic pre. Whether you are a professional or home studio owner, the Amek 9098DMA is a great set of mic pres at a great price.