ART Pro MPA II

I'm guitar player. My guitar modeling unit - eleven rack, that I use also as an audio interface has only one microphone preamp channel which is not so good. (apparently low quality focusrite preamp)
I wanted to record some stereo acoustic guitar and some vocals and since eleven rack has line inputs so I hooked Art to eleven rack line inputs.
Sound of Art Pro Mpa II unit is warmer and better then eleven rack preamp although a little noisy, especially at front Hi-Z input. Probably new quality tubes will solve this problem.
I have tried Art with Rode NT2000 mic and shure sm57.
Both with good results!
Mid/Side recording is also possible within unit but that is mid/side simulation, not a real deal.
I also tried Art as a DI for bass guitar. I own a avalon U5 unit which is considered as a high-end model instrument DI-preamp. Bass sound obtained from the Art is in every aspect comparable with the sound of Avalon U5 unit except mentioned noise-signal ratio.
One more thing. Unit that I received missed a +4-10 db plastic switch on the back, which is not a big deal but apparently Art's quality control in their Chinese factory should improve.Three stars for quality 'cause of that missing switch.
UPDATE:
I also put new JJ NN003 ECC83S tubes, and the noise mentioned above is gone.Much better now!

The main reason I bought this was for the Mid/Side matrix for recording drums and for the variable impedance feature. I'm pleased to say these work excellently as well as the Hi-Pass filter functionality. It sounds great and the overdrive is very cool, especially for blown-to-bits rock vocals but also a little bit of overdrive on a dark mic can be cool for metal guitars.

My only issue is when wanting to run it clean it can be a bit of a balancing act with the headroom, but then in those situations you probably shouldn't be using a tube pre. The only other problem is adjusting the M/S signal in relation to the headroom can be finicky, but I think that's just the nature of the beast.

Again, for the Mid/Side and Variable Impedance functionality this is easily the cheapest option and is of extremely high quality. Well worth the cash!

The appearance of the ART Pro MPA II looks like a solid quality product. It is well laid out and there are no complaints of visual quality. Even all electronic components inside the unit are in order and well organized.

The only negative matter I can think of is the 12AX7 tubes that are installed at the ART factory. They are harsh and cheap. Replacing them with vintage Telefunkens, Mullards or other high quality NOS tubes will give a more pleasing sound with softer treble, rounder bass and smoother middle.

The unit gives certainly enough gain for all types of microphones! Impedance trim pot is definitely a big plus for fine tuning treble and high mids. As a guitar and bass preamp or DI box the ART Pro MPA II really enhances the sound by digging out more different timbres of instruments.

Highly recommended product!

Pirkai si preampa, jau zinodamas apie jo silpnasias vietas. Iskart nusipirkau ir lempas JJ NN003 Tube ECC83S. Pasidariau testuka su ivairiais mikrofonais. Su kinietiskom originaliom lempom ir Rode NT2-A, garsas skambejo visai neblogai. Lygiai prie tu paciu nustatymu, pakeitus lempas i JJ, pagerejo zemu dazniu atkurimas, siek tiek pasikeite aukstu dazniu atkurimo braizas. Bendroj sumoj, kokybe tikrai pagerejo. Nustacius plate voltage i low, jau ant nedideliu perkrovu atsiranda distorcijos. Man asmeniskai jos nelabai patinka su gitarom ir bosinem gitarom. Kitiems irasama as sio rezimo net netestavau. Irasinejant su dinaminiais mikrofonais, noretusi didesnio stiprinimo. Su Shure sm58 ir Shure sm57, rankeneles jau buna atsuktos bejeik iki galo, jei signalas nelabai stiprus.
Siuo metu, as ji dazniausiai naudoju su Rode NT2-A mikrofonais ir esu patenkintas. Palyginus su Focusrite Scarlett preampais, ART Pro MPA II su JJ lempom kokybe tikrai geresne.
Atsizvelgiant i kaina, rekomenduoju si preampa.