If you like the vintage Neve sound, you'll love the EM-Silver. It has a darker tone than the P-1, EM-Red, and EM-Blue. Its sound is based on a custom-wound steel output transformer, which makes it an excellent match for ribbon microphones since steel transformers were widely used in the early days of recording and broadcast - it was the combination of steel transformer and ribbon mic that gave broadcasters and singers that "Voice of God" sound that has lit up so many vocal recording and the amplified spoken word for decades. The EM-Silver is an outstanding preamp for bass guitar and keyboards, and is also pretty killer on kick drum. For brighter sound sources, the EM-Silver is the preamp of choice when you want less top end or a vintage-type sound?especially when used with ribbon mics, or on modern, brighter condensers to smooth out top end.