THIS REVIEW IS A HA-202 II MICROPHONE PREAMP (PREAMP) FROM JR SOUND, AN AUDIO EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER BASED IN SUGSO, JAPAN. Due to the shortage of spare parts, the prices of overseas products have been rising recently, and some good quality equipment is found here. We'd love to give it a try.
A modern design with low noise while retaining the sound quality of a traditional microphone preamp
The company's microphone preamplifiers include the HA-202 II in a 2-channel configuration and the HA-404 II in a 4-channel configuration. The power supply and other components have been reviewed and updated on the basis of the previous model. Although the fuselage is only 1U, it is quite deep and weighs 4.8 kg. The HA-404 II can use four channels in 1U, which is a big advantage when transporting.
Overall, it's a simple multi-channel microphone preamp with 12 levels of input gain (16 dB to 70 dB) and PAD switch (-20 dB) per channel, phase switch, continuously variable high-pass filter, continuous variable gain trim (0 to -10 dB (0 to -10 dB), phantom power switch, and LED VU meter. All functions are integrated on the front panel for easy operation.
There are high-pass filter switches and cut-off frequency knobs (20-200Hz), phase reversal switches, PAD switches (-20dB), gain trim knobs (-10 to 0dB) and 48V phantom power switches, input gain knobs (16/20/26/30/36/40/46/50/56/60/66/70dB) and VU meters on each channel.
Rear panel with easy configuration, including two XLR inputs, two XLR outputs, a power connector, and a fuse holder.
We also looked at the internal circuitry and components. A distinctive feature is the use of a Swedish LUNDAHL input transformer, which has been used in many well-known machines. The output terminal is equipped with an original transformer, and the power supply circuit is completely discrete. Other sections, including the power circuitry, have also been designed with a modern, low-noise design while retaining the timbre of a traditional microphone preamp for both fullness and detail. One only has to take a look at the components and they don't have the slightest compromise, and considering the price, one can't help but wonder if there is any profit to be made.
I actually used the HA-202 II to record vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and cellos and compared it to several microphone preamps, both vintage and latest. Despite the limited test subjects, I was personally surprised by the results and felt that the sound quality was very close to that of super-royal devices like NEVE and API. The sound gives the impression of being concentrated in the midrange, but the low frequencies are not weak, the high frequencies are smooth and extended, and the tonal range and pan balance are excellent, just like modern devices. The tone of the guitar, in particular, is well integrated with musicality, and the balance of the instrument's tone is well expressed. Even acoustic instruments such as the cello blend well with the intense parts of the sound, and the sound image of the recording is well-balanced.
A high-pass filter actively helps to adjust the texture of the high-frequency range
The sound of the high-pass filter is also very natural. I'm a little nervous about the phase of the sound, some mic preamps don't turn on the filter during the recording phase, but the filter on the HA-202 II can be used actively. Whether it's for fine-tuning, or maximizing the use of it, you'll get a sound that you can use.
The HA-202 II seems to capture low frequencies well, which tends to make high frequencies sound a bit dark. Using a high-pass filter to suppress these low frequencies a little bit will make the sound more coherent, and the texture and overall balance of the high frequencies will give a feel closer to NEVE or something similar. In addition, when paired with a high-performance microphone, there is slightly more room noise at low frequencies, but this can also be smoothly controlled by a high-pass filter.
The signal-to-noise ratio is also very good, making it suitable for recording low-volume instruments such as strings. It is also suitable for recording low-volume instruments such as strings.