The Art TPS 2 is a fun unit. I use it for keyboards and it's got a bunch of different settings that are for different sources. I just use whichever one sounds neat.

I own the Presonus tube pre, and blue tube, and both are very decent for the cash. I have heard some good stuff about the art's too. I used electro harmonix tubes, and really like those.

Tube Pre is a great little box, and I'd recommend that over ART products in this price range. I've had a fairly high rate of problems and just sub-par performance with the ART pre's at the $200 and under price point whereas I've heard nothing but great things on that Tube-Pre. The only downside is that it uses an external power supply, but as long as you aren't putting it directly next to unshielded cable, it will sound *way* better than a $99 pre should.

I hope this helps :)

I've always found Presonus's half-rack units in particular to be very noisy.
But that could be a problem with the 240v transformers they give us to use here down under.

I have a Blue Tube in my keyboard rack for my Nord Electro. The Electro has a low output and a built in overdrive that I find too harsh. The Blue tube attacks both problems nicely. I'd rather have a Speakeasy preamp, but it's 4-5 times the price, and I have other priorities for the cash.

The BlueTube has a few idosyncracies (the pad works on the xlr input, but not the trs??) but I have not had any problems with reliability in the 3 months I have had it. I have not played with switching the tube out. Since it's in my keyboard rack I have not tried it as a mic preamp.

If you have a use for it as an instrument preamp if it doesn't work out as a mic preamp, I'd give it a go.

Schweet! Thanks guys, I actually do have a use for it as an instrument pre. I have been wanting something like that for my Roland JX-3P.

thanks!