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Great River MP-500NV

Item ID: MP500NV

500 Series Vintage-voiced Microphone Preamp

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From Our Research Team:

Iron in the signal path for the 500 Series!

The MP-500NV is a single channel mic preamp that is designed to take the classic sound of the all-time studio-standard 1073 preamp and bring it to a new level of modern sonic fidelity while fitting neatly into a 500 series rack. Does MP-500NV meet its design goals? Absolutely, with accuracy, transparency and vintage "tunable" sound! The circuitry allows for brilliant transformer saturation or the soft distortions of a single-ended amplifier. The sound of electric guitars, sound modules, and drums to add vitality, presence, and real punch benefit from extreme pushing of the MP-500NV.

Great River MP-500NV at a Glance:
  • Great with all mic types
  • Classic Great River design
  • Vintage Sound


Great with all mic types
The MP-500NV is a professional quality microphone preamplifier designed to re-create the vintage sound characteristics of the early 1970s large consoles. Modern components give the MP-500NV more clarity, punch and performance under normal use. In addition, features like metering before and after the major gain stages let the user drive it hard to greatly expand the range of sonic options. All microphones will benefit from the power of the MP-500NV preamplifier, including dynamic, condenser and especially ribbon types.

Classic Great River design
The MP-500NV uses the same audio and metering circuit board found in the NV series preamplifiers. This unit is designed to fit into a 500 series rack using 2 available slots. It receives its power supply from the host rack. The unit is equipped with a HI-Z instrument jack that has its own input amplifier and was designed for DI applications.

Vintage Sound
The Great River MP-500NV features iron in the signal path for that big vintage sound. Its no-latency output monitoring provides a buffered sound feed to your DAW workstation. The MP-500NV's high-Z input is ideal to shape the sound for bass, electric guitar, and sound modules. Dual metering provides visual monitoring of gain staging. The ultra-quiet noise floor delivers "stealth" performance for rich, textured vocal sounds. The Great River MP-500NV also has a full +70dB of input gain so you can take that prized ribbon mic out of the cabinet for a rich, creamy sound with all the detail and no muddiness.

Here's the bottom line. The Great River MP-500NV is a golden channel priced for the project studio and equally at home in a world class facility. This preamp has the ability to enhance the sound of high-end mics as well as being able to make inexpensive mics sound better. Just place your trusty SM57 in front of your guitar amp and run it through the MP-500NV, and you'll hear what we mean.

Great River MP-500NV Features:
  • XLR balanced in and out connections
  • High-Z input on front panel
  • Output gain from -25 to +10db; maximum overall gain 70db
  • Frequency response: 20Hz to 75kHz
  • 2 or 3 stages of single ended solid state amplifier gain blocks
  • Gold plated switching contacts
  • Front panel polarity, phantom power, input impedance, and output loading switches
  • High quality, custom wound Sowter transformers
  • Output transistor and transformer with heavy 70ma Class A bias
  • Local regulating of each channel
  • Long service life components
  • Iron in the signal path for that 'Big Vintage Sound'
  • Ultra quiet noise floor with 'stealth' performance for rich, textured vocal sounds

The Great River MP-500NV is a world class preamp designed to capture world class performances at a project studio price!

MP-500NV Image Gallery

Specification Detail
Manufacturer Part Number MP-500NV

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Reviews

based on 10 reviews

The Great, Great River MP-500NV

by Creston Baker from Gettysburg, PA
April 5, 2012
Music Background: Pro Musician
I am at awe with this preamp. Very musical, with a tad of old school mixed with modern analog circuitry. I really like this with a Empirical Labs Distressor. They compliment each other. I may buy ... read more [+]another one down the road. close [-]

Amazing preamp!

by enzee from Cleveland, Ohio
July 20, 2011
Music Background: Performer, Producer
I have had and have used all the big 500 series preamps that are available (API 512C, Avedis MA5s, P-1...). Without a doubt the Great River MP-500NV is my go to preamp. It is first call for me on most... read more [+] all things. On vocals it sounds amazing and on distorted electric guitars it screams. The impedance and loading buttons really give some total character. Tons of headroom (as compared to the 512C). I also swear by any preamp that has an output knob versus a pad switch. There is no tone loss using an output knob versus a pad and you can get all sort of tonal characteristics out of the preamp by driving or backing off on the gain. I can't recommend this preamp enough. close [-]

FANTASTIC!

by HH from Nashville, TN
November 6, 2010
Music Background: Artist, Writer, Producer
Suggested once again by Luke H. such a great preamp! I'm a huge fan. Pure, good sound! Thanks again sweetwater!

Excellent Preamp

by Gary Gidak from Phoenix, AZ
June 18, 2010
Music Background: Recording Engineer, Studio Owner, Musician
I just bought two of these and put them to the test the other night. I was totally amazed at the difference a really nice preamp can make. For the past few years I was using Focusrite Platinum Series,... read more [+] and the on-board pre's on my Control 24 mixing desk. The Great River leaves them both in the dust!

I don't have any super-high-dollar microphones, but the addition of these preamps has really improved the sound of every mic in my locker. The Shure KSM32, Blue Baby Bottle, Rode NT2A, AKG C1000s, Shure SM57, Beta 87a, Beta 52, Audix f-15, and Audix f-12, were all noticeably enhanced by these Great River Preamps.

Take it from me, if you have some decent microphones, and are thinking of buying more expensive mics to improve your sound, spend about half as much as you were planning, and get two of these guys. You'll be really surprised how great those "decent" mics can actually sound. close [-]

Simply the Best

by Joey from Chicago Il
August 13, 2009
Music Background: Recording Engineer, musician
if your looking for the pre that does it all then this is it! vocals are amazing! i use the GR with a Mojave MA-200. This thing is a work horse, i cant wait to get another one in the lunchbox! soun... read more [+]ds good everything you throw at it! close [-]
Read more reviews

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See Also: 500 Preamps , Great River , Great River 500 Series Preamps

Great River MP-500NV

Today's Payment: $275.00
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