TubePre V2 Vacuum Tube Preamp and DI Direct Box

The PreSonus TubePre V2 combines an XMAX Class A solid-state preamp stage with a 12AX7 vacuum tube output stage, giving a single channel of mic preamplification that runs from clean and transparent to warm and driven with one Drive control. High-voltage, discrete circuitry runs on 30V power rails, well above the 10 to 18V typical of op-amp based preamps, which adds headroom and depth without adding noise. Because the tube is hand-selected and tested for freedom from microphonics, the coloration it adds stays musical rather than noisy.

Beyond mic preamplification, the TubePre V2 doubles as a direct box for guitar and bass, thanks to separate balanced XLR mic and unbalanced 1/4" instrument inputs on the rear panel. A high-pass filter, switchable phantom power, a polarity-reverse switch, and a backlit VU meter round out the controls needed for professional tracking. The compact 1/3U chassis screws into a standard rack tray or sits on a desk, so it fits into a mobile rig or a permanent studio setup with the same ease.

Home studios and live sound engineers get one box that handles microphone preamplification and DI duties for vocals, acoustic instruments, and electric bass or guitar.