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Sunnaudio is a team of professional engineers and musicians with 40+ years of combined experience in live performance, design, and studio work.  Our goal is to provide a variety of no-compromise solutions that bring out the best sound from your instrument.

Our line of preamps and electronics are engineered to give you the best sound plus the technical features to meet demanding live and studio applications.  Every model features unmatched dynamic range, full bandwidth, and quick harmonic response.  Every time and any time you play.

Let your music shine.  That is our one simple goal.

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NEW Stage DI-2 PREstine™ Preamp Available now!

• Adjustable high pass filter

• Adjustable boost

• Dedicated mute and boost footswitch with LED illuminated color coded controls like the MS-2

• 3-way power with 48V phantom (XLR), internal battery, external DC

• Bass, treble and mid EQ with internal mid-freq trim

• 1Meg/5Meg internal input impedance switch

• Effects Insert jack

  
  

Models

• Nucleus™ NU-1 is a versatile but simple hi gain and hi output dual boost analog preamp. It offers distortion overdrive with multiple tonal features for various instruments.

  The NU-1 is crafted for electric guitar, bass, and can be used for acoustic guitars with active or passive pickups

  • Premium Preamp and Distortion with two channels, Independent Volumes, two simple and effective tone controls offering mid and low end tone shaping.

  • One deceptively sophisticated Gain knob, pure clean to overdrive

  • Two switchable channels: Hi Gain and Lo Gain which can be independently set for level output. Each channels gets its own LED knob indicating which channel is selected.

  • Low gain setting ranges from crystal clear to overdrive while Hi gain starts with rich clean harmonic sounds to full distortion.

  • “Focus” which adjusts sub-harmonic frequencies to add to your bass signal, or contour your over driven guitar sound.

  • “Tone” for mid shaping the overdrives

  • Two foot switches: Hi/Lo Gain & Bypass

  • True bypass when disengaged

  • 3v-12v volt DC or 9v battery powered

• Rabbithead™ Preamp Overdrive Pedal

  use with Acoustic instruments, passive or active pickups, electric or acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric violin etc… Rabbit don’t care!

  • The Rabbithead™ RH-1 is a versatile all analog preamp that offers multiple tonal features for various instruments.

  • Add saturation to your clean tones in Mix Mode or used independently for a variety of tones.

  • Two switchable overdrive settings along with our Rabid™ grizzled distortion mode. World class overdrives that provide dynamic sounds to cut through the mix, or dial in some smooth lead tones.

  • Bass guitars achieve true organic amp-like tones with the mix mode.

  • Balanced 1/4” output with speaker sim, second simultaneous output for guitar amp, transformer-less, and ultra quiet

  • The RH-1 also works wonderful with other drive pedals

• Custom Shop MS-2 Stereo Preamp

  Sunnaudio Custom Shop offers more features and specific control of our products. Contact us for additional details and available custom ACCESSORIES.

  • Pure analog 2 Channel preamp. Both Ch1 and Ch2 are compatible with popular guitar pickup and pickup systems including piezo, magnetic, and condenser.

  • Automatic routing of 2 sources from a single TRS input cable or from 2 separate input cables

  • Ch2 is compatible with active microphones with a Mic Power switch and internal adjustable gain.

  • Separate Pre and Post MS decoder effects TRS inserts for both channels

  • Adjustable highpass filter, Bass, Treble and sweepable Mid tone controls for both channels

  • Push button configurable operation for summed mono, independent 2-channel, and 2-channel Mid-Side decoded stereo modes

  • 48V phantom**, 9.6vDC, or internal 9v battery operation. LED system power monitor.

  • User selectable signal and boost foot switch modes

  • Active balanced XLR outputs and passive TRS balanced outputs for both channels

  • Ultra quite, high 105dB dynamic range**

  • Clear, full, rich, complex overtones with total 2 channel flexibility

  • Individually hand crafted with hand matched components

  • Very compact 5.6”W x 4.7”L x 2.7”H size

    
    

• Stage DI Preamp

  Featured in Acoustic Guitar Magazine Gear Review December 2018 Issue!

  • Just like our TD-1 Tone Driver, the DI-1 offers the same clear, full, rich, and complex overtones with Bass, Treble and Volume controls.

  • Effects Loop, balanced XLR out, transformer-less, and ultra quiet

  • Excellent for live situations and studio use

  • Variable sub-harmonic bass adjustment optimal for adjusting low bass sub woofer frequencies.

  • Hand matched components

  • Phantom power

• Tone Driver

  • Smooth, full, rich, complex overtones with Bass, Treble and volume controls

  • Excellent for live situations and studio use

  • Variable sub-harmonic bass adjustment optimal for adjusting sub woofer response

• Line Driver

  • Fixed line output preamp with unity gain

  • Deep, clear, and rich harmonic sound

  • Tremendous dynamic range

  • Low order harmonics, perfect for recording

  • Optional volume control available

• Blender

  • Achieve perfect balance with 2 or more transducers and also magnetic pickups

  • Ideal for instruments with wide bandwidths

  • Deep bass with defined string attacks and natural overtones

Samples 

Home > Gear > Gear Reviews

Gear Review: Sunnaudio MS-2 Stereo Preamp Offers Versatility and Beautiful Sounds for Acoustic Guitarists

November 4, 2020

By Mark Goldenberg

The Sunnaudio Custom Shop MS-2 stereo preamp (from $775.00) is an all-analog, two-channel unit designed for use on stage or in the studio. Along with versatile inputs and output routing, two independent channels with boost function, phantom power, and post and pre inserts for each channel, the MS-2 boasts a unique feature: a dedicated mid-side decoder function, which allows the user to mix an internal guitar mic with the direct pickup signal, creating a beautifully wide stereo effect that is, quite frankly, addictive.

The Layout and Features
The compact (5.7″ x 4.7″ x 2.7″) MS-2 is solidly built and can run on its internal battery, via phantom power, or with a 9.6v power supply. My review unit came with a power supply and an experimenter’s kit: a temporary-mount internal microphone, which I needed to audition the mid-side decoder function. The two channels are basically identical, except that the second one has a 9–12 volt DC mic power switch. Each channel has top-mounted volume, and bass and treble cut/boost knobs. Underneath those are smaller controls for a 20Hz–200Hz high pass filter; boost capable of 7db of gain; a mid-cut/boost control; and a mid-frequency control, which can range either from 1k–2.5k, or 300hz–1k, switchable via a small side-mounted push button.

There are two large footswitches. One, labeled Signal, engages or disengages the device and has multiple functionality, determined by the settings on a Signal Mode dipswitch, allowing the user to configure the preamp according to the desired use of the pedal. The other is the on/off switch for the global boost function. When engaged, the boost circuit can be assigned to either or both channels via a second dipswitch on the front panel, the amount of boost determined at each channel by way of the individual channel’s boost gain pot.

The settings here can be used to turn post inserts on or off, on one or both channels, in pretty much any combination one might need. When the Signal switch is engaged, the HPF knob is illuminated in bright green, and the boost gain pot is blue when the boost is on—a cool feature for stage use. There is a small green light in the center of the top panel that lets you know the unit is receiving power, and two small buttons: one for switching on the mid-side effect and the other for enabling mono mode. Each channel’s side panel has a 1/4-inch input, the mid frequency range button, one dipswitch for added presence and another to change the input impedance, and two 1/4-inch TRS jacks for pre and post channel insertion. On the back panel are output jacks for each channel, either balanced +4 or unbalanced -10 1/4-inch jacks.

Tones for Days
Extreme flexibility is the name of the game here, and even though there are many options and tons of controls, I found the MS-2 to be well laid out, easy to understand and use, and just darn fun to fool around with. To test it, I used my Collings 001 Mh, fitted with a Trance Audio Amulet pickup/preamp system. Just for grins, I also ran my Danocaster T-type electric guitar through it.

I connected the MS-2 to my UAD Apollo interface with no effects or processing, monitoring everything with my trusty Mackie HR824 speakers. I began by plugging my Collings directly into the Apollo, fed into the MS-2. The engaged preamp did not add any noise that I could perceive. I tried adding some treble, and that really added some nice sparkle to the amulet. I fooled around with the bass and treble controls adding and cutting frequencies. The MS-2 was very musical-sounding, even at extreme settings. The mid feature was really effective, as was the HPF, and the boost was ample enough to irritate a front-of-house guy.

I tried the pre and post inserts with a Chase Bliss Dark World reverb pedal and a Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl. Things were super quiet, with no insertion loss that I could discern. Finally, I installed the temporary mic with the included sticky tape. It took me just a couple of minutes to find a spot that worked for me, but once engaged it sounded beautiful. With the pickup added I had a lot of fun adjusting the EQ on both channels. I didn’t hear any phase problems between the two channels, but I thought since this box does everything else so well a phase reversal switch might be great.

The real magic of the MS-2 happens when the mid-side decoder gets kicked in and you pan the outputs hard left and right. The effect was mesmerizing—very three-dimensional, beyond realistic, venturing into almost chorusing. With reverb engaged and headphones on I went deep down the rabbit hole and almost didn’t come back.

The Bottom Line
The Sunnaudio MS-2 is an extremely high-quality preamp with superb flexibility and awesome functionality. With the delicious mid-side decoder effect, this preamp exists in its own universe and is certainly worth considering if you’re looking to elevate the sound of your acoustic guitar. sunnaudio.com

This article originally appeared on-line November 4 on Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Gear Review: Sunnaudio Stage DI

November 5, 2018

From the December 2018 issue of Acoustic Guitar | BY DOUG YOUNG

Sunnaudio is a relative newcomer to the market, offering boutique preamps designed for acoustic instruments. The California company makes four products with similar electronics and sound quality, but with different form factors for different applications. The Stage DI ($299) is a standalone unit with volume, bass, and treble controls; XLR and 1/4-inch balanced outputs; and an effects loop. The TD-1 Tone Driver ($179) mounts inside the guitar to support a passive pickup system. The BL-1 Blender ($169) is an onboard preamp for dual-source pickup systems, while the LD-1 Line Driver ($119) is an endpin preamp, with an optional volume control. All of these preamps are battery operated, although the Stage DI can also be phantom powered.

For testing the Stage DI, I used pickups from K&K, Dazzo, Barbera, and McIntyre. The preamp was clean and very quiet, while providing enough gain (12dB) for low-output pickups, as well as a 5 Megohm input impedance to accommodate piezo pickups. The Stage DI’s frequency response is tuned to complement acoustic guitars. Its bass and treble controls offer gentle boosts and cuts, allowing you to tailor the sound to taste while avoiding extreme EQ. This results in a good tone regardless of setting, while still offering a range of sounds.

The frequencies of the tone controls are well chosen and very effective, and the preamp has an intangible vibe that is musical and pleasant to play through. Sunnaudio preamps should especially appeal to any guitarist who wants to put together a high-quality pickup system based around a passive transducer, although the Stage DI would also be appropriate for a player with an active pickup system. sunnaudio.com

This article originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.

Sunnaudio
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