Vintage Telefunken V72 tube microphone preamplifier 1960s original

Vintage!! Telefunken V72 tube microphone preamplifier 1960s original

Original vintage telefunken V72, AKA the greatest microphone preamplifier of all time.

This particularly fine example is zero noise, zero issues, NOS valves, 100% voice of god. You will not find a finer example.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The TAB/ Telefunken V72 is a beautiful, rich, big sounding tube mic pre. Maybe the best in the business. Great on kick, snare, vocals, bass, etc.

HISTORY

The V72 was originally developed by North West German Radio and the Institute of Broadcast Technology of Hamburg between the years 1949-1952. Designed as a microphone and main studio amplifier, the V72 uses dual EF804S tubes and has a fixed gain of 34dB. It was used with a high pass filter as a mic preamp, and as a buffering amplifier to make up for losses from a passive fader EQ. When the V76 arrived, the V72 was generally used only for buffering in broadcast applications.

In the mid 50s both the Siemens and TAB companies began manufacturing the units for Telefunken, and the V72 became the standard preamp in German radio stations, while its cousin the V72s was being used extensively by companies like Decca and EMI, (most famously by the Beatles in the REDD 37 console).

Approximately 25,000 units were built for domestic use in Germany, and many more for export. By 1963, its reign had come to an end, as the age of transistors had arrived, and the V72 was replaced by the V72t (’T’ for transistor). Siemens continued to build the V72 until 1964, and the V72b until 1966. TAB continued to build the V72 until the mid 1970s.

Several different amplifiers were made on the basic V72 circuit platform, including the V71, V76 and V77. Other members of the V72 family, with different circuitry, are the ‘A’, ‘B’, & ‘S’ versions of the V72, as well as the V70, V74A and V77B.

At the dawn of the 1960s, AEG-Telefunken was a major manufacturer of broadcast equipment, and their systems were found in radio stations around the globe. The venerable V72 and its relatives were an important part of these facilities: rugged, dependable, quality units that stayed in operation for decades, and are still highly valued today.

PRODUCT CONDITION

Used / Vintage

More..

TAB/TELEFUNKEN V72 was developed by the North West German Radio (NWDR) in cooperation with the Institute of Broadcast Technology (IRT) of Hamburg in the early 1950s, the V72s was used by most European Recording Companies such as EMI, Decca and Telefunken as a microphone preamplifier and featured a fixed gain of 40 dB and lower input impedance. Production ceased in 1966 when it was replaced by the transistor version (the V72t).

So what’s the big deal? A big sound, that’s what.

Forty years ago I spent an afternoon with a tech maestro in Australia comparing V72s with my all-time favourite (class A/B) Neve 33114 preamps. The upshot? I really couldn’t hear much difference; both were fat, full, fast and detailed. I was surprised that the V72 didn’t display the ‘tubeyness’ of other valve gear I’d tried. Personally I’m not a fan of tube mic preamps used with tube mics as there is too much third harmonic distortion resulting in a sluggish woolliness (I liked to use an EAR 660 when tracking). The Telefunken lacked this, possibly because of the superb engineering and solid transformers which seemed to capture every nuance and reflex of the signal.

I have a pair at SNAP! Studios which are in constant use for tracking, particularly vocals and acoustic instruments with a wide dynamic range. But before we get into debates about which preamp for which job (as happens all too often) I should point out my tired mantra that to my mind there are only two types of mic preamps – good and bad. I like transformer balanced discrete preamps, or a Telefunken style well-engineered transformer based design, and although I have always had a preference for my Neves (which give me what I’m looking for on pretty much everything), I’m happy with API, Class A Neves and similar well designed units.

Sorry no trades or low ballers.

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Pickup or can be shipped at buyers request/ expense

Shipping quote can be provided world wide on request

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