Question 1

Can this preamp be used safely with a passive ribbon microphone?

Accepted Answer

It should work fine as long as you leave the 48V Phantom off.  If you forget, and send phantom power to your ribbon it will never work again.  My Tascam Port-a-Studio always defaults to "phantom off" when powered down (or up) and requires 2 keystrokes to turn it on "are you SURE?"  This precaution prevents sending phantom to any input other than a condenser mic, which only works with 48V DC.

Question 2

Does this device provide a both left and right output for headphones (mono, but to both sides of the head phone)?  thanks

Accepted Answer

There is no headphone output on this unit.
This is a preamp. It is used before the input on a mixer channel.

Question 3

I'm looking for a way to boost the sound volume and quality coming from a blue spark mic for voice-over work. is this what i need?

Accepted Answer

I'm assuming you have the regular Spark, not the digital (USB) version.  I have not used the ART for that application, but I find the unit to be a versatile free-standing single channel pre-amp.  It's controls allow setting of gain and output, and it will supply phantom power to the mic.  Very good bang for the buck, and highly portable.

Question 4

I want to use this with a ribbon mic sans phantom. Aim is natural sound of my acoustic instrument. How transparent is the neutral setting?

Accepted Answer

A ribbon mic not only does not need phantom power. accidentally switching phantom on may destroy the mic.  I like ribbons also.  The ART is a great bargain and sounds good generally, but it is not a professional unit, and you get what you pay for.  I bought mine because I wanted a "tube flavor" on some tracks.  It does not excel at this.  But it is a useful unit in other ways, so I kept mine.  It is pretty neutral for a tube device, maybe a tad noisier because of the valves.

ASIN	B0002E56IA
Amplifier Type	Tube
Best Sellers Rank	100,674 in Musical Instruments & DJ ( See Top 100 in Musical Instruments & DJ ) 208 in Rack Effects & Signal Processors
Brand Name	ART
Colour	['blue']
Compatible Devices	Guitars (Electric and Acoustic), Keyboards, Bass Guitars, Drums, Vocals
Connector Type	XLR
Customer Reviews	4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (489)
Enclosure Material	Metal
Global Trade Identification Number	00840402011446
Item Dimensions D x W x H	12.7D x 14W x 5.1H centimetres
Item Weight	2 Pounds
Manufacturer	ART APPLIED RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
Manufacturer Part Number	Tube MP V3
Model Name	V3
Model Number	Tube MP V3
Number of Items	1
Output Channel Quantity	1
Output Wattage	30 Watts
Power Source	Battery Powered
Sound Profile	warm and fat
UPC	840402011446
Unit Count	1.0 count

ART Tube MP V3 Tube Microphone Pre-Amplifier with Variable Value Voicing

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