Microphone Preamp/Equaliser 1073

Neve Electronic Laboratories Ltd.; Hertfordshire

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  • Year
  • 1970
  • Category
  • Audio Amplifier or -mixer
  • Radiomuseum.org ID
  • 362541

 Technical Specifications

  • Number of Transistors
  • Semiconductors present.
  • Semiconductors
  • Main principle
  • Audio-Amplification
  • Wave bands
  • - without
  • Power type and voltage
  • Powered by external power supply or a main unit.
  • Loudspeaker
  • - For headphones or amp.
  • Material
  • Metal case
  • from Radiomuseum.org
  • Model: Microphone Preamp/Equaliser 1073 - Neve Electronic Laboratories
  • Shape
  • Miscellaneous shapes - described under notes.
  • Notes

  • The original Neve 1073 was designed as a microphone preamp/EQ module for the Neve 80 Series consoles, first appearing in 1970. Over time, various versions and closely related models appeared during the early 1970s:

    • Neve 1066: A close sibling to the 1073, with a similar EQ layout but featuring a 10kHz high-frequency shelf (vs. 12kHz on the 1073) and less refined midrange frequency selectors.
    • Neve 1081 (1972): Built for Neve 8038/8048 consoles, it featured a Class A/B design with a four-band parametric EQ plus high- and low-pass filters, offering greater headroom and a cleaner response than the 1073.
    • Neve 1084 (1974): Based on the same Class A mic preamp as the 1073 but with expanded EQ frequency options and additional filtering, providing more versatility while retaining the 1073’s characteristic tonal warmth.
    • Neve 31102 (1970s): Featured a three-band EQ with smoother curves, blending the 1073’s musicality and the 1081’s precision, favored for vocals and acoustic instruments.

    The original 1073 itself, manufactured primarily with Marinair transformers, became legendary for its rich, warm sound and influential midrange.

    In the modern era, AMS Neve has created several variations and formats that preserve the classic sound but add new features and connectivity options:

    • 1073 / 1084 Classic: Faithful reissues of the original vintage modules.
    • 1073LB / 1073LBEQ: Compact 500 Series modules separating the preamp and EQ sections, popular for modular setups.
    • 1073 DPA / DPX / DPD: Stereo rackmount units with added digital connectivity like USB and AES.
    • 1073 SPX: 1U rackmount with external power supply, DI output, insert send/return; also available with USB interface (1073 SPX-D).
    • 1073 OPX: Eight-channel remote-controlled rackmount with optional Dante, ADAT, and USB digital cards, suited for high-end and scalable studio setups.
    • 1073N: Latest innovation featuring updated components, phantom power, DI, and backward compatibility, allowing it to be used standalone or integrated into classic consoles like the BCM10.

    Each of these incarnations retains the signature Class A topology and transformer-balanced inputs/outputs responsible for the 1073’s distinct "British sound"—a warm, harmonically rich character with musical EQ options

  • Mentioned in
  • -- Collector info (Sammler)
  • Author
  • Model page created by Gary Cowans. See "Data change" for further contributors.

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