Sound Performance Lab 9844 Stereo Amplifier User Manual
Contents
1. 3 prong connector Transformer AC cord and IEC receptacle are VDE UL and CSA approved The main fuses are rated at 315mA 230 V and 500 mA 115 V Chassis ground and AC ground can be physically disconnected by the Ground Lift switch GND LIFT This helps to eliminate hums The power supply s output side is filtered by an RC circuit to extract noise and hums caused by your power service 6000uf capacitors smooth out the positive and negative half waves The phantom power is derived from a separate winding in the transformer Filtered and rectified by a series of zener diodes and transistors a clean 48 volts leaves the circuitry This supply voltage reaches the phantom power switch through the PCB where another RC circuit stabilises the supply again Our high quality 0 1 6 81kOhm resistors ensure the pristine quality of the phantom power supply Gold Mike Advantages of the SPL dual stage preamplifier The GoldMike s engine is the newly designed SPL dual stage preamplifier During the first stage of amplification the signal is amplified by a semi conductor circuit while the second stage applies tube electronics We achieve a high common mode rejec tion by using laser trimmed components Likewise minimal noise and distortion figures distinguish our high quality preamp Analog Device s semi conductor SSM 2017 is very unreceptive to HF and hum interference and is perfectly integrated by the PCB layout wide PCB conductors guara2. No potential difference is present between the two conductors dynamic microphones may be used while phantom power is switched on without damage Phantom power in effect reduces the interference from ground loops as well as other unwanted signals picked up by the shiel ding It also proves to be avery HF resilient connection WARNING All balanced microphones with isolated grounds even tube equipped microphones may be used while phantom power is switched on All other microphones require the phantom power to be switched off Connect line level signals and unbalanced microphones only while phantom power is off Gold Mike Control elements MIC GAIN The VU meters show arms average signal Check the transducertype and sensitivity 48V Phantom power specs in accordance with DIN 45 596 IEC 268 15 REVERSE By pressing the REVERSE button you invert the microphone s polarity When the REVERSE button is released status LED off the signal is in phase Pressing it switches the signal out of phase LED on Tips on how to use the phase Reasons for reversing the phase revers i f EERE 1 You are recording a vocal or voice over and the vocalist cannot hear him or herself very well in the headphones Reversing the phase effectively reverses the polarity between microphone and monitor signal thus enabling the vocalist to hear him or herself better without any volume increase in the headphones 2 The REV
3. my excellent colleagues Gold Mike Hermann Gier Contents Foreword Thanks pl Introduction 4 L The GoldMike is another jewel in the SPL Tube series Like all SPL tube processors the GoldMike combines the unique sonic qualities of tube technology with state of the art manufacturing meti culous component selection and high tech conception This latest product a dual channel tube microphone preamplifier with superb sonic qualities is particularly suited for recording vocals and acoustic instruments You will be surprised by not only its precision but also the natural impact of different vocal timbres the silky warmth of a pristine tube sound is needed by more than just acoustic guitars You don t have to listen to those dead and sterile HD recordings GoldMike s whisper quiet performance makes it ideal for digital recording Even the most demanding recording subjects such as a choir are easily handled The Class A tube amp designed as two independent mono blocks guarantees absolute channel separation Your stereo recordings in particular will benefit from a wider stereo depth GoldMike s technical standards are predicated on an uncompro mising effort to combine the sonic advantages of tubes with the experience of more than 12 years of research in semi conductor amplification design The GoldMike allows for up to 72 dB of gain a value tube only designed preamps can t match The SPL tube IC construction on the
