Stunning high-end sound and incredible versatility are hallmarks of this top-of-the-line, tube-driven channel strip. The ADL 700 integrates a proven, award-winning, boutique-quality preamp; a custom-designed FET compressor; and a custom, four-band, semi-parametric EQ.

Our premium channel strip boasts frequency response from 10 Hz all the way up to 45 kHz and offers all of the features you’d want in a high-end device. And the ADL 700 is a great value — as you expect from PreSonus!

Reviewers, producers, and artists are raving about the ADL 700. Read what they're saying!

You Asked for It!

We created the ADL 700 because you insisted! The PreSonus ADL 600 two-channel tube mic preamp was such a hit with customers—including such top artists, engineers, and producers as Chuck Ainlay, Jimmy Douglass, Mark Mancina, Demetric Collins, and Victor Wooten—that we were inundated with requests for a single-channel version in a channel strip, with a compressor and EQ that would be up to the preamp’s high standards.

You were right—it was a great idea—so we gave the design job to Robert Creel, the engineering mastermind behind many of PreSonus’ most beloved analog circuits, including the XMAX™ preamp. It took years of hard work but he delivered big-time. The ADL 700 channel strip is everything we—and you—hoped it would be!

Putting the AD in ADL 700

We started with a single-channel version of the ADL 600 preamplifier, which was co-designed by PreSonus and famed tube-circuit designer Anthony DeMaria. The preamp employs a distinctive Class A, discrete design that incorporates two 6922 and one 12AT7 vacuum tubes per channel, operating with ±300V power rails for maximum headroom and superb tone.

The dual-transformer design ensures low-noise operation, with maximum common-mode rejection. This resulted in an ultra-quiet tube preamp with a big, warm, smooth, clear, distinctive sound. "This is a very linear, modern-sounding valve preamp—the way I think good valve preamps should be," says Hugh Rabjohn (Sound on Sound, August 2013).

Indeed, the reviewers are raving about the ADL 700's sound. “For a tube design, the ADL 700 has an incredible signal-to-noise ratio and a huge dynamic range,” notes George Schilling (Resolution, March 2013).“The preamp sounded great,” agrees Chris Grainger (Mix, January 2013). "A stellar mic amp,” confirms Rob Tavaglione (ProAudioReview, February 2013).

Top artists and producer are equally enthusiastic. "The ADL 700 makes acoustic guitars sound smooth and sweet and vocals are big and clear,” says three-time Grammy Award-winner Keb' Mo. Legendary producer Teddy Riley is positively giddy: “The ADL 700 is an INCREDIBLE mic-pre!! Next level of anything I’ve ever used!! Very quiet and warm sounding. I’ve recorded several vocal sessions while using the ADL 700, and I’ve only had GREAT results!!”

Hearing is Believing

Technical explanations are well and nice but hearing is believing. Try the ADL 700 yourself and experience the thrill of using the world’s finest tube preamp.

Maximum Flexibility

Beyond superb sound quality, the ADL 700’s preamp is special because of its ease of use and flexibility. Rob Tavaglione (ProAudioReview, February 2013) states, “The ADL 700 is a fine sounding unit that excels with versatility and flexibility.” Eric Tischler (Tape Op, January-February 2013) adds, “I arrived at these settings quickly, and by feel.... If you’re looking for an incredibly adaptable mic preamp—one that you could use on anything—I’d recommend checking this unit out.”

Among the hallmark features of ADL-series preamps are separate, balanced XLR mic, balanced XLR line, and ¼” TS instrument inputs and a single, balanced XLR output. An Input Source Select switch enables you to leave your signal sources connected at all times and choose among sources, patching the selected input through the signal chain and completely bypassing the other two inputs.

The preamp offers a choice of four mic-input impedances: 1500Ω, 900Ω, 300Ω, and 150Ω. Lowering or raising the ADL 700 mic-input impedance can create subtle coloring and filtering effects, enabling you to get a wider variety of tonalities without using the EQ.

In addition, the ADL 700 provides variable mic-input gain, employing an 8-position, military-grade, rotary switch that provides 35 dB of gain in stepped, 5 dB increments. A Trim potentiometer (±30 dB) allows you to make fine adjustments to the final preamp stage of the ADL 700 input.

The output stage is controlled by a fully variable attenuator that delivers ±10 dB of fine-tune trim adjustment, enabling you to dial in the perfect gain structure for any application.

A Tight Squeeze

The ADL 700’s FET (Field-Effect Transistor) compressor includes fully variable attack, release, threshold, ratio, makeup gain, and bypass controls. The compressors of two ADL 700s can be stereo linked allowing for more accurate stereo imaging. The ADL 700 compressor has a “soft knee” compression curve.

Read more about FET compressors.

Broadly speaking, there are four types of analog compressor designs: those that use opto-isolators (optical), Field-Effect Transistors (FETs), voltage-controlled amplifiers (VCAs; an example is the PreSonus Studio Channel compressor), and variable-gain compressors. Each has its uses, but we’re going to focus on the two types you’re most likely to find on today’s high-end channel strips: optical and FET.

The majority of today’s high-end channel strips utilize optical compressor circuits. In general, the response time of the optical circuits in these compressors tend to soften the attack and release, which can smooth out uneven volume fluctuations. They often have a distinctive sonic signature, so they can be as much an effect as a gain-control device.

FET compressors use a special transistor to vary gain, emulating a triode-tube sound. Inherently high-impedance devices, FET compressors tend be very clean and reliable and provide a faster attack time than most optical compressors.

To some extent, which you prefer is a matter of taste. You might want the sound of an optical compressor for one application but prefer a FET-based compressor for another application.

However, aside from having a distinctive sound, optical compressors have drawbacks. Most notably, when the components in an optical compressor heat up or cool down, the resulting attack and release times can change considerably. That means you might not get consistent results—even on, say, multiple snare hits in the same song.

Unlike optical compressors, FET compressors such as the one in the ADL 700 are not susceptible to temperature fluctuations, so they provide consistent, repeatable results.

There’s also an environmental issue with optical compressors. Optical circuits contain a small amount of cadmium, a metal that is banned in new electronic equipment under the European Restrictions of Hazardous Substance (RoHS) Directive. Unlike optical compressors and certain professional athletes, the FET compressor in the ADL 700 uses no banned substances. We’re just sayin’….

Testimonials

The ADL 700 preamp is incredibly versatile,” he adds. “It’s got EQ, compression, and it helps shape the sound so I don’t have to do it after the fact. It just sounds better. It’s got that little tiny edge that I would get when I go into a studio and run through some exotic handmade British console.
Steve Morse | Acclaimed Guitarist Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs