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Avalon VT-737sp Tube Channel Strip

Tube Microphone / Instrument Preamplifier, Opto-compressor, and Sweep Equalizer
$3,866.00

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Avalon VT-737sp Tube Channel Strip
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The Ultimate In Mic Pre Performance and Control!

The VT-737sp brings its magic touch to everything in your studio. Run your dullest, most sterile mic through the VT-737sp and you'll be amazed at how warm and sweet it sounds. This 2-rackspace combo brings a new standard to high-end audio, taking your sound to places you never thought possible and giving you precise creative control. The VT-737 will energize your recordings!

Class A preamp design with three input selections

The VT-737sp has three input selections: First, it features a higher-performance microphone input transformer with 48-volt phantom selection. Second, the VT-737sp offers an instrument DI high-source input with a jack located on front panel. Finally, the VT-737sp includes a balanced line input with discrete high-level Class A circuitry. The Class A preamplifier utilizes two cascaded, dual vacuum tube triodes configured with minimum negative feedback. A high-gain switch boosts the overall gain of the preamplifier. The four high-quality tubes are configured as singled-ended anode coupled followers. A passive/variable highpass filter and hardwired relay bypass completes the VT-737sp's input signal conditioning. A phase reverse relay is available on all three inputs.

Opto-compressor with minimum signal path

The VT-737sp's opto-compressor features a minimum signal path design with twin Class A vacuum tube triodes for gain matching. The optical attenuator acts as a simple passive level controller. Full dynamic control from soft compression to hard- knee limiting can be achieved with threshold, ratio-compression, attack and release controls plus gain reduction selection on the large VU meter. Special spectral control including de-ess is available with the dual sweep mid EQ to side-chain switch. The VT-737sp's EQ section can be flipped pre or post the opto-compressor via a front-panel switch for alternate effects and tone shaping. Two VT-737sps can be linked via a rear panel link cable for stereo tracking. The compressor bypass is a sealed silver relay for the most direct signal path.

Sweepable EQ and hardwired bypass

The VT-737sp equalizer utilizes 100% discrete, Class A-high-voltage transistors for optimum sonic performance. The high- and low-frequency bands provide the smooth characteristics of an all passive design, while the dual mid bands include variable frequency and switched Q-width selection. The enhanced range of the VT-737sp's mid bands is extended into the high and low bands by the use of X10 frequency multipliers. The bypass switch incorporates a sealed silver relay for the most direct signal path. When the EQ to sidechain is engaged, the high-low EQ remains in the audio path for "tone enhancement." The output level control provides a variable control of the overall signal path. The output amplifier utilizes another dual triode vacuum tube driving a 100% discrete, Class A, high-current, balanced and DC coupled low noise output amplifier.

Avalon VT-737sp Channel Strip Features:

  • Vacuum tube and discrete design
  • Ideal for DAW and digital recording
  • Wide range of tube tone and control
  • Excellent value for performance
  • Rugged Avalon construction

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Tech Specs

  • Preamp Type: Tube
  • Number of Channels: 1
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • EQ: Yes
  • Compressor: Yes
  • Frequency Response: 10Hz-120kHz
  • Analog Inputs: 1 x XLR (mic), 1 x XLR (line in), 1 x 1/4" (Hi-Z)
  • Analog Outputs: 1 x XLR (line out)
  • Other I/O: 1 x 1/4" (link)
  • Rack Spaces: 2U
  • Height: 3.5"
  • Depth: 12"
  • Width: 19"
  • Weight: 22 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: VT-737SP

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 4.5/5

Iconic preamp

This has been one of my most desired preamps ever since I started watching interviews of artists producers and engineers. It has a very clean tone and works great with vocals and guitar. I was very shocked at how heavy this presmp is but I assume that's because it has tons of awesome stuff inside to make your audio sound great. The dynamics and EQ section of the preamp is super helpful with vocals. You can remove low end muddiness and increase high frequency brightness or side chain the EQ to the compressor for de-essing and other cool tricks. It really makes your audio sound great so you don't have to work as hard later when mixing and editing. The other good thing I like about this preamp is the high gain function which allows me to get more signal and really drive the transformer for some warm tube saturation and distortion.

