Summit Audio 2BA-221 
Continuously Variable Impedance Microphone Preamp with Variable Vacuum Tube Outputs
Hear The Warmth!
Featuring microphone level, line level, and Hi-Z instrument inputs, the 2BA-221continuously variable impedance microphone preamp utilizes separate and individually controlled solid state input controls to mix the microphone input with the Hi-Z or line input into the variable vacuum tube output. Mix them together through the 12AX7A/ECC83 vacuum tube output or seperately through individual solid state outputs. The 2BA-221 also features a stackable input design; multiple 2BA-221's can be linked together to form a modular mixing device with individual outs, inserts per channel, and a final vacuum tube gain stage. Its swept high pass filter, multiple simultaneous tube and solid state outputs, insert jack, and internal power supply makes the 2BA-221 a powerful tracking and mixing tool. Features:- Variable Mic input impedance from 100 to 10K
- Variable Highpass Filter
- Hi-Z Instrument, Line, and Mic Level Input
- Hi-Z input and Mic input available simultaneously with separate gain controls
- Separate solid state and tube outputs
- Insert Jack
- Stackable with more 2BA-221's
- Polarity switch and 20dB pad
- One 12AX7A/ECC83 vacuum tube
- Internal high voltage power supply
- XLR and 1/4" outputs and inputs
- Three variable, independent gain stages
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inSync Review
Single-channel preamps are becoming all the rage these days, with the sprouting of huge numbers of home studios, and digital commercial studios. The Summit 2BA-221 is fast becoming a popular addition ... read more
Excellent value
by Puffer Fish from south-central Pennsylvania
December 23, 2009
Music Background: performing musician, recording engineer
I must agree with most of what other folks have written regarding the2BA-221. It is very impressive, solid, can go from clean to very warm and it has a very useful series of input and out put options ... read more [+]. I have compared it to my Presonus Firepod preamps (blew it away), my Allen & Heath mic pres (they sound boxy by comparison and an older TL Audio P-2--the TL Audio P-2 has a similar sound from my tests, but only after I spent money on some NOS Sylvania tubes for the P-2. The summit Audio 2BA-221 sounds wonderful with no mods. Given that the 2BA-221 is so much more flexible than any of the other mic pres I have, it is for sure a 'go to' part of my signal chain. Given that I can vary the sound by such a wide amount, I can use the 2BA-221 for a lot of tracks and it does not start to sound the same, as long as I remember to adjust the pre accordingly! This mic pre is a real solid value given its flexibility and the fact that it does some stuff very few other products can, no matter the price. close [-]
This is a GREAT pre!
by James Murphy from Nashville, TN, USA
May 4, 2009
Music Background: Songwriter, producer, engineer
This thing is GREAT! I've had it about three months now and It still blows me away. It is not "just"a quality pre, it is like having a "tone and texture" box as well. It has the ability to go from "th ... read more [+]ick and rich" to "bright and airy" and everything in between. I spent a lot of time researching mic pre's in this price range and finally decided on the Summit and I'm glad I did. I was looking for versatility and I definitely found it in the 2ba 221. It took a while to figure out how to get the sound I was after but once I got used to how the mic pre,impedance and tube circuit all interact and affect each other, I was able to get the results I was looking for quickly. As regards Summit's customer service, I e-mailed the company with a question soon after I bought the unit and within ten minutes I received a phone call from the president of the company to answer my question! I am very happy with this unit and recommend it to anyone looking for a great mid-priced pre. It has far exceeded my expectations and it is a quantum leap in quality over the lower priced pre's I've had. AND I didn't go broke in the process! close [-]
quality of the pros for the low!
by MR. KING from Los Angeles, California
October 30, 2008
Music Background: hip hop artist/producer
SIMPLY THE BEST VERSATILE UNIT IN PRICE RANGE!!!!!! EVRYONE LOVED IT!!!!
i used this pre for the first time today... i have a C414, MA-200, rode K2, TLM 103, and jus recently bought a blue ba ... read more [+]by bottle to accompany my 2ba-221 purchase. i used every mic but the rode with this pre amp recording a few mixtape verses with my people on different productions in the last 8 hours jus to test it out and EVERYONE LOVED IT!!!!... the results came out AMAZING and warm with perfect clarity and virtually no noise what-so-ever...given we took the time to "match" impedance with different mics and tune the tube/solid state gains to our likings which was simple to adopt and familiarize. its unmatched by any pre in its price range. it can be warm as u want or completely transparent using the solid state stack output. variable impedance is extremely more versatile then most units with fixed settings and it can be dual outputed for zero-latency monitoring with mixer/interface (great for pro tools LE users). ive used the solo 610, grace 101, vt737, ME-1NV. i own a p-solo, eureka and the trakmaster pro( now only use for zero-latency monitor section). BOTTOM LINE THIS IS SIMPLY THE BEST PRE AMP IN ITS PRICE RANGE I'VE USED AND IT SUITS WELL FOR A VARIETY OF VOCALISTS BASED ON MY FIRST FEW RUNS WITH IT! blows my eureka and p-solo away in presence and clarity!! A MUST BUY FOR THE PRICE IF YOU WANT CRISP VOCAL TAKES. call MAC ext. 1358 and buy one if you looking for a high end vocal/instrument pre in this price range!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i promise you will be amazed at the sound!
( 610, great river and grace 101 are all great pres but i feel they are nowhere as close in versatility of the 2ba-221, as all our vocal tracks sounded amazing! close [-]
Jackpot!
by Bud from Orange County, CA
May 20, 2008
Music Background: Jack of all, master of none.
I was using my Mackie Onyx pre's until I got this little thing. The difference wasn't immediately noticeable until I a/b'd between them both. I am now drunk with joy!
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