4. other hand superbly combines today s standards with such trademark tube characteristics improved spatial depth rich detailed imaging warm and smooth sonics Moreover the GoldMike delivers high common mode rejection and ultra linear amplification in addition to the high gain capabilities Features e Unique FLAIR circuitry enhances the presence and intelligibility of any signal Vocals for example seem to move closer Pristine non colored softening of very harsh and aggressive sounds 50 Hz high pass filter Phase reverse switch 30 dB pad e Switchable 48 volt phantom power with independently filtered power supply High quality ALPS potentiometers Click free switches Five LEDs per channel Two backlit VU meters Warm up LED indicates tube status during warm up Star ground wiring scheme for best sound performance extra wide PCB ground connections guarantee stable voltage distribution Power supply with state of the art filtering schemes and solid power reserves 6000 uF in the main supply and 400 uF in the tube supply e XLR inputs eXLR and 1 4 outputs can be used individually or simultaneously Gold Mike Carefully select a place for setting up the GoldMike The unit should be situated away from heat sources and direct sunlight Avoid installing your GoldMike in environments exposed to vibra tions dust heat cold or moisture Keep the unit away from trans formers or motors or any other unit tha
5. D D F soundperformancelab com Manual Model 9844 Vacuum Tube Microphone Preamplifier CG OT d Mike Manual By Hermann Gier and Wolfgang Aichholz Version 1 4 5 2000 The information in this document has been carefully verified and is assumed to be correct However Sound Performance Lab SPL reserves the right to modify the product described in this manual at any time Changes without notice This document is the property of SPL and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner in part or full without the authorisation of SPL Limitations of Liability In no event will SPL be liable for any damages including loss of data lost profits cost of cover or other special incidental consequen tial or indirect damages arising from the use of the unit however caused and on any theory of liability This limitation will apply even if SPL or an authorised dealer has been advised of the possibility of such damage SPL electronics GmbH P O Box 12 27 D 41368 Niederkruechten Germany Phone 49 21 63 98 34 0 Fax 49 21 63 98 34 20 eMail info soundperformancelab com soundperformancelab com 2000 SPL electronics GmbH All rights reserved Model 9844 CE FOWOW ONG Sasse ee ee ee rennen ee 3 Introduction sinaia 4 HOOKUP users 5 Installation amp Connections cicccccssssestssesesesssscsesesesesststseseesesteeseteteeaeens 5 Power SUppIY ass ae 6 Tech Talk sisitneghndcdiiwisiiei ii dkanadiniisiindn
6. ERSE button is engaged to adjust the GoldMike to the polarity of a microphone or microphone wiring scheme GoldMike s XLR connectors are configured as follows pin 2 high pin 3 low 3 Experimenting with the phase reverse option may reward you with better results PAD The PAD switch attenuates the input signal by 30 dB allowing even high level signals to be processed by the GoldMike This may apply to loud drum or brass recordings 30 dB pad HIGHPASS O The HIGHPASS filter will pass only frequencies above a certain threshold thereby eliminating unwanted portions of a signal The Filters problematic frequen GoldMike s roll off point is set to 50 Hz We use a 2nd order cies rumble etc Butterworth filter for its low ripple The roll off slope is 12 dB per octave Applications for the HIGHPASS filter 1 Voice over recordings suffering from the proximity effect a boost in low frequencies due to the short distance between sound source and microphone 2 Pop sounds that extend into the lower frequency range 3 Any unwanted signal such as steps rumble and other low fre quency sounds 10 L Gold Mike True to SPL s philosophy the GoldMike features the sound enhan cing FLAIR circuitry More than simply a frequency range manipu lating tool the FLAIR circuitry is also a timebase shifting phase device that enhances a sound s harmonic content The close rela tion between frequency and amplitude timebase and
7. Gain THD SOU OB Sen SUGB is 0 175 DOOR ea 60 dB sisis 0 2 Signal To Noise Ratio Signal to Noise ratio Gain A weighted 72 dBu 62 4 dBu gt g 60 dBu 71 8 dBu SES lo 30 dBu 85 6 dBu T 5 Dynamic Range une 111 dBu 2 FF 3 Noise Fi GUUS einen 3 8 3 32 E N Equivalent Input Noise 135 4 dBu Inputs Microphone Instrument Preamplifier in electronically balanced differential transformerless Input Impedance usseneeeeoennereeeeeenn 1 3kOhm lt Max Input Level nennen 25 72 dBu j af Outputs lt 3 6 7 gt R on g zo 25 amp 82 u Zo jY ajg 3 z J 5 z XLR Output Microphone Instrument Preamplifier electronically balanced differential transformerless e Nominal Output Level XLR nenne 6 dB a Max Output Level XLR nenne 25 4 dB ss z Nominal Output Level 1 4 nee OdB Max OutputLevel 1 4 nun 19 4 dB i Output Impedance XLR Klinke lt 600 Ohm x i Dimensions i z 5 Standard EIA 19 1HE chassis 19 x 3 47 x 6 18 e 482 x 88 x 157mm 3 Weight sereeiniegruinaneennminne 6 7 Ibs 3 05 kg Rear Panel Controls and Connectors Balanced Inputs and Outputs XLR 6 dB Unbalanced Outputs 1 4 0 dB Voltage Selector 115 V 60 Hz or 220 V 50 3 Prong Standard IEC AC Receptacle GND LIFT Switch XLR WIRING JACK WIRING Tip Sle GoldMike Rear Panel Model 9844
8. Gold Mike SPL electronics GmbH hereafter called SPL products are warranted only in the country where purchased through the authorized SPL distributor in that country against defects in material or workmanship The specific period of this limited warranty shall be that which is described to the original retail purchaser by the authorized SPL dealer or distributor at the time of purchase SPL does not however warrant its products against any and all defects 1 arising out of materials or workmanship not provided or furnished by SPL or 2 resulting from abnormal use of the product or use in violation of instructions or 3 in products repaired or serviced by other than authorized SPL repair facilities or 4 in products with removed or defaced serial numbers or 5 in components or parts or products expressly warranted by another manufacturer SPL agrees through the applicable authorized distributor to repair or replace defects covered by this limited warranty with parts or products of original or improved design at its option in each respect if the defective product is shipped prior to the end of the warranty period to the designated authorized SPL warranty repair facility in the country where purchased or to the SPL factory in Germany in the original packaging or a replacement supplied by SPL with all transportation costs and full insurance paid each way by the purchaser or owner All remedies and the measure of d
9. amages are limited to the above services It is possible that economic loss or injury to person or property may result from the failure of the product however even if SPL has been advised of this possibility this limited warranty does not cover any such consequential or inci dental damages Some states or countries do not allow the limita tions or exclusion of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation may not apply to you Any and all warranties express or implied arising by law course of dealing course of performance usage of trade or otherwise including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantabi lity and fitness for particular are limited to a period of 1 one year from either the date of manufacture Some states or countries do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts so the above limitations may not apply to you This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state country to country SPL electronics GmbH 41372 Niederkruechten Germany Gold Mike Warranty sol
10. etehiaiand 7 Control elements oicccccccccceccscscscscscecsceccscscscscaesceseecavacesacscecevatsetetessenses 9 MIC GAIN viecsecccsessssesssssssessesessesecsecsesecsssassesstsacstsasatsassasstsasetsasetesenaessess 9 Yo EAT AEEA EEEE TEE ETRE 9 REVERSE viseccccccsecsssessessssecsescsesucsacsesecsssacsessssasstsasstsnesassesasstsaseessesaseesass 10 PA D SE EAA AA IT 10 HIGHPASS iiinnnaninnansnnnurnnnaniannn annain 11 EN E E A NR A E A S E BERNIE 11 DISD ays seen a esse 11 SPECINCAUIONS cnacchanicinssminanaanteisiansnmaaadaatania 12 Waranty see 13 Dear customer Thank you for the confidence you have shown towards SPL electronics GmbH by purchasing the SPL GoldMike You have decided to use an innovative microphone preamp which provides excellent sound quality by combining exemplary speci fications with highest manufacturing standards Please read this manual carefully to ensure you have all the information you need to use the Gold Mike We wish you every success with it Your Sound Performance Lab Team would like to start with my thanks to all our staff who created what is to be described here The importance of their exceptional qualification and talents cannot be overestimated Special thanks to Ruben Tilgner for his creativity Our products are often tested and compared in many publica tions and by our customers themselfs and constantly valued with best results would like to pass on this broad appreciation to those who deserve it
11. nd wiring scheme Chief advantages of this particular layout are the excellent channel separation and respectively the low crosstalk figures In your daily work you will find many practical applications for these advantages You may use the GoldMike s channels for a snare and a vocal arguably the most important elements in a mix simultaneously Stereo recordings benefiting in particular from the low crosstalk figures will have wider stereo depth and precise spatial definition Another advantage of the central power supply with a star ground wiring scheme is that the two indivi dual circuitries operating discretely can deliver identical sonic performances per channel The current demands of one channel i e snare are not compromised by the current demands of the other channel i e vocal All power supplying conductors layed out identically and symmetrically provide both channