[sdiy] SSM2017P

[Byron G. Jacquot]

>does anyone here have any experience with the SSM2017P audo preamplifier
>chip? (claims to be a state of the art, 1 external resistor job). I was
>thinking of using one as a mic pre (or part of). Any thoughts?

A quick search at groups.google.com tells me:

>--It amazes me how many of the preamps I've seen in
>the past few years that are all based on the SSM 2017 IC:
>the above-mentioned dbx, the Symetrix 302, the Event EMP-1,
>the little single-channel Rane, the PreSonus "Blue Tube" and
>even the JoeMeek VC 3 (at least in its original version) all use
>this amplifier IC.  And I know I'm forgetting a few others.

You won't exactly be in shabby company there.

If you're into using a few more components, then you might look into using
some video-grade high speed opamps.  Heck, if you've got the
"infrastructure" together (case, power supply, connectors, etc), then look
into the Audio Upgrades add-in mic pre at audioupgrades.com.

>Also, how much can i expect to pay for a reasonable audio isolation
>transformer (to go between mic phantom power and mic pre, as opposed to the
>four zener diode solutions) ?

You'll need to define "reasonable" for yourself.  I've used some $3
transformers from Mouser, and they were as good as any of the other mediocre
components I was experimenting with.  If you want the "official" high grade
solution, head over to www.jensentransformers.com.  They also offer a lot of
interesting schematics & whitepapers.  A mic-input transformer should run
you about $75.

Byron Jacquot