Review: Peach Audio M196se

Review: Gary Davis

WHAT’S TO BE GAINED

‘Gaining up’ the inputs of the unit allows users to take advantage of the harmonic qualities of tubes driven hard, which is a great facility, but, conversely, the output signal must then be attenuated to compensate. To that end, output attenuation on the M196se is provided in 11 single dB steps and the solid, high-quality knobs allow accurate recall of level. There’s also a six-position switch that rolls out low frequencies at 6dB per octave below 120Hz, 80Hz, 60Hz, 40Hz and 20Hz – the sixth position is ‘flat’.

Then there’s high frequency attenuation, which is provided at three fixed frequencies, again at 6dB/octave, starting at 8, 12 and 20kHz. Alternatively, if boosting the top-end is your caper, there are two levels of fixed high-frequency dynamic amplification: E1: +6dB at 16kHz; and E2: +9dB at 16kHz. These high frequency enhancements add sparkle and detail.

Sources can be transformer-balanced line inputs at 5kΩ, ITL active (100kΩ) or ITL passive (2.7MΩ) high-impedance instrument inputs, or transformer-balanced microphone inputs.

At 60dB of gain, the equivalent input noise is a very impressive –125dB. But if all the aforementioned filters, shelves and input options still aren’t enough to impress you, the input impedance is also switchable between four options. This allows you to ‘match’ various microphones to the preamp, or simply create a variation in the timbre of a particular mic/preamp combo. Input gain is step selectable from 20 – 60dB in 4dB steps, once again allowing accurately repeatable settings at a later date. Lastly, phantom power has a 10-second soft-start circuit – all the nice touches!

David Peach has always been particularly interested in power supplies (for many years he’s produced balanced studio power supplies, which have become a de facto standard in many Australian studios). The M196se fully regulated supply is no disappointment in this regard – extremely quiet, robust and resourceful, it supports remarkable detail and depth in the signal produced.

PEACHES IN THE FIELD

I initially trialled the Peach preamps at Artec Studios in Sydney, recording voiceovers for television, and then on a number of album projects in production at Artec over a month or so. Artec is equipped with a large variety of preamps, from original Neve 1073s through to Avalon, Sytec and Paint Pot. Yet without doubt the Peach preamp has already become the preamp of choice at Artec for a number of sources.

Absolutely great on vocals and acoustic guitars, it’s just marvellous on piano teamed up with a Royer SF24, or a pair of SR77 Earthworks cardioids. For ‘true’ instruments everyone at the studio unanimously agreed that the Peach preamp was hard to beat across the board. Perhaps for a warm enhanced lower midrange on drums, or electric guitar, some preferred the Neve, but on most everything else, the Peach was the ‘cat’s pyjamas’.

Oddly though, the new M196se initially didn’t seem to have the slightly forward, detailed top end of the previous model. That was until we discovered the E1 and E2 high frequency enhancements. Whoa… immediately the old voice was back, and with a little more to boot! The input impedance switching further produced some fine results on an AEA ribbon and a Microtech Gefell condenser.

TASTY FRUIT

After the studio shootouts were over, I took the unit home to track some acoustic guitar and vocals through a Neumann SM69 stereo microphone. I have an Apogee Ensemble in my home studio, and took the opportunity to compare the Peach M196se, and the original Peach M196 with the extremely good preamps and DI in the Ensemble.

Well… with the E1 enhancement switched in on the M196se, through the SM69, I managed to produce some of the finest tracks I have ever recorded of guitar and vocals! Absolutely gorgeously rich, detailed and solid, with extraordinary definition back to front and huge width. Lovely! The M/S system worked a treat – a must-have for stereo recording.

Comparing the original M196 with the newer version, the common heritage was obvious. The newer brother seemed smoother, more sophisticated, with all the detail of the original present but more subtle somehow. With its more complete control options, the better-equipped M196se could produce the sound of the old model and much more.

As a DI for my acoustic guitar, the Apogee Ensemble took the crown – strange, but true – until I discovered there were separate jacks on the back for instrument inputs. While the preamps and DI in the Ensemble are very nice, they certainly didn’t produce the subtle detail of the Peach product. Having said that, the Apogee’s converters render a marvellously warm, comfortable and accurate sound to and from my DAW… but I digress.

PICK OF THE BUNCH

This is very early days in the product cycle of the new M196se, since I was testing the very first example off the production line (and every single unit will be hand made, as the first one has been). On inspecting the internal construction, the level of absolute attention to detail is exposed. The only conclusion you can reach when you investigate the internal construction is that Dave Peach is a fanatic! To see this level of care and concern in a product produced in 2007 reassures you that the finer qualities of human endeavour have not disappeared after all!

Such a superb product deserves superb support if problems arise, and until now this has been difficult. Dave has now decided to offer a 24-hour turnaround replacement within Australia on the M196se. Units will be kept in stock to facilitate an immediate exchange while any required repairs are carried out. This means that finally a top-notch, hand-constructed unit can now be confidently used in a professional environment without concern about being stuck mid project without it.

The Peach M196se Class A vacuum tube preamp is a marvellous product and a credit to both the extraordinary skill and persistence of its designer, and proof once again of the ability of Australians to produce audio equipment that’s as good as, or better than, anything produced in the world today.