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Reviews For: Presonus Studio Channel

Category: Audio Accessories for Transmitter & Receiver

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Review Summary For : Presonus Studio Channel
Reviews: 3MSRP: 299
Description:
The Studio Channel is a professional channel strip combining Class A tube preamplifier, VCA-based compressor and three-band parametric equalizer.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=57
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0035
K5RWD Rating: 2015-04-15
Impressive Sound, No RFI Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Although this unit is a starved plate design, its characteristics and available options score high on the sound chart. This may not be a $2000.00 high end mic preamp, but it will hold its own with some of the better mic preamps on the market. So far in my experience in using several mic preamps and channel strips, this is the only one I have used that never has an issue with RF into the device, where it seems completely resistant to unwanted interference. The compressor, EQ, and Tube gain are very subtle, and that's the way Presonus intended this unit to be, but still completely customizable.
Using this unit as a frontend to many rigs, I am astounded at the clarity of this unit, it maintains a hi-fi sound across the board that is very substantial. The mic preamp section is very good with plenty of gain, and the phase reversal is very handy as well as the pad. Now how does is sound on the radio? The word of the day here is unbelievable. This unit will blow the doors off of many front end preamps and will dwarf a W2IHY or similar inline EQ. The unsolicited reports I receive are many (What are your running over there?; you audio in incredible; you sound like a broadcast station). Although the EQ is very useful, another inline EQ may also improve on the response you cannot get out of the channel strip alone.

If you are running a radio that can transmit 4KHZ or higher, you will be challenged to find another unit that can sound this great without spending lots of money. Running this unit directly into the balanced modulator of my Kenwood TS-850s has produced unbelievable audio quality (even without DSP-100), and the AM broadcast sound is top notch. Even on radios that don’t have such a wide transmit window will still enjoy the warm super clean sound this unit will produce. Although you can run the audio directly out to any rig, save yourself the trouble and use a line isolation transformer between the output of the preamp and the input of the radio. I use a Radial Engineering Pro-Iso, which works very well.

Conclusion:
There are too many mic preamps and channel strips out there to evaluate in a lifetime, but so far the Presonus Studio Channel is the best I have used, and no RF problems is a big plus when working with amateur radio. If you’re looking for the WOW factor in your transmit audio, this unit will get you there.

Have Fun,
W3LQ Rating: 2014-03-01
Great Equalizing Gear Time Owned: N.A.
I recently purchased a Kenwood TS 590. This rig has a built in equalizer, plus you can add Kenwoods Free Equalization software.
I have a fair array of microphones (dynamic and condenser) plus a good selection of rack audio processsing gear. I decided to experiment with one of my condenser mikes, the Presonus Studio Channel, my Behringer 8 channel mixer, and the w2ihy Ibox. The Presonus is a great box, with tube amplifier, compressor, and three channel parametric equalizer. I was pleasantly surprised by this chain, and will probably continue with this on the 590 for a while. On air reports have been very favorable, and, as an added bonus,no RFI!!
Give this unit a look. You can pick one of these up in the 100-125 range on eBay. You won't be disappointed!!!

AD5VM Rating: 2009-06-21
Best single unit I've had Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I think I've finally found the ONE outboard audio unit I will stick with for good. Looks awesome, sounds awesome, easy to use, great price, no RFI problems.