new preamp

I have a Art MPA Gold upgraded with mullard tubes that I really like.  Works great as a DI and as my vocal pre.  Unfortunately, it appears one of the channels died, and this is just the excuse I need to get a new vocal preamp to add to the studio.  I have about $500 bucks to spend.
 
I am open to just about any suggestions in that price range.  Two of the main contenders are more in the 600-700 range (the Grace 101 and the P-solo).  Anyone have any experience with either of those?

whoa.  that tone beast looks pretty nice.  hmmmm.  

http://www.adesignsaudio..m/500-series-mic-pre.htm

sven450
I have a Art MPA Gold upgraded with mullard tubes that I really like.  Works great as a DI and as my vocal pre.  Unfortunately, it appears one of the channels died, and this is just the excuse I need to get a new vocal preamp to add to the studio.  I have about $500 bucks to spend.
 
I am open to just about any suggestions in that price range.  Two of the main contenders are more in the 600-700 range (the Grace 101 and the P-solo).  Anyone have any experience with either of those?

I have been using an ART TPS II for many years and it is similar to the MPA Gold, but not with upgraded tubes.  I have used it as my main vocal pre for several years.  
 
I also have a P-solo that I've had for a couple of years.  It is NOT my vocal pre, but I use it for acoustic or for any electric or bass.
 
if you are replacing the ART MPA with a P-solo or Grace M101 then you will probably be disappointed with the results, especially on vocals, but as a DI also.  the True Systems and Grace pres are solid state only, no tubes and absolutely NO "warmth" (tube distortion) - they are very much "straight wire with gain" type pres.  very very clean. 
 
I love the P-solo for its purpose, but I don't use it when I want to hear some tube because it doesn't have any, it's just clean gain.
 
my ART TPS is also starting to cause me problems, so I decided to replace it.  what I decided on was an ART MPA PRO II and an ART VLA PRO II.  this way I replace both channels with the newer technology units of preamps and compressors.  (I also get mid/side capabilities with the MPA II which I didn't have before!).
 
the new MPA II has a higher plate voltage selector you can use which puts more voltage on the tube, giving the tube the ability to hand out higher volumes of harmonics (i.e.: more "warmth" ).
 
so if you want to replace your MPA with "clean gain" then the Grace or True Systems are the only way to go in that price range.  but if you want to replace it with something which can give you that tube sound, then you should consider the MPA II.

The Warm Audio stuff is all very nice.  The WA12 is API-ish and has more of a vintage vibe.   The Tone Beast has a wealth of colors since it has two transformers (or none) and a choice of op-amps, as well as gain and output, which means you can drive it hard.
 
The ISA One is nice, but cleaner, more modern sounding.  It has a transformer, too, and a preamp as well as DI you can use simultaneously.  Kinda like an RND (Rupert Neve Designs), since the Focusrite is based on a Neve design.  A new RND just sounds big, or mine does anyway.  But it is the one in the Portico II channel strip, which runs on big rails w/ a lot of power.  Maybe the single space units don't sound as big.
 
I just feel having a nice transformer-based preamp works well since most of the interface preamps don't have one.
 
@

"warmth" is more likely to come from a mic choice,
than a distorted tube.
 
compression, gets you there a lot quicker than a tube.
 
and forget about warmth from starved plate designs.
 
it's just distortion.
 

AT
The Warm Audio stuff is all very nice.  The WA12 is API-ish and has more of a vintage vibe.   The Tone Beast has a wealth of colors since it has two transformers (or none) and a choice of op-amps, as well as gain and output, which means you can drive it hard.
 
The ISA One is nice, but cleaner, more modern sounding.  It has a transformer, too, and a preamp as well as DI you can use simultaneously.  Kinda like an RND (Rupert Neve Designs), since the Focusrite is based on a Neve design.  A new RND just sounds big, or mine does anyway.  But it is the one in the Portico II channel strip, which runs on big rails w/ a lot of power.  Maybe the single space units don't sound as big.
 
I just feel having a nice transformer-based preamp works well since most of the interface preamps don't have one.
 
