[Scott Dorsey]

Dude Japan wrote:

For what instruments?
Any=A0

For what mikes? =A0
SM7b and U87

The SM-7b isn't touchy about loading, but it IS happier into a transformer
input than most solid-state inputs.

There are actually several different U87s... and some of the earlier ones
are very touchy about loading. Also the output is relatively high on the
U87 and a lot of older preamps would clip easily with them.

Going into what? =A0
see above

Single channel or stereo? =A0
the more the better

I'd audition the John Hardy to begin with. I might also look at some more
colored preamps like a used Great River MP-2NV which might hit your price
range, or the single channel MP-1NV. And I'd also audition something
cleaner but totally different like the Grace or the Speck MicPre 5.0 ones.

A good pro audio dealer should let you check out stuff like this to try at
home and get a sense of how they sound with your mikes.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."