Gates Microphone Tube Preamplifiers by ROX Electronics, Inc

This microphone tube preamplifier began its life decades ago inside a broadcast console, built by Gates Radio Company at a time when audio equipment was designed to last generations. These original preamp cards have been carefully restored, recapped, and brought back to life with modern reliability while preserving their unmistakable tube character.

The result is a preamp that delivers warmth, depth, and harmonic richness that’s difficult to replicate with modern designs. Whether you’re tracking vocals, instruments, or running signals through for coloration, this unit adds that unmistakable “tube sound” engineers chase.

Designed for real-world studio use, the unit fits a standard 3U rack and offers flexible front/rear XLR inputs, full control over gain, polarity, and phantom power, and transformer-balanced I/O throughout.

Under the hood, a carefully designed power system brings the tubes up the right way—first heating the filaments, then gradually applying high voltage. This gentle startup mimics classic tube rectifier behavior and helps extend tube life.

The enclosure itself was hand-finished, machined, and engraved in-shop, giving the unit a rugged, custom-built feel with a clean anodized aluminum faceplate.

It’s not just a preamp—it’s a piece of restored audio history, ready for the next generation of recordings.