Maag PREQ2-500 User manual
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COPYRIGHT © 2023 MAAG AUDIO, LLC
USER MANUAL
MIC PREAMP
WITH AIR BAND®
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GENERAL SAFETY
• Please read these instructions.
• Take heed of all warnings.
• Adhere to all provided instructions.
• Avoid using this apparatus near water.
• Ensure this apparatus is not exposed to rain or moisture.
• Clean exclusively with a dry cloth.
• Prevent obstruction of any ventilation openings.
• Install in accordance with the instructions from the rack
manufacturer.
• Note that there are no user-adjustable or user-serviceable
items on this apparatus.
• Any adjustments or alterations to this apparatus may impact
its performance, potentially leading to a failure to meet safety
and/or international compliance standards.
• Refrain from using this apparatus in safety-critical
applications.
CAUTION
• This apparatus should not be used outside
of the scope of 500VPR racks.
• Do not operate this apparatus with any covers removed.
• To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not perform any
servicing other than that contained in these Installation
Instructions unless you are qualied to do so. Refer all
servicing to qualied service personnel.
COPYRIGHT © 2023 MAAG AUDIO, LLC
SAFETY & INSTALLATION
This page provides denitions, warnings, and practical information to establish a secure working
environment. Prior to installing or using this apparatus, we encourage you to take a moment to read
through this page.
INSTALLATION
• Make sure to disconnect power from the rack before installing or removing this apparatus.
• Utilize the panel xing screws provided with the rack to securely fasten this apparatus into place.
CONFORMANCE TO STANDARDS
This device is intended for installation and operation in Mäag Audio 500 series compatible racks with
a CE mark. The CE mark on the rack indicates that the manufacturer arms its compliance with both
the EMC and the Low Voltage Directive (2006/95/EC).
is a single channel, 500-se-
ries version mic pre-amp with the same circuit topol-
ogy and sound as their top-of-the line Mäag Audio
PREQ2 Dual-Channel Strip with Air Band®.
The PreQ2-500 has a total of 71dB of Class-A gain that
starts with the same Mäag Audio-built nickel-core in-
put transformer as the 1U dual channel PREQ2. Just
like the PREQ2 Dual Channel Strip, it includes a front
panel ¼-inch (1-meg-ohm) Instrument Input jack that
when used, automatically routes its signal to the input
transformer and also disconnects the 48-volt phan-
tom power if already turned on.
The front panel continues with a ¼-inch Thru/Output
jack that provides an unbalanced, isolated and boost-
ed “duplicate” of either the low impedance microphone
or the Instrument inputs. The Thru/Output signal is
capable of driving a long line out to guitar amps in the
studio and/or eects pedals eectively and without
quality loss. Great for creating unique eects, you may
“re-amp” and externally process either the low im-
pedance microphone input signal or any instrument
directly connected to the PREQ2’s front panel ¼-inch
input jack.
OVERVIEW
COPYRIGHT © 2023 MAAG AUDIO, LLC
The PREQ2-500 has an Equivalent Input Noise (EIN) level of -128dBu, +25dBU of headroom, plus the
acclaimed AIR BAND® EQ with up to 9dB of boost at your choice of 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40-kHz frequen-
cies.
Microphone gain is continuously variable using a single, large control knob that is switchable between
two gain ranges of either +20dB to +42dB for most recordings or +42dB to +71dB using the +25dB
boost button. This higher microphone gain is noise-free and perfect for very quiet sources like Foley/
sound eects or low output, old vintage mics.
The compact front panel nishes with push-button switches for +48-volt phantom power on/o,
-20dB attenuation pad, a 70Hz, 2nd order 12dB/Oct high pass lter, phase or polarity reverse, and AIR
BAND® EQ on/o.
COPYRIGHT © 2023 MAAG AUDIO, LLC
AIR BAND®
Frequency selector for the AIR BAND.
The shelf peaks are set at 2.5kHz,
5kHz, 10kHz, 15kHz, 20kHz, and
40kHz.
FUNCTIONS & TECH SPECS
AIR GAIN
Gain control for the AIR BAND.
GAIN
Continuously variable GAIN knob
control for the preamp.
SIGNAL
Green LED indicates audio
signal presence.
AIR BAND®
Engages the AIR BAND.
Increases the GAIN to
a range of 42-71 dB.
Attenuates the mic signal
(pre transformer)
48v PHANTOM POWER
Supplies Phantom Power to mic.
HIGH PASS FILTER
Knee starts @ 160 Hz and is
–3 dB @ 70 Hz.
PHASE REVERSE
Reverses the phase of the output
relative to
INSTRUMENT / MICROPHONE THRU
¼-inch unbalanced, isolated and
boosted of a low impedance mic or
the Instrument inputs.
PEAK
Red LED starts to illuminate when
the output signal reaches 23 dBu.
INSTRUMENT INPUT
¼-inch (1-meg-ohm)
Instrument Input jack
• Max Gain 71dB
• Noise level at the lowest gain setting is
-100dB. EIN is -128dB
• Balanced XLR output headroom is +25dBu
• The microphone transformer feeds a dierential
set of front-end Class A discrete transistors paired
with a FET input operational amplier.
• High and low gain push button switch. Low range:
+20dB to +42dB. High range (gain +25 switch with
green LED): +42dB to +71dB. Switchable -20dB pad
• +48-volt phantom power, switchable, with red LED.
Phase reversal switch: switches the phase of the
balanced output.
• Green signal present LED, red peak LED lights
at +25dBu.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
TURN THE GAIN FULLY COUNTER-
CLOCKWISE BEFORE ENGAGING
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 oered
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 specically
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 © 2023 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
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