GainStation 1
Class A & Tube Microphone and Instrument Preamplifier
The GainStation 1 is a discrete high-end preamplifier that combines Class-A clean gain with high-sounding tube gain and operates with an operating voltage of 60 V.
Class-A meets Tube
The GainStation 1 is a hybrid preamplifier consisting of a discrete Class A transistor stage and tube stage. The hybrid design of the preamplifier combines the advantages of semiconductors (high dynamics with low distortion, low noise) with the musical qualities of tube sound (pleasant high/overtone spectrum, beautiful three-dimensionality).
The Class A transistor preamplifier is based on our DMPA operational amplifiers, which operate with an operating voltage of +/- 30 V.
The preamplifier has a Butterworth Hi Pass filter, polarity inversion, impedance selection, 48 V phantom power and a limiter.
Clean Gain
The Clean Gain stage is a balanced instrumentation amplifier built with our DMPAs (Discrete Mic Pre Amp, 60 Volt rail).
In Class A mode, both end transistors always remain in a conducting state, thus avoiding crossover distortion.
With a slew rate of over 100 V/µs, it is capable of amplifying even fast details and high frequencies cleanly and with low distortion.
Tube Gain
The tube gain stage is equipped with a 12 AX 7 LPS. It impresses with good noise figures and an open and clear sound image.
As decoupling capacitor a WIMA MKP type is used, which is very generously dimensioned with 2.2 µF, in order to work clean and powerful also in the bass range.
HiZ/Line Input
The instrument input is a discrete impedance converter that also operates in class A mode. The core is a low-noise field-effect transistor, which is ideally suited as an impedance converter due to its very high input resistance.
Input & Output Stages
The input differential amplifiers are constructed with closely toleranced and thermally coupled transistor pairs.
The output stage operates as a current amplifier, which also offers pure class A operation with over 6mA quiescent current. DC voltage components are eliminated with an active servo circuit instead of coupling capacitors.
AD Input 2
The optional converter has two channels and can therefore convert an external mono signal in parallel with the GainStation 1.
Product Link: https://spl.audio/en/spl-produkt/gainstation-1
SPL GainStation 1
Line inputs & outputs; XLR (balanced) & TS Jack (unbalanced)
Maximum output gain: 30 dBu
Output impedance: 75 Ω
Frequency range (Clean Gain 30 dB, Tube Gain off): 1 Hz – 310 kHz
Noise (A-weighted, Clean Gain 60 dB, Tube Gain off): -67.2 dBu
THD + N (Clean Gain 24d B, Tube Gain off, Output +6 dB, 20 Hz -22 kHz): 0.0005 %
Common mode rejection (Clean Gain 30 dB, Tube Gain off, 1 kHz, Input -30 dBu): > 80 dB
Dynamic range: 130 dB
Microphone Preamplifier, XLR (balanced)
Maximum input gain (Mic): 17 dBu
Input impedance (switchable): 200 Ω, 1.2 kΩ, 10 kΩ
THD + N (Clean Gain 23 dB, Tube Gain 1 dB, Output +6 dB, 20 Hz -22 kHz): 0.032 %
Noise (A-weighted, Clean Gain 20 dB, Tube Gain 10 dB): -86.4 dBu
Frequency range (Clean Gain 30 dB, Tube Gain 1 dB): 1 Hz – 125 kHz
E.I.N.: -127.2 dBu
Instrumenten Preamplifier, TS Jack (unbalanced)
Maximum input gain (Instrument): 17 dBu
Input impedance (Instrument): 1 MΩ
Internal Linear Power Supply with Shielded Toroidal Transformer
Operating voltage for analog audio: +/- 30 V
Operating voltage for relays and LEDs: + 12 V
Mains Power Supply
Mains voltage (selectable): 230 V AC / 50; 115 V AC / 60 Hz
Fuse for 230 V: T 315 mA
Fuse for 115 V: T 630 mA
Power consumption: max. 25 W
Dimensions & Weight
W x H x D (width x height incl. feet x depth): 106 x 122 x 271 mm
4.17 x 4.8 x 10.67 inch
Unit weight: 2.65 kg / 5.84 lbs
Shipping weight (incl. packaging): 3.8 kg / 8.38 lbs
Prices are inclusive of Singapore GST.
Contact us directly for international purchases via email at eugene@theaudiotonic.com
