Auteur MKIII – 2-Channel Transformer-Coupled Microphone Preamplifier

Meet the Black Lion Audio B173 mkII — the most portable 1073 British-sound around! The B173 mkII uses the same Cinemag input and output transformers as our B173 Quad for a whopping 70dB of gain, a revamped gain stage, and a lower noise floor for cleaner, lower distortion sound. A front panel D.I. delivers a harmonically rich tone to guitars, keyboards, and synthesizers, and stepped input gain and variable output attenuation allow for perfect control over transformer saturation.

Console vibe for your desktop. The Auteur DT is a versatile preamp/DI box ready to suit all of your single-channel recording needs. Thanks to 60 dB of Chicago console-style gain and 1/4” and XLR inputs, Auteur DT will accurately capture and enhance anything you throw at it: the crackling snap of a well-tuned snare — or the thunder, resonance, and decay of a ‘70s acrylic kick drum getting hit hard. Add heat and texture to synths and mix-penetrating presence to vocals. Rest assured — anything you plug into the Auteur DT will sound better coming out of it. Auteur DT exists to capture every bit of sweat equity that goes into your recordings... in fact, bringing out the fully polished potential of your final product is the inspiration for everything Black Lion Audio makes. More than just a preamp... Electric whatever: guitar, bass, baritone, or viola — the Auteur DT doesn’t care what you play: it cares how you sound. Auteur DT makes anything you plug into it sound weighty, detailed, harmonically rich, and above all — clean. There’s simply not a better single-channel direct box in its price class... and certainly not one that doesn’t look like it was component-sourced via a dumpster dive behind an antique radio museum. Auteur DT will dutifully respect every ingredient of your tonal recipe — your technique, string gauge, fingerboard choice, and especially those pickups you paid too much for. Sublime quality — inside and out. With a tough-as-nails brushed black aluminum chassis bookended by organic, vintage-style varnished maple side panels, the Auteur DT is sturdily built for comfort, usability, and lasting performance — while also looking like it should cost about twice what it does. Of course, it’s what’s on the inside that counts — and Auteur DT features a robust USA-made transformer and cherry-picked Nichicon and Vishay capacitors, ensuring premium sound quality, long life, and low noise. The Black Lion difference. Before offering their own brand of unique audio design solutions, Black Lion Audio grew its reputation as Chicago’s top audio mod-shop. Their years of experience spent elbow-deep in audio circuits goes into every Black Lion Audio offering: judicious component selection; robust build quality... and a heavy dose of Chicago-style hands-on, can-do, will-do attitude. .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }