Buzz Audio MA-2.2B

Description

A vintage mic preamp design that proved 20 years ago – “clean and fast does not need to sound clinical” – now with updated user interface and calibrated gain.

Buzz Audio heritage

Designed to provide transparent amplification to reveal the true source, they do not come any better than this. If you wish to record your sounds with the utmost warmth and clarity possible, you have found the tool for the job. And it’s not just us blowing our trumpet here, it’s what hundreds of users have told us over the years since we began building the very first MA-2 back in 1993, (re-vamped as the MA2.2 in 1999). The MA2.2B is a very high end product designed without low price as a primary goal, so it is an investment for sure. However, the high standard of workmanship and meticulously engineered construction means it will last a life time – something our users who purchased 20 years ago now experience.

Audio path quality

The circuitry used in the MA-2.2B preamp was developed by Buzz Audio designer Tim Farrant in the 1990’s and was dubbed “True Class A”. The resulting BE40 series of amplifiers exhibit very wide frequency response (into the mega-hertz ) and ultra fast slew rates (140V/uS) even at 60dB of gain. These attributes, plus the inherently low distortion provide the exceptionally pure top end sound of the MA-2.2B. In addition, the over engineered power supply design with localized Class A regulators for each amplifier stage supplies the grunt needed for an authoritive and accurate bottom end – it sounds tight and never over blown. Instead of an input transformer we use a stack of Wima film capacitors and these do not exhibit the low frequency phase problems associated with transformers, and sound MUCH better than polarized capacitors found in competing high end products.

Applications galore

As many of our users have discovered, the MA-2.2B sounds amazingly vibrant when recording acoustic guitar and percussion. It is equally at home on vocal and piano duties – and you will be very surprised how tight a kick drum can sound using this preamp – no more bouncing balls! Stringed instruments, choirs and full orchestras will be reproduced with the full dynamic range they require with zero midrange harshness. One could say, this preamp records everything with an uncanny life-like accuracy. It is virtually uncolored but exhibits a huge amount of vibe and musicality. The low reactance Wima capacitor input stage stack matches well with all microphone types and the noise specification is within 0.5dB of the theoretical minimum possible, so ribbon, capacitor and dynamic mics’ are no problem for this preamp. Indulge yourself!

Specifications:

• Minimum Gain; +14dB (-6dB with pad in)
• Maximum Gain; +66dB
• Maximum Output Level; +24dBu unbalanced.
• Frequency Response; 2Hz to 250kHz @ 20dB gain (-3dB).
  20Hz to 250kHz @ 65dB gain (-3dB).
• Harmonic Distortion; less than 0.008% 100Hz to 10kHz.
• Slew Rate; typically 140 V/uS, @ +20dBu output level.
• Equivalent Input Noise; -133.5dB A wtg, 150ohm source Z.
• Common Mode Noise Rejection; 100Hz-80dB, 1kHz -80dB, 10kHz-70dB (internally trimmed).
• Channel to Channel Crosstalk; below noise.
• Input Impedance; 3k ohms/1k2 ohms switchable.
• Indicators; 19 segment peak level output meter. Power On LED.
• Connectors; Input-XLR3F, Out on 1/4″ jack and XLR3M.
• Size; 1 Unit rack mount, (482Wx44Hx300D).
• Weight; 7kg.
• Power requirements; 230V/115V selectable.
• Specifications are typical of a production unit and are subject to change without notice. 0dBu reference = 0.775 volts RMS

Additional information