Grace Design m201 2 channel microphone preamplifier with optional reference ADC Grace Design

“What I love about the m201 is the sheer size and detail of the sound that comes out. The sound is honest, no hype, no “extra”, no missing details, no noise, no loss in fidelity at all. It is truly a no-holds-barred audiophile sound. It is clean and clear and with ridiculous headroom.” – Gearslutz

Like the rest of our line, the new m201 delivers unmatched audio performance, with massive headroom, ultra-wide bandwidth and a very open, musical character. The signal path has been hot-rodded to be fully balanced from start to finish, resulting in a wider dynamic range, while new high-current output drivers enable even longer cable runs without signal loss. This means the m201 can translate a sonic picture of astonishing clarity and detail, which serves to capture the essential character of the music being recorded.

We offer the m201 with our state of the art 24-bit/192kHz A/D converter option, from the factory or as a retrofit to existing units. With the A/D converter module installed, the microphone preamplifier section or the M+S matrix can be routed to the A/D converter input directly for standard recording applications. Or, with the additional analog line inputs on the A/D converter module, the mic preamplifier and A/D converter sections can be used separately, which allows for external processing to be inserted between the mic amp and the A/D converter. External synchronization to word clock or Digidesign LoopSync is available, and features our proprietary dual stage PPL with s-Lock for extremely low jitter and rock solid digital stability without the use of sample rate conversion.

Our exclusive ribbon mic mode is standard, which shifts the gain range up 10dB while deactivating 48V phantom power, bypassing the decoupling capacitors and optimizing the input impedance. Each channel has an ‘input mode’ rotary switch which selects between a standard 48V phantom input, ribbon mic mode or the front panel DI input.

Included is our newly designed M+S (mid side) decoder circuitry with a built-in width control. The front panel width control is wired with a precision 12 position rotary switch which provides a ratio range from 100% mid (mono) to 30% mid / 70% side. The ultra-precision summing and difference amplifiers feed a set of dedicated outputs, allowing simultaneous recording of discrete mid+side signals as well as the stereo matrix.

The new front panel mounted HI-Z inputs are designed to accommodate a wide variety of high impedance input sources, making the m201 an excellent choice as a DI box which will flawlessly preserve the sound of any plugged-in instrument. Imagine the same resolution and detail as our microphone preamplifiers available for DI recording situations.

Whatever the application, the remarkable sonic performance and functionality of the new m201 will help you make the finest recordings of your career.

Features:

fully balanced, transformerless design

dual parallel XLR outputs for each channel

ribbon mic mode

front panel DI / instrument inputs

built in M+S decoder with dedicated outputs and front panel width control

precision 24 position gold contact rotary switch gain controls

new, higher current outputs drive even longer cable runs

no electrolytic capacitors in the signal path

sealed gold contact relays for all signal switching

5large two color, bi-phase LED peak indicator

regulated linear power supply with custom wound toroidal transformer

highest quality components used throughout

5five year transferable warranty on parts and labor

20 Year EON transferable warranty on parts and labor

Built in the USA

Specifications:

Specifications (without A/D converter)
Frequency Response
@ 40dB gain 0.2dB (50? source)	18Hz-65kHz
@ 40dB gain 3dB (50? source)	4.5Hz-350kHz
THD+N
@ 20dB gain +25dBu out, 1kHz	<.0008%
@ 40dB gain +25dBu out, 1kHz	<.0009%
@ 60dB gain +25dBu out, 1kHz	<.0070%
Intermodulation Distortion
@ 40dB gain +25dBu out
SMPTE/DIN 1:1 (50Hz, 7kHz)	<.0020%
SMPTE/DIN 4:1 (50Hz, 7kHz)	<.0030%
Noise – Referred to Input
@ 60dB gain 50Ω source	-130dB
@ 60dB gain 150Ω source	-127dB
@ 60dB gain 600Ω source	-123dB
Phase Deviation
100Hz-20kHz @40dB gain	<3
Crosstalk
Any Channel @ 40dB gain 1kHz	-125dB
Any Channel @ 40dB gain 10kHz	-115dB
CMRR
@ 60dB gain, 3.5Vcm, 1kHz	>70dB
@ 60dB gain, 3.5Vcm, 10kHz	>70dB
Maximum Output Level
1kHz, 100KΩ load	+28dBu
Impedance
Input	8100Ω
Input, ribbon mode	20kΩ
Output	190Ω
Peak Led Meter
Green threshold	-14dBu
Red threshold	+16dBu
Weight and Dimensions
2U, 19 rack mount x 10 deep 16.5lbs (7.5kg)
Power Consumption
A/D module specifications (line input)
Dynamic range
20Hz-20kHz	>115dB
A weighting	>117dB
THD+N
1kHz, -1dBFS, 20Hz-22kHz	< 0.00026% (-112dB)
Frequency response	+/-0.2dB	-3dB
44.1kHz Fs	5Hz-21kHz	22kHz
48kHz Fs	5Hz-23kHz	24kHz
88.2kHz Fs	5Hz-41kHz	44kHz
96kHz Fs	5Hz-45kHz	48kHz
176.4kHz Fs	5Hz-54kHz	72.5kHz
192kHz Fs	5Hz-59kHz	79kHz
Full scale input level	+16dB or +24dB (+/-2dB trim)
CMRR
60Hz	>65dB
1kHz	>80dB
10kHz	>60dB
IMD SMPTE 4:1 60Hz, 7kHz, -3dBFS	<100dB (0.0008%)
Interchannel crosstalk	<-120dB
Group Delay
44.1-48kHz	13/Fs
Sample rates, internal crystal (kHz)	44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
External Clock Lock Range
Wide lock mode	40.1kHz-207kHz (+/-8% at each sample rate)
s-Lock mode	+/-250ppm (+350, -400ppm typical)
Intrinsic Jitter, 200Hz-20kHz BW
Wide lock mode	< 60ps RMS
s-Lock mode	< 40ps RMS
Jitter Rejection Corner Frequency
Wide lock mode, -3dB, 12dB/octave	800Hz
s-Lock mode, -3dB, 12dB/octave	10Hz
A/D sensitivity
Range A	+22dBu = 0dBFS (18dB headroom*)
Range B	+18dBu = 0dBFS (14dB headroom*)
*can be calibrated for any setting between +18dBu = 0dBFS and +24dBu = 0dBFS