Avalon VT-737sp Used 1-Channel Tube Mic PreAmp/Compressor/EQ

Available from Mid-September 2026

Units show signs of wear due to touring but units have been tested and are in good working order.

The Avalon VT-737SP features a combination of TUBE preamplifiers, opto-compressor, sweep equalizer, output level and VU metering in a 2U space.

PREAMPLIFIER - The VT-737SP has three input selections: 1. The VT-737SP features a higher-performance microphone input transformer with +48v phantom selection. 2. Instrument DI high source input with jack located on front panel. 3. Balanced line input, discrete high-level Class A. The Class A preamplifier utilizes two cascaded, dual vacuum tube triodes configured with minimum negative feedback. A high gain switch boosts the overall gain of the preamplifier. The four high quality tubes are configured as singled ended anode coupled followers. A passive-variable high pass filter and hard-wire relay bypass completes the input signal conditioning. The phase reverse relay is available on all three inputs.

OPTO-COMPRESSOR - The opto-compressor features a minimum signal path design with twin Class A vacuum tube triodes for gain matching. The optical attenuator acts as a simple passive level controller. Full dynamic control from soft compression to hard- knee limiting can be achieved with threshold, ratio-compression, attack and release controls plus gain reduction selection on the large VU meter. Special spectral control including de-ess is available with the dual sweep mid EQ to side-chain switch. The EQ section can be flipped pre or post the opto-compressor via a front panel switch for alternate effects and tone shaping. Two VT-737SPs can be linked via a rear panel link cable for stereo tracking. The compressor bypass is a sealed silver relay for the most direct signal path.

SWEEP-EQUALIZER AND OUTPUT LEVEL - The VT-737SP equalizer utilizes 100% discrete, Class A-high-voltage transistors for optimum sonic performance. The high and low frequency bands provide the smooth characteristics of an all passive design, while the dual mid bands include variable frequency and switched Q-width selection. The enhanced range of the mid bands is extended into the high and low bands by the use of X10 frequency multipliers. The bypass switch incorporates a sealed silver relay for the most direct signal path. When the EQ to sidechain is engaged, the high-low EQ remains in the audio path for "tone enhancement". The output level control provides a variable control of the overall signal path. The output amplifier utilizes another dual triode vacuum tube driving a 100% discrete, Class A, high-current, balanced and DC coupled low noise output amplifier.

Features:

Vacuum tube triode signal path
Transformer balanced microphone input
High-voltage circuits for maximum headroom to +30dB
Low noise -92dB
Internal discrete power supply with toroidal transformer
Soft-start tube life extender
Stereo link for compressors
All discrete Class A equalizer with musical passive filter design
Sealed silver relays for signal routing
Large control knobs with professional conductive plastic potentiometers
VU meter for output level monitoring and compressor gain reduction

Specifications:

Circuit topology: Four dual triode vacuum tubes (Sovtek 6922), high-voltage discrete Class A
Gain Range:
- Microphone: Transformer balanced 850/2500 ohm, 0dB to +58dB
- Instrument: Unbalanced 1 meg ohm, 0dB to+30dB
- Line: Balanced Class A 20k ohms, -27dB to 28dB
Maximum input level and connector types:
- Microphone: 26dB@25Hz, +30dB@1kHz balanced XLR
- Instrument: +30dB unbalanced front panel jack socket
- Line: +36dB balanced XLR
Maximum output level: +30dB balanced 600 ohms, DC coupled, discrete Class A
Output type and gain: XLR connector, output trim gain -45dB to 20dB
Noise 20kHz unweighted: -92dB
Noise microphone EIN: -116dB, 22Hz to 22kHz unweighted
Distortion: THD, IMD 0.5%
Frequency response: -/2.5dB 10Hz to 120kHz input filter included
Frequency response: -3dB 1Hz to 200kHz line in-out
VU meter and gain reduction: High quality illuminated OVU =+4dB and gain reduction to -20dB
High cut filter: Variable 6dB per octave 30Hz to 140Hz
Compressor type: Optical passive attenuator incorporating twin vacuum tubes and stereo link
Threshold - Ratio: Threshold variable -30dB to +20dB, ratio-compression variable 1:1 to 20:1
Attack - Release: Attack variable 2mS to 200mS, release variable 100mS to 5 seconds
Equalizer type: Discrete Class A, variable active and switched passive design
Frequency bands (4): Treble - switched 10kHz, 15kHz, 20kHz, 32kHz, +/- 20dB range, shelf High mid - variable 200Hz to 2k8Hz and 2kHz to 28kHz, +/- 16dB range, hi-lo Q Low mid - variable 30Hz to 450Hz and 300Hz to 4k5Hz, +/- 16dB range, hi-lo Q Bass - switched 15Hz, 30Hz, 60Hz, 150Hz, +/- 24dB range, shelf
AC power: Internal toroidal 100v to 240v, 50-60Hz selectable, 75 watts maximum
Dimensions: 19 x 12 x 3.5 in (482 x 305 x 89mm)
Weight: 22lbs (10kg)
Dimensions-shipping carton: 21 x 18 x 8 in (533 x 457 x 203mm)
Weight-packed: 26lbs (11.8kg)

Avalon Design

Avalon VT-737sp 1-Channel Tube Mic Pre Amp Channel Strip