Features:

• Transformer balanced mic & line level inputs
• 3-Band inductor based EQ (switchable in or out of circuit) with +/- 15dB gain on each band
• High Frequency Shelving band at 10 kHz
• Mid Frequency band is sweepable between 150Hz and 7kHz
  
• High Frequency Shelving band at 60 Hz
• VCA fader as output attenuators
• Polarity reversal
• High pass filter
• All discrete preamplifier and EQ stages
• XLR mic and line level inputs & +4 dB output in a 2-space rack is standard
• One year rack component warranty and six-month module warranty
• Fourteen-day satisfaction guarantee
  
  

The 169 channelstrips were from the second generation of consoles built to very high sonic standards by Willi Studer in Switzerland in the late 70's and early 80's. The Studer 169 console is one of the top consoles used for recording music and on location and has been loved especially by orchestra recording engineers for it's accurate, open, and ultra-smooth sound and gently warm color character. On top of that, the EQ has been described to us on multiple occasions by customers as "a dream" and always nicely smooth and very musical sounding. The high end has a low Q factor resulting in a super smooth tone and the lows are big yet unmuddied. I've had prior customers tell me that they loved to put these on the two-bus of their digital mixes as well. Mic and line level balanced XLR inputs, low-pass filter, output gain control, phase reversal, and the sweepable mid EQ band give you a lot of options at a very reasonable price and make these a real steal considering what you will pay for comparable packages with this many options.

Quotes From Other Engineers:


- “I have 3 words for the Studer 169’s..."Oh my God"...they are great. I threw on a reel and patched all of them in as an effect. I tried a snare track first. No gating, no compression, and we were getting great sounds with every tweak. Next was the kick track. Once again, no gating or compression, and it ruled the NS10's world. I had an acoustic track from my J100. I got a great sound mixing one channel with a JMeek VC1, and direct on another originally. But dialing up with a Studer strip was deadly. Then there was bass. Thunder, clarity, headroom for days, I made my P bass sound like a Rick with Roto-Sound strings. I can go on, but I think you get the picture.”

- "Had some Pro Tools fun this week with the Studers--they give lots of gain and the coloration for electric bass which is pretty cool: fat like 'phat' and bright as a Rick when required. I can just imagine what the Neumanns will do!!! I also had a quick session with some friends locally last Saturday and Sunday (most likely my last one in Japan) and I used a Countryman Associates DI on my friend Mario's Lakland bass and mic'd his Fender 4 X10 cab with an EV RE-20; both sent through the Studer 169 channel strips--I've never heard a bass amp sound so good-- and the DI signal through them--just georgous!"

- I bought a pair of racked up Studer 169 preamp strips from The Gear Box several months ago and have been very pleased with them since. The workmanship was very professional as was the service and their look. They have an especially smooth high end and my favorite use for them is Hi-Hats and Cymbals. They're great performers and given the amount of money I've spent on some of my high end preamps, have turned out to be one of the best bargains. Thanks Gear Box."