@

 
I have two of these that AT mentions and I wish I had all three. I can't imagine better investment dollars per preamps than the ISA One or Tonebeast. The ISA One sounds good on vocals, but is stunning on direct input guitar and bass. The Tonebeast's strength is vocals between the two for my use, it also sounds good for instruments.

Scott,
 
I've been using the P-Solo for several years. Great clean sound. If that's what you want, you can't go wrong. I use mine with my favorite tube mic (Rode NTV) quite a bit. It does one thing and does it well. I also have several flavors of mic pres, so a one trick pony fits well in my set up.
 
My next pre amp purchase will be the Tone Beast. Impressed with what I've seen, heard and read about this one and Warm Audio seems like a great company to work with. I have their WA76 compressor. Very impressive!
 
Another consideration in the Sytek MPX-4Aii. Four channels. You can get it with Burr Brown op amps for a slightly warmer sound in two, or all four channels. It's $800 - $900 new, so may be out of your budget. See here - http://www.sytek-audio-systems.com/products/preamps/mpx4/
 
Have fun shopping! 

It is funny, as no matter what I end up with, I will make it work.  They each have their charms and I will be really surprised if I am disappointed with any of the choices discussed here.  That being said, I'm leaning towards the either the Warm Audio "regular" pre, or the Tonebeast.  

The WA 12 (regular pre) is great, but a half rack unit.  I use it as much as the ToneBeast mostly because it is simple - plug and play with only one knob to mess w/.  I find I use the TB w/o a transformer as often as not, since I don't have a comparable clean preamp.  Or use it to put some extra saturation hair on a sound that needs it.  Otherwise, I just use the WA12 which sounds nigh on perfect DI'ed w/ bass (esp. w/ some 1176 compression).
 
Since you are paying double for the TB, just be sure to realize it is like a pick-up.  It is big, hard ride and eats gas and you ain't usually using it for what it was made for.  But if you need to load something up, there ain't anything else that will work.  Whether all the bells and whistles on the TB are worth it using them once or twice on a song are a question only you can answer.  Realistically, I probably use them about 10% of the time, tho I'd probably think I need to use it more if I didn't have it.
 
@

This chart is pretty handy for plotting your preamp future.
http://www.prostudioreviews.com/mic-preamp-graph.html
 
It doesn't include all the available preamps (!)but it will help you sort out which ones you are aiming for.
Michael

Glad you liked it. I think so, too! I would love to see it updated with more preamps listed on it.
There's one for mics, too.
http://www.prostudioreviews.com/mic-graph.html
Michael
 

AT
Whether all the bells and whistles on the TB are worth it using them once or twice on a song are a question only you can answer. 

I pretty much constantly have all the switches set to the same position on my TB-12. And I can't say with a straight face that I'd be able to tell the x731 opamp apart from the x18 in a blind test (under normal non-clipping conditions), much less the steel/nickel trannies or the vintage/clean capacitors.
 
Go to Zenproaudio.com and check out the Clip-a-Lator. Gives you some idea of the order of magnitude of the impact such electronic components bestow upon a signal.
 
What sold me the TB over the WA is the form factor (I've come to hate half-rack units), and the output attenuation knob which gives me all the flexibility I could ask for in a preamp! You can dial in some nice edgy fuzz with the vintage settings (tone button in, x731 opamp, steel tranny and vintage caps) and overdriving the input, without clipping your converter!
 
Sven

If anyone is interested, I went with the Warm Audio WA12 and have been mightily impressed so far.  It produces thick, rich, detailed sound on every source I have tried.  The DI I'm getting out of it for bass is especially delicious, but as my vocal pre it is also lovely.  This isn't saying much as I'm just a home hobbyist, but other than guitars, it is the nicest bit of gear I own and it sounds it.  I am a happy camper.
 

AT
It is subtle but real.  

I could definitely hear the difference between my AT-2020 and my new/used AKG C214 mics, but that's it.  I know the C214 is an improvement and I now have to move on to improving my vocal performances and my mixing.
 
Of course, that won't keep me from trying out a tube preamp for some more subtle enhancements:)