Maag Audio PREQ2 User manual

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COPYRIGHT © 2022 MAAG AUDIO, LLC
USER MANUAL
PREQ2™DUAL MIC PREAMP
WITH EQ / AIR BAND®

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1. Read these instructions
2. Keep these instructions
3. Heed all warnings
4. Follow all instructions
5. Clean only with dry cloth
6. Do not block any ventilation openings.
7. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as
radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other appa-
ratus (including ampliers) that produce heat
9. Protect the power cord from being walked on
or pinched particularly at plugs and the point
where they exit from the apparatus
10. Only use attachments/accessories specied
by the manufacturer
11. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms
or when unused for long periods of time
12. Refer all servicing to qualied service person-
nel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has
been damaged in any way, such as power-supply
cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled
or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the
apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture,
does not operate normally, or has been dropped
13. CAUTION: To disconnect the unit complete-
ly from the MAINS, unplug the unit. Turning the
power switch o does not disconnect the unit
completely from the MAINS
14. The unit shall not be exposed to dripping or
splashing and that no objects lled with liquids,
such as vases, shall be placed on the unit
15. WARNING: This is a Class I apparatus. It
should be connected to a MAINS socket outlet
with a protective earthing connection
VOLTATE SELECTION AND FUSE
This unit is capable of operating over a range
of mains voltages as marked on the rear panel.
Ensure correct mains voltage setting and cor-
rect fuse before connecting mains supply. Do
not change mains voltage settings while mains
supply is connected. To avoid the risk of re, re-
place the mains fuse only with the correct value
fuse, as marked on the rear panel. The internal
power supply unit contains no user serviceable
parts. Refer all servicing to a qualied service
engineer, through the appropriate Maag Audio
dealer.
For mains voltages from 100-120 volts, use a
0.5A 3AG fuse with Slo-Blo characteristics only
and congure the mains selector to display
115V.
For mains voltages from 200-240 volts, use
a 0.25A 3AG fuse with Slo-Blo characteristics
only and congure the mains selector to display
230V. The selectable fuse holder accepts 1/4” x
1-1/4” or 5mm x 20mm fuses.
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SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Mäag Audio’s newest creation is the PREQ2™
Dual Mic Preamp with EQ, a complete analog
system for either recording or mixing housed in
a 1U standalone unit. It comes with Cli Mäag’s
venerable Air Band® shelving equalizer rst in-
troduced in 1993 with his NTI EQ3 equalizer.
The PREQ2™ will handle either line or micro-
phone signal levels with two matched channels
both with separate rear panel line level input
and microphone XLR connectors and switcha-
ble +48-volt phantom powering. The rear panel
also has XLR output connectors for each chan-
nel and a on/o/fuse mains switch.
All switches on the PREQ2™ have colorful LEDs
to conrm their operation and all controls have
detents with the exception of the continuously
variable microphone gain.
INTRODUCTION
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FEATURES:
· The PREQ2™uses a mic input transformer tuned for clarity, detail, and transparency.
· The Instrument Input is designed to receive signals from many sources or instruments.
· Includes the mythical Air Band® shelf boost used on countless hit records.
· Four convenient rear input balanced XLR inputs.

COPYRIGHT © 2022 MAAG AUDIO, LLC
The Mäag Audio two channel PREQ2™ uses a microphone input transformer tuned for clarity,
detail, and transparency. This transformer provides a signal voltage gain of 4.87dB and is paired
with amplier electronics to obtain a maximum gain of +71dB. 71dB gain dual channels with
innite variable settings. The microphone transformer has a maximum input level of +8dB at 20Hz
and an impedance ratio of 150:600 ohms. With a nickel core it manages high signal levels with lower
distortion and wider bandwidth.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
· Noise level at the lowest gain setting is -100dB. EIN is -128dB.
· Balancer XLR Output Headroom is +27dbu.
· The microphone transformer feeds a dierential set of front-end class A discrete
transistors paired with a FET input Operational Amplier.
· High and Low Gain push button switch. Low range: +20db to +42db. High range (Gain
+25 Switch w/Green LED) +42db to +71db.
· Switchable -20db Pad w/Green LED.
· +48 Volt Phantom Power, Switchable, w/Red LED.
· Phase Reversal Switch: Switches the Phase of the Balanced Output.
· Green signal present LED, Red Peak LED lights at +26dbu.
MICROPHONE PREAMP

