SPL Sound Performance Lab GAIN-STATION-8

Increase your track power eightfold in only 2U - thanks to exceptional headroom throughout its design and the superb signal regulation of its limiters, the GainStation8 is the perfect front end for multi-track recordings or AD converters.

Nowadays typical preamps are designed on an either-or basis — either solid state or tube. With these designs the engineer has a non-integrated and often frustrating choice between a pure, neutral solid state recording or one unavoidably influenced by tubes. While the engineer may find solutions for one application with one microphone, a preamplifier for different situations, mics and instruments must provide a commensurate range of choices—like the GainStation preamps. A combination of 63dB solid state and an independently controllable 26dB tube circuitry (which can also be deactivated) ensures a complete sound palette panorama. In any situation the engineer now can achieve his goals with one front end for best-of-both-worlds results.

Features:

• Separated Solid state and tube preamps. The tube preamp can be used additionally to the solid state stage to add tube saturations, for clean recordings it can be switched off.
• Peak/FET Limiter
• Switchable Mic Input Impedance (200 Ohms, 1,2 & 10 kOhms)
• Custom-designed and built, fully discrete, class A op-amps (no off-the-shelf stuff here). The GainStation's op-amps feature 60-Volt operating voltage—twice as high as most common op-amps—for an incredible dynamic range.
• All switching functions are handled by encapsulated relays with gold-plated contacts.
• A no-compromise power supply with extensive additional shielding and seven separately wound and regulated voltages
• Lundahl input transforner option, also for single channels or channel pairs

Specifications:

•  Frequency Range: 1Hz-310kHz
  (+/- 3dB, Clean Gain 30dB, Tube Gain off, Output Level 0dB)
• Frequency Range: 1Hz-125kHz
  (+/- 0.5dB, Clean Gain 30dB, Tube Gain 1dB, Output Level 0dB)
• THD+N: 0.00038%
  (Cl. Gain 24dB, T. Gain off, 20-22kHz, Outp. Level +6dB, +25dBu out)
• THD+N: 0.032%
  (Cl. Gain 23dB, T. Gain 1dB, 20-22kHz, Outp. Level +6dB, +25dBu out)
• S/N Ratio: -99.6dBu
  (Cl. Gain 10dB, T. Gain off, Output Level 0dB, 20-22kHz, A-weighted)
• S/N Ratio: -94.6dBu
  (Cl. Gain 30dB, T. Gain off, Output Level 0dB, 20-22kHz, A-weighted)
• S/N Ratio: -86.5dBu
  (Cl. Gain 20dB, T. Gain 10dB, Outp. Level 0dB, 20-22kHz, A-weighted)
• EIN: 128.4dB
  (Cl. Gain 60dB, T. Gain off, Outp. Level 0dB, 20-22kHz, A-weighted, 40Ohm)
• Dynamic Response: ›130dB
  (20-22kHz, A-weighted)
• CMRR: ›80dB
  (Cl. Gain 30dB, T. Gain off, 1kHz, Input -30dBu, Outp. Level 0dB)
• Max. Output Level: +34dBu
• Max. Input Level: +17dBu
  (Mic & Instrument Input)
• Input Impedance: ›1MOhm
  (Instrument Input)
• Output Impedance: ›75Ohm
• Slew Rate: ›40V/µs
  (Clean Gain 30dB, Tube Gain off, Output Level +6dB)
• Power Consumption: 140W
  (without converter)
• Weight: 6,3kg/13,86lb
• Weight Power Supply incl. cable: 5,3kg/11,66lb