This is a very hard preamp to find because of its popularity but it's totally worth it.
Rated 5/5

Yeah it’s solid AF

Love this thing, the sound of the avalon is refined and full! Pristine stuff! But not steril! Could use a few more.
Music background: Long live dio
Rated 5/5

Exelente producto

Perfecto para grabacion de voces muy satisfecho con Avalon Designs
Rated 5/5

The Avalon VT-737sp tied into the Apogee Ensemble is painless and beautiful

This review concerns the Blue Stage One Rocket and B-7 Cap paired with the Avalon.

When I get the Neumann U87/ai whatever one I choose since it comes down to the over priced suspension system or a quality more affordable compatible one I will post that review.

The Bottle Rocket Stage One doesn't have nearly as flat of a vocal signal like the Neumann. It colors the low end w/o a high pass filter engaged--thankfully the Avalon has that. and post 3kHz the vocal settings on the Avalon like all other Channel Pre systems leaves that open so the only way to non-color that is the invert that part of the EQ in a plugin. I left it untouched to let the microphone show itself post Avalon.

To say it's worth the price of admission is an understatement. Its instant broadcast dialogue to smooth, warm, velvety lows in sustain, to soaring and smooth highs that have zero harshness when in falsetto. I'm a Baritone that climbs the scales. Testing this singing against reference tracks by Queen, Judas Priest and Queensrÿche turned the Stage One into a high quality microphone. It won't match the Neumann for sure, but I no longer regret its purchase.

Bussing the mic in Logic Pro to find that smooth warm presence sitting in the mix is no longer an arduous task. The Avalon does 90% of the heavy lifting for you.

As a Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science graduate and Apple Engineering alum the hardware is an absolute thing of beauty. The inside is equally beautiful to that of the outside. As my former boss, Steve Jobs would say, ``My father taught me that even though most people see the outside the inside of the fence we see is equally as important.'' It was a reference to his childhood in Cupertino and that a computer's hardware isn't just a pretty shell, but a work of art and science throughout.

The folks at Avalon take great care in manufacturing their products. Nothing is spared. You get your money's worth on it, down to the last transistor.

Growing up with a pianist/organist/pipe organist and vocal soloist for a mother I now possess her Schimmel New Studio 120I Upright (over 20 years old and flawless) and once I get a pair of Neumann U87 mics and an extra Avalon I'll be able to capture the richness of it's tone as only my ear can hear. If you are serious about vocals or recording analog instruments to even synthesizers that can benefit from it's Tubes you won't be disappointed in this investment.

In fact, all the top rated Large Condenser Mics that are in studios are either Tube based or have an Avalon or comparable connected to the U87 before putting the vocals down to a final cut on most major studio albums, across all genres of music.

It's no accident this hardware cannot be remotely replicated with a digital plugin. If you think it can, you might want to get your hearing checked.
Rated 5/5

La Crema!

Este channel strip es todo lo que necesito. El sonido lo describo como "cremoso" tiene "ese sonido" que es a otro nivel!!! Yo lo uso con un TLM103 wow es increíble, no fallas. Me tenía un poco en la disyuntiva porque las primos en las redes siempre son o Neve VS Rupert Neve VS API VS whatever... casi no existen rivews en YouTube del Avalon y pienso que más personas deberían de conocer más sobre este Channel Strip
Music background: Reggaetón

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What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Patrick Dennis

Huge, Heavy, Awesome, Warm! The VT737SP is for ANYONE who wants great sound. Period!

Shaka Dhladhla

The Avalon VT-737sp was the first mic pre I added to my studio. The results I've been able to achieve when I run vocals through it still amaze me! The control and full sound give the vocals definition and a character that engineers strive to attain. I don't know where I'd be without it! Without a doubt, this is a must-have in any project studio.

Delvin Wolf

No matter what mic you're using, no matter what you're recording, I've never been able to get the VT737SP to sound bad. What a great "go-to" channel strip.

Mike Conyers

The Avalon! It's simply impossible to go wrong with this piece; I've used it for hip-hop vocals, acoustic guitar, rock singing, and more! This is a channel strip that will never fall out of use in your studio, I guarantee it!
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