You know I just realised the launcher itself is just gain boost? Not realising it doesn't have the saturation switch, the deluxe model does. but only the one option. And price is exact same as daking mic pre one, which has tonal varietyy. so Maybe it's the daking...

I've owned portico 5017 RNP before that went into the Audient id22 and added some nice thickness and tone. hated the id22 preamps. love the lyra preamps though feel i miss the thickness of the portico, however willing to try quality like bae or daking or GR.

I feel ideal would be the 1073DMP but is double cost of daking