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PreSonus TubePre v2 Tube Microphone Preamplifier DI Box — main product image
PreSonus TubePre v2 Tube Microphone Preamplifier DI Box
PreSonus TubePre v2 Tube Microphone Preamplifier DI Box
PreSonus TubePre v2 Tube Microphone Preamplifier DI Box
PreSonus TubePre v2 Tube Microphone Preamplifier DI Box
PreSonus

PreSonus TubePre v2 Tube Microphone Preamplifier DI Box

★★★★★4.5 (195 reviews)
Phantom power

PreSonus TubePre v2 adds 12AX7 tube warmth and XMAX clarity to your recordings with versatile mic and instrument inputs.

$149.99*$209.99Save 28%
✓ In Stock on Amazon.com
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 08, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The PreSonus TubePre v2 is a single-channel tube preamplifier and direct injection box that pairs a 12AX7 vacuum tube with PreSonus's XMAX Class A solid-state input stage. This dual-topology design gives you two distinct stages to shape your tone: the XMAX front end provides clean, transparent gain with a low-noise dual-servo circuit that avoids capacitors in the signal path, preserving the full frequency range and transient detail of the source. The 12AX7 tube stage, controlled by a dedicated drive saturation knob, then adds harmonic richness that ranges from barely perceptible warmth at low settings to full, fuzzy overdrive when pushed hard.

The TubePre v2 accommodates both microphones and instruments through separate XLR mic and 1/4-inch instrument inputs, with the instrument input serving as a proper DI box for bass guitars, keyboards, and other high-impedance sources. Practical features include switchable 48V phantom power for condenser microphones, an 80 Hz high-pass filter for taming low-frequency rumble, a -20 dB pad for handling hot signals, and a polarity-reverse switch for phase correction. Output is delivered via balanced XLR and 1/4-inch TRS connections, making it compatible with virtually any audio interface, mixer, or recording console. For recording engineers and musicians who want to introduce analog tube character into a digital workflow, the TubePre v2 provides a straightforward, well-featured solution at a modest price point.

Key Features

12AX7 tube-based preamp with XMAX solid-state input stage

Gain control and tube drive saturation control

Low-noise dual-servo (no capacitors) gain stage

Separate instrument and mic inputs

Phantom power, HP filter, -20 dB pad, and polarity-reverse

Specifications

Brand
PreSonus
Model
TubePre v2
Type
Tube Preamplifier / DI Box
Tube
12AX7
Input Stage
XMAX Class A Solid-State
Mic Input
XLR
Instrument Input
1/4" TRS
Output
XLR, 1/4" TRS (Balanced)
Phantom Power
48V (Switchable)
High-Pass Filter
Yes
Pad
-20 dB
Polarity Reverse
Yes

PreSonus TubePre v2 — Editorial Review

The PreSonus TubePre v2 is an affordable single-channel tube microphone preamp and DI box. Its hook is a Drive control that lets you dial in anything from clean gain to obvious tube saturation, making it a cheap way to add a little analog character to a chain.

Featured Video Review

Presonus TubePre V2 Tube Preamp Review / Test
Podcastage · "Presonus TubePre V2 Tube Preamp Review / Test" · Watch on YouTube

Clean to saturated, on a budget

Sound On Sound notes up to +65dB of gain with a quoted EIN around -131dBu and better-than-95dB signal-to-noise — comparable to a decent analog console preamp — plus a Drive dial that ranges from subjectively clean to musically saturated. Infamous Musician highlights its dual use as a straightforward mic pre or a DI for guitar and bass, with a simple, uncluttered layout. In Podcastage's review and test — featured above — the preamp and its drive range are demonstrated.

Honest cons

  • Needs a rack tray. The half-rack chassis requires a tray or shelf to mount in a rack.
  • Wall-wart power, no power switch. It's powered by an external adapter with no front-panel power button.
  • Gain ceiling for ribbons. Very low-output passive ribbon mics may want a dedicated higher-gain preamp.
  • Character, not surgical control. It's about flavor and simplicity, not detailed parametric shaping.

Where this preamp fits

  • Home and project studios wanting affordable tube character on vocals and instruments.
  • Guitar and bass players who value the DI and drive for direct recording or re-amping.
  • Creators chasing a cost-effective way to warm up a clean interface preamp.
  • Not those needing very high gain for passive ribbons, multi-channel front ends, or precise surgical control.

Sources & Citations

  1. Sound On Sound, "PreSonus BlueTube DP V2 & TubePre V2," soundonsound.com (accessed 2026-05-26)
  2. Infamous Musician, "PreSonus TubePre V2 Review," infamousmusician.com (accessed 2026-05-26)

Last verified: 2026-05-26

Now that you've seen the details — ready to take a closer look?

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Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • 12AX7 tube combined with XMAX solid-state stage offers a wide range of tones from clean to saturated
  • Separate mic and instrument inputs make it versatile for both microphone and DI applications
  • Dedicated tube drive saturation control provides precise adjustment of harmonic coloring independent of gain
  • Includes phantom power, high-pass filter, -20 dB pad, and polarity reverse in a compact single-channel unit
  • Dual-servo gain stage with no capacitors in the signal path preserves low-end clarity

👎 Cons

  • Single-channel design means you need two units for stereo recording applications
  • Analog output only — still requires a separate audio interface for digital recording into a DAW
  • The 12AX7 tube will eventually need replacement, adding ongoing maintenance cost
  • No metering on the unit itself, requiring you to monitor levels through your interface or DAW

Frequently Asked Questions

The TubePre v2 is a preamp and DI box, but it outputs an analog signal. You still need an audio interface or mixer to get the signal into your computer for recording. It connects to your interface via its XLR or 1/4" TRS output.
The main gain knob controls the overall input level through the XMAX solid-state stage, while the tube drive saturation control adjusts how hard the signal hits the 12AX7 tube. Turning up the drive adds progressively more harmonic saturation, from subtle warmth to heavy coloration.
Yes, it includes a switchable 48V phantom power supply, allowing you to use condenser microphones that require external power directly with this preamp.
Yes, the separate 1/4-inch instrument input functions as a DI box, accepting high-impedance signals from instruments like bass guitars, keyboards, and acoustic guitars with pickups.
The -20 dB pad attenuates the input signal by 20 decibels before it reaches the gain stage. This is useful when recording loud sources like close-miked drums or amplifiers that would otherwise overload the preamp.

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