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EQ SECTION:
· Low Frequency boost control 6dB/Octave @ Sub (20Hz) shelf, 40Hz bell, 65Hz bell,
100Hz bell, 125Hz bell, 165Hz bell. 9db maximum boost.
· EQ in/out switch with Green LED.
· Variable High Pass Filter -3dB points at both extremes of the potentiometer: 20Hz to 200Hz.
· 21 position detents. 2nd order lter, 12dB/Octave. The High Pass Filter -3dB point at the
nine o-clock position is 25Hz, 60Hz at the twelve o-clock position and 100Hz at the
three o-clock position.
· High Pass Filter in/out switch w/green LED.
AIR BAND®
The third band of the equalizer is the Mäag Audio Air
Band shelving section with 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40-kHz
frequency choices with its own control and up to 9dB of
maximum boost. Both the Air Band and Low Frequency
equalizers share a single bypass push-button.
GAIN control for the AIR BAND 9 dB max gain
IN engages and disengages the AIR BAND. Green LED
EQ SECTION
The PREQ2™ has three equalizer/lters sections; the layout and control compliment are iden-
tical for both channels. The equalizer design is specically designed for both recording and/or
subtle touchup tonality changes and euphonic enhancements.
On the left side of the channel is the rst control for the 2nd order, 12dB/octave high pass lter.
It is fully variable using a 21-detent control to sweep from 20Hz to 200Hz. It has its own hard-
wired, in/out bypass switch.
Next is the Low Frequency bell-shaped equalizer section with a boost (only) control at 6dB/Oc-
tave. Frequencies are switched using a six position rotary switch and are: 10Hz (Sub) shelf, and
bell-shaped curves for 40Hz, 65Hz, 100Hz, 125Hz, and 165Hz. Up to 9dB of boost is available.

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INSTRUMENT INPUT: ¼” Tip-Sleeve unbalanced Jack
The Instrument Input is designed to receive signals from many types or instruments. Including
Instruments that have a high output impedance. To avoid a high frequency signal loss of any in-
strument plugged into the Instrument Input jack, the input impedance of this Instrument Input jack
is very high (1.0 Meg Ohms). Unbalanced instrument signals are automatically detected, switched
via a relay, balanced, and the signals Impedance is lowered to better match the mic transformer
before being sent to the microphone input transformer. All microphone functions are available to
the Instrument except 48 volts Phantom Power. Phantom Power can be activated but this voltage
will not interact with the Instrument Jack.
INSTRUMENT MIC THRU: ¼” Tip-Sleeve unbalanced Jack
This Jack serves two purposes. First: With an Instrument plugged into ‘Instrument In’ this signal
will be buered and sent back out the ‘Instrument Thru’ at unity gain. This can be used to feed
Amplied Speaker Cabinets or Stomp Boxes. Buering makes it possible to send this signal longer
lengths without degrading the signal. For example, a guitar signal being recorded in the control
room could then be sent to an Amplied Speaker Cabinet in a sound isolated Studio.
Second: With only a Mic attached to the Balanced XLR Mic input, this microphone signal will be
amplied by a set +20 db and sent out the ¼” ‘Instrument Mic Thru’ jack. This is an ingenus way
to route the Mic signal to Amplied Speaker Cabinets and Stomp Boxes without the use of extra
interface equipment. Example: Mic in studio feeds channel one Mic input. It is amplied and the bal-
anced XLR output of channel one is recorded. The microphone is also sent out the +34dB amplied
channel one unbalanced ¼” ‘Instrument Mic Thru’ jack. This signal feeds a stomp box in the control
room. The unbalanced output of this stomp box is then feed to the unbalanced 1/4” ‘Instrument
In’ on channel two. This signal is amplied and sent to the balanced output of channel two to be
recorded.
LINE INPUT: 1/4” TS unbalanced Thru Jack when the Line switch is engaged. This allows for
a Re-Amping feature. The out pit of a DAW can be sent to the line input and this signal will be
attenuated by 26 dB and sent to the 1/4” TS unbalanced Thru jack. This signal can then be sent
to a stomp box or an amplified speaker cabinet and mic’ed and re-recorded.
Line Input Switch w/Green LED: Routes Line Input through High Pass Filter and 2-band EQ section
to Balanced XLR Line Out connectors.
INPUTS
LINE INPUT: Balanced XLR inputs.

PRODUCT WARRANTY
Maag Audio expressly warrants its products for a
period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.
Products will be free of manufacturing defects.
Within the warranty period, a product will be
tested, repaired or replaced at the sole discre-
tion of Maag Audio, free of charge. All warranty
service will be conducted through authorized
Maag Audio dealers only. The end user is re-
quired to provide proof of purchase (receipt or
invoice) of the product. This warranty is oered
solely to the original purchaser of the product
from an authorized Maag Audio dealer and is
not transferable. This warranty does not include
the shipping charges to and from the author-
ized Maag Audio dealer from whom the product
was purchased. Maag Audio will pay for shipping
costs between the dealer and Maag Audio. All
warranty service requires a Maag Audio issued
RMA number. Please conduct warranty service
communication with an authorized Maag Audio
dealer.
WARRANTY EXCLUSIONS
The foregoing express warranty is made in lieu
of all other product warranties, expressed and
implied, including merchantability and tness
for a particular purpose which are specically
disclaimed. The express warranty will not apply
to defects or damage caused by post purchase
shipping and transportation, storage, careless
handling, nor damage caused by misuse, hot
swapping, accidents, neglect, alterations, oper-
ator error, or failure to properly maintain prod-
ucts.
WARRANTY & REGISTRATION
COPYRIGHT © 2022 MAAG AUDIO, LLC
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW
PRODUCT REGISTRATION
Please complete the product registration form
for your Mäag Audio equipment to be
registered for warranty and product updates.

Mäag Audio, LLC