Grace Design m801

Introduced in 1995, the model 801 microphone preamplifier was slightly ahead of its time. But as digital audio workstations flooded the industry, an accompanying high performance 8 channel mic preamplifier suddenly made perfect sense. So the model 801 quickly became an industry standard which remains inimitable and unsurpassed.

So eleven years later, with a nearly flawless service record and an endless supply of critical acclaim, the model 801 gets a much deserved update, including an updated audio path, a new chassis forged of stainless steel and a slightly new name: the m801.

The new m801 delivers unmatched audio performance – with massive headroom and ultra-wide bandwidth which contribute to a markedly open, musical character. The m801 is designed to effortlessly resolve even the lowest level ambient information, resulting in a sonic picture of astonishing clarity and detail, which serves to capture the essential character of the music being recorded.

The m801’s signal path has been hot-rodded to be fully balanced from start to finish, resulting in wider dynamic range, while new higher current output drivers enable even longer cable runs without signal loss. Included on each channel is a dedicated ribbon microphone switch, which shifts the preamplifier’s entire gain range up 10dB while deactivating 48V phantom power and bypassing the decoupling capacitors. And we’ve added an additional set of 8 channel balanced outputs for sending signals to a secondary recorder, workstation or console.

While its predecessor now takes its place in pro audio history, the new m801 faithfully furthers the tradition of breathtaking audio performance and perfect reliability in a beautiful and functional 8 channel package.

Grace Design m902

The m902 is built upon the remarkable success of the venerable model 901 headphone amplifier, with the addition of many new and essential features. It is designed to be an invaluable tool for any critical audio application for which reference quality headphone amplification is required.

Professionals and audiophiles alike will be simply floored by the m902’s latest generation, high performance 24/192 DAC, which includes our unique s-LockTM dual stage PLL (Phase Lock Loop) for extremely low intrinsic jitter and rock solid digital performance. A full complement of analog and digital inputs are available (AES3, S/PDIF, TOSLINK and USB), which are all selectable via a front panel rotary switch.

The core of the m902 is our meticulously designed high-current transimpedance amplifier circuitry, which is designed to effortlessly drive even the lowest impedance headphones and provide the high-resolution and low-level ambient detail for which all Grace Design products are famous. Familiar recorded material becomes at once transparent and alive, and critical details in editing and mastering become obvious and easy to manipulate.

The m902 includes a crossfeed circuit, or XFeed, which simulates the natural acoustics of a loudspeaker listening environment and HRTF (Head Related Transfer Functions). This circuitry, designed by Dr. Jan Meier, can significantly improve imaging, while reducing listening fatigue when using headphones.
The m902 also cleverly adds stereo unbalanced analog line outputs for connection to studio monitors or any speaker system, allowing it to double as an elegantly simple high fidelity monitor controller or even a purist audiophile preamplifier / DAC.

As the logical update of the model 901, the new m902 reference headphone amplifier stakes its claim as the final word in reference headphone amplification and as the new must have tool for audio playback in any environment.

Grace Design m904

For the requirements of any high quality audio production facility working in stereo, we present the m904 stereo monitor controller.

The m904 combines all the same features and technology found in our flagship m906 surround controller, but is for stereo monitoring only. It is a perfect control center for any type of audio production facility - from project studio to world class mastering facility.

The m904 offers a full compliment of balanced and unbalanced stereo analog and digital inputs, the latter featuring our latest generation reference quality 24/192 DAC technology. Like the m906, all inputs and outputs can be user calibrated for seamless integration into any playback environment with all types of playback equipment.

The m904 is configured as a 2U rack chassis, with all system controls built into the unit itself. It is also available as the m904b, which comes as a blank 2U rack chassis and requires the m904RCU remote controll unit (sold separately).  Additionally, a standard m904 can be used with the m904RCU, with the user able to select between local and remote control.

Also included as a standard feature is our critically acclaimed m902
headphone amplifier circuitry, with two output jacks on the mainframe and one additional output on the m904RCU. This circuitry provides true audiophile headphone amplification for critical monitoring, mixing and quality control.

While the m904 provides an astounding compliment of useful features, the real achievement for us was to implement all of this while maintaining our impeccable high fidelity audio performance.

The m904 and m904b are designed and built to empower audio professionals with the highest performance and most comprehensive feature set that any monitor control systems have to offer.

Grace Design m201

During its 12 years in production, the model 201 mic preamplifier has found its way into countless recording facilities around the world, while gathering a considerable amount of critical acclaim along the way. Now this classic two channel mic preamplifier has been completely redesigned and transformed into the m201.

The new m201 delivers unmatched audio performance, with massive headroom, ultra-wide bandwidth and a very open, musical character. The signal path has been hot-rodded to be fully balanced from start to finish, resulting in a wider dynamic range, while new high-current output drivers enable even longer cable runs without signal loss. The m201 translates a sonic picture of astonishing clarity and detail, which serves to capture the essential character of the music being recorded.

Our ribbon mic mode is now included, which shifts the gain range up 10dB while deactivating 48V phantom power, bypassing the decoupling capacitors and optimizing the input impedance. Each channel has an ‘input mode’ rotary switch which selects between a standard 48V phantom input, ribbon mic mode, a front panel DI input or optional DPA high voltage inputs (130V or 190V).

Included is our newly designed M+S (mid side) decoder circuitry with a built-in width control. The front panel width control is wired with a precision 12 position rotary switch which provides a range from 100% mid (mono) to 30% mid / 70% side. The ultra-precision summing and difference amplifiers feed a set of dedicated outputs, which allows simultaneous recording of discrete mid+side signals as well as the stereo matrix.

The new front panel mounted HI-Z inputs are designed to accommodate a wide variety of high impedance input sources, making the m201 an excellent choice as a DI box which will flawlessly preserve the sound of any plugged-in instrument. Imagine the same resolution and detail as our microphone preamplifiers available for DI recording situations.

Additionally, we will be offering the m201 with a state of the art 24-bit/192kHz A/D converter option (retrofitable), rounding the m201 off as the ultimate transparent input solution for any recording facility.

Whatever the application, the remarkable sonic performance and functionality of the new m201 will help you make the finest recordings of your career.

Grace Design Lunatec V3

As music doesn’t always occur in a controlled studio environment, the need for high quality portable audio recording gear remains strong. So for those dedicated to capturing music and sound that happens outside the recording studio, we offer the Lunatec V3 portable DC powered 2 channel mic preamplifier with AD converter.
The Lunatec V3 is built to deliver the same transparent, high fidelity audio performance as the rest of our line, while being portable enough to fit in a shoulder bag and accompany you and a portable recorder anywhere you need to go.

Sound designers, concert tapers, remote engineers, classical engineers or anyone with a portable recording system will simply be thrilled by the depth, clarity and realism the Lunatec V3 delivers.
Our ultra-low distortion, 24/192kHz A/D converter is included as standard. Flexible outputs include S/PDIF, TOSLINK and AES3.

Both single and dual-wire 176.4 and 192 kHz AES/EBU modes are provided via a pair of XLR connectors, which enable connection to today’s high sample rate dual-wire digital recording systems as well as including the provision for single-wire systems that will likely become the standard in the future.

The Lunatec V3 is also equipped with our unique new analog noise shaping dither circuit, or ANSRTM, which can be applied for ultra-high quality word length reduction when sending signals to a 16-bit digital recorder.

With measured and sonic performance that rivals even the finest microphone preamplifiers, the Lunatec V3 effortlessly translates the most subtle, complex low-level ambient information or highly dynamic material without noise or coloration. What your microphones hear is what gets recorded.

Combined with all the essential features needed for true portability, the Lunanec V3 is hands down the best performing portable, DC powered microphone preamplifier available.

Grace Design m101