RECORDING May 2023 - 21

REVIEW
Peach Audio
Cube 5
An Aussie-made in-line
gain booster with a twist
REVIEW BY ALEX HAWLEY
P
each Audio started in 1983 and is best known for its 196 series of
tube preamps made by hand in Australia. Led by David Peach, who
got his start modifying and repairing guitar amps in the 1970s, Peach
Audio sources high-quality components with a no-compromise approach to
design. On review today is the Cube 5 preamplifier and DI box.
Overview
Cube 5 is an ultra-low noise preamplifier
intended for the stage, studio and
everywhere in between. Its core functionality
is designed to boost low-output
dynamic and ribbon microphones
before hitting the preamp or interface
to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and
produce cleaner and clearer recordings.
So if you're recording a quiet source or
want to supplement an entry-level preamp
or interface with cleaner gain and
less noise, Cube 5 fits the bill. Cube 5
will reveal more detail and clarity from
those low-output dynamics and ribbons
in the process. It features a push button
with two different gain settings: low
(+13dB) and high (+26 dB).
Beyond gain boosting, Cube 5 also
features a 1
/4 " DI input optimized for
passive instrument pickups, such as guitar
or bass. The DI input features two
impedance options: low (600Ω) and
high (4kΩ).
The DI input doubles as an effect
send-return using a 1
/4
" Y cable to insert
effects into the signal chain before
it hits the interface. This is especially
useful for home and project studios
with limited I/O, allowing you to insert
hardware effects without eating
precious I/O on your main interface or
mixer while recording. The effects loop
is optimized explicitly for guitar pedals
and FX. Have you ever tried using a
18 RECORDING May 2023
guitar pedal on a vocal? Cube 5 makes
it very easy to do so, which could open
up all kinds of creative applications for
the stage or studio.
Silence is Golden
" Low noise " is a term that gets thrown
around a lot these days, and eventually,
the bar for which modern gear becomes
truly " low noise " by today's standards
will be raised (err, lowered? You get what
I mean). In that regard, Peach Audio
is at the front of the pack. Cube 5
features an impressive noise figure of
-132dBV (A-weighted) to ensure a pristine
signal-to-noise ratio. This is made
possible by its fully balanced, transformer-coupled
input and output, paired with
JFET topology.
Another differentiator is its power specs.
Being an active preamp, Cube 5 requires
phantom power (typically specified
with a 10mA current requirement). In
reality, not all devices provide the full
10mA rating needed. Peach Audio
designed the Cube 5 with a 5mA current
requirement, ensuring consistent and
reliable performance in any situation,
even while battery-powered on the go.
Engage the Booster
I tested Cube 5 with various microphones
and sources, including the Shure
SM7B and an AEA R84. I have only a
little to say on the gain-boosting front:
it works as advertised! In both cases,
I A/B'd with and without the Cube 5
(while cranking the external preamp to
make up the level difference). The Cube
5 produced cleaner recordings (especially
for the Shure SM7B) without a detectable
noise floor.
Cube 5 used as a DI also sounded
great on guitar and bass. The response
sounds full-bodied and clear. Having another
clean DI in the kit is always helpful,
so this is a welcomed bonus.
I rigged up my pedal board to test
the effects loop and tried singing into
the Shure SM7B. It's great fun playing
with my pedal delays and reverbs;
even the Digitech Whammy pedal produced
some creative effects on vocals!
This is something to consider if you'd
like to incorporate vocal effects at a live
show sometime-this is a simple way to
execute that.
Final Thoughts
There's plenty to love about the Cube 5.
It's easy to use and can be implemented
in various roles throughout the studio and
stage. The price is steeper than others in
its category, but you'd be hard-pressed to
find something with lower noise, cleaner
results and with this many applications
outside of in-line gain boosting. The
Cube 5 is a great all-around piece to
have in the inventory.
Price: $299
More From: peachaudio.net
http://peachaudio.net
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