In an analog or digital audio chain, what determines the final quality are mainly the microphones and microphone preamps. The problem facing a manufacturer who intends to power a digital system with an analog signal at the highest level of purity is to think of the preamplifier as something non-existent, which does not contaminate the signal itself with its presence: the so-called "wire with I earn". This can be achieved thanks to the performance of the Millennia HV-3C:

The HV-3C is a stereo microphone preamplifier characterized by an exceptional dynamic range that derives from the renowned HV-3B, considered the best solid state microphone preamplifier ever created by the professional audio industry:

More than 20,000 channels of the HV-3 type are currently used throughout the world, making this category of products a standard for classical music recordings, in all critical situations where compromises with quality are not acceptable, as well as in cinema. This is why the audio of the most spectacular films – including Titanic, Star Wars, Forrest Gump and many others – has been recorded with pre-amplified microphones by Millennia. Over 1/3 of movies made in Hollywood include Millennia preamp channels.

The HV-3C uses a fully balanced class A circuit configuration from input to output; during the signal path, it is never unbalanced.

At the active device level, it uses an octet of BJTs (bipolar junction transistors) selected and coupled together with in cascade a direct coupled output stage implemented with laser-trimmed FETs.

The options available for this device are: the 24-bit 192 kHz A/D conversion section with POW-R (available from winter 2009), the DPA (B&K) microphone input at +130 V, the DC input option for ideal performance with dynamic and ribbon microphones.

Technical specifications:

48 Volt Phantom Power standard, 130 V optional for B&K

Dynamic headroom of 23 dBu (in) and 32 dBu (out)

Stereo coupled gain within 0.08dB

Protection against short circuits

Radio frequency protection on the network

Two channels in 1 19″ rack unit

Fully balanced audio path

Selected and coupled discrete BJT front-end

Laser trimmed FET output stage

THD+N less than 5 ppm (.0005%)

Rodestein precision resistors

Internal wiring with Mogami OFC cables with Teflon dielectric

Gain from 8.5 to 65 dB (up to 75 dB on request)

Toroidal transformer

72 hours of high temperature testing

DC-coupled microphone inputs (optional)

High resolution gain switches (36 positions, 1.5 dB/step) to military standards

XLR connectors and switches with gold contacts

Black lacquered front panel