Grace Design Felix 2

A "studio tool" that has become a benchmark for amplified acoustics

Designed and manufactured in Lyons, Colorado (USA), the Grace Design FELiX2 follows the brand's "pro audio" tradition: an open sound, comfortable dynamic headroom, and a very rigorous approach to power supply and grounding to maintain a clean signal on stage. The microphone section carries the spirit of Grace Design preamps, with a trans-impedance architecture inherited from the m101 and no electrolytic capacitors in the audio path, preserving precision and transparency.

This FELiX2 version pushes stage use even further (stereo, more flexible effects loop, more surgical notch filter, revised power supply, side protections) while retaining the DNA: offering musicians a compact solution that advantageously replaces a rack chain (preamp, EQ, DI, routing, and monitoring).

Who it's for and in what contexts the FELiX2 makes a difference

The FELiX2 is aimed at demanding musicians who want to retain the natural sound of their instrument once amplified: acoustic guitarists, double bass players, violinists, mandolin players, banjo, oud, cello... It's also a formidable tool for sound engineers and venues seeking a stable, quiet source that's easy to integrate with a console.

In live settings, it excels when quickly managing instrument changes (A/B mode), compensating for difficult room acoustics (HPF/Notch + parametric mids), or sending a controlled signal to the front of house via the DI outputs. In studio, it provides a clean preamp and fine control over phase and EQ for "microphone + piezo" systems.

Controls, routing, and innovations: designed for the stage with a studio logic

Each channel features a powerful yet intuitive correction section: a 20 Hz to 1 kHz filter (12 dB per octave slope) configurable as a HPF or Notch filter to target problematic frequencies. The parametric mids offer two selectable ranges (low frequencies or upper mids) with adjustable bandwidth (Q): perfect for recovering pick attack, reducing "boxiness," or taming harshness without altering the timbre. The bass and treble shelving EQs are calibrated to remain musical even with significant boosts or cuts.

The pedalboard integrates three key functions: Mute/Tune (general cut with tuner output preserved), Boost (up to about +10 dB depending on front panel setting, ideal for solos), and A/B switching (switching between channels for two instruments or two sources). Regarding connectivity, the FELiX2 plays the "all-in-one" card: instrument inputs, microphone input with +48 V phantom power, two transformer-isolated DI outputs with source selection (mix or channel), amp output(s) with dedicated level, insert and effects loop, plus an always-active 3.5 mm mini-jack headphone output for silent practice or headphone monitoring.

Sound Character

The FELiX2 aims for faithful and detailed reproduction: it does not artificially compress dynamics or smooth out playing nuances. The sensation is of a "larger" and better-controlled sound, with immediate responsiveness to right-hand variations, harmonics, and pickup level changes. The EQ is designed to stay musical but precise enough for live reality: effective notch against feedback, parametric mids to reposition the instrument in the mix, and filters to clean sub-bass without thinning the body.

In practice, this type of preamp is appreciated by musicians demanding high-end sound in real conditions, including stage and studio artists: bluegrassman Bryan Sutton notably praised the preamp's quality, and violinist Zach Brock (Snarky Puppy) has been associated with the use of this product family.

Technical specifications

Category	acoustic preamp	EQ	3-band with semi-parametric mid
Technology	Solid state	Headphone output	No
Format	Pedal	Color	Grey
Effects loop	Yes	Power output	10 W
Number of channels	2

Weight	approximately 1.45 kg	Mids	70 to 880 Hz (low range) or 670 Hz to 8 kHz (high range)
Dimensions (H x W x D)	approximately 76 x 241 x 140 mm	Mid Q	0.5 to 5
Mounting	mounting holes for microphone stand attachment	Treble shelving	2 kHz
Gain range (input to DI output)	Ch1 mic 21 to 62 dB	HPF / Notch filter	20 Hz to 1 kHz, 12 dB per octave slope
Boost	0 to 9 dB (up to about +10 dB depending on use)	Inputs	2 x instrument (6.35 mm Jack) + 1 x microphone (XLR) with +48 V phantom power
Frequency response (input to DI output)	20 Hz to 65 kHz (-3 dB)	Selectable input impedances (3 positions)	Ch1 10 kiloohms / 1 megaohm / 10 megaohms
Distortion (THD+N)	less than 0.010% depending on gain and level conditions	Side switches	+48 V, phase inversion, midrange range selection, HPF/Notch selection, +12 V (Ch2), A/B mode selection
EQ per channel	bass and treble shelving + parametric mids	Mute/Tune footswitch	cuts outputs while preserving tuner output
EQ gain	+/-12 dB	Boost footswitch	raises output level according to front panel setting
Bass shelving	125 Hz or 250 Hz (depending on range)	A/B footswitch	toggles between channels (A/B mode)