BAE 1073 Mic Pre/EQ 19" 1RU Rack with Power Supply – Classic British Console Sound
 
The BAE 1073 19" 1RU Rack with Power Supply is a hand‑wired Class A mic/line preamp and EQ that faithfully recreates the sound and behaviour of the original Neve 1073 console modules in a modern rackmount format. Built with St Ives (Carnhill) transformers, Elma switches and discrete circuitry, it delivers the big‑iron British console tone that engineers reach for when they want thick, musical lows, rich, forward mids and smooth, polished highs that already sound like a finished record.
At its core, the 1073 offers up to 80 dB of all‑Class A, transformer‑balanced gain with a wide 10 Hz to 55 kHz frequency response and a very low noise floor around -110 dBu. The mic input impedance can be switched between 1200 and 300 ohms so you can either optimise for clean headroom or deliberately load dynamics and ribbons for more character. A dedicated line input lets you use the 1073 as a line‑level colour box on stems, buses and mixes, while the high‑impedance DI input on the front panel makes it easy to track guitars, bass and synths directly into the sweet spot of the preamp.
 
The 3‑band EQ section is classic 1073: a high‑frequency shelf with ±16 dB at 12 kHz, a low shelf with ±16 dB at 35 Hz, 60 Hz, 110 Hz or 220 Hz, and a powerful mid band with ±18 dB of peaking gain at 0.36, 0.7, 1.6, 3.2, 4.8 or 7.2 kHz. Together with the steep 18 dB/octave high‑pass filter (50, 80, 160 and 300 Hz), you can easily add weight, remove mud, bring vocals forward or add air without the sound ever becoming harsh or clinical. An output level control acts as a fader when feeding converters or tape, so you can drive the input stage for colour and then trim the level on the way out.
The included external regulated linear power supply is deliberately oversized, providing several times the current the unit actually needs. That keeps the audio path quiet, maximises headroom and allows the PSU to power more than one 1073 rack unit if you choose to expand later. With its 1U footprint, rock‑solid build and proven circuit, the BAE 1073 remains one of the most convincing ways to put true 1073 sound at the heart of a modern studio.