AEA FC2 Tube Mic Preamp

AEA FC2 Tube Mic Preamp - Preliminary Info 

***PRICE IS ONLY AN ESTIMATE***

***ETA May 2026***

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The FC2 is a two-channel tube preamplifier built in collaboration with designer Fred Forssell—our tenth preamp project together over the past few decades. That partnership is actually where the name comes from, and it's why the knobs have ten sides.

At its core is a cascoded hybrid design that keeps the tubes operating in their sweet spot across the entire gain range. The result is the depth and dimension you expect from tubes, but with a clarity and transparency that rivals the best solid-state designs. Unlike a lot of tube preamps that lean into coloration, the FC2 focuses on natural warmth while staying clean and linear. It's also fully balanced from input to output—a first for the AEA preamp line—which is a big part of why it sounds so open and pure.

The FC2 is a modernized evolution of the Forssell Technologies FetCode, redesigned from the ground up by Fred himself. If you know the original, this one takes everything that made it special and refines it for modern workflows.

Gain is handled by a precision Grayhill stepped switch—10 to 55 dB in repeatable increments—with an output trim for 0–10 dB of fine adjustment and a +10 dB boost switch when you need more. That gives you a total range of 10 to 75 dB, enough for everything from hot condensers to the quietest ribbons. Build quality is what you'd expect from AEA: Neutrik connectors, Grayhill switches, NKK toggles, and a rear-panel voltage selector for 115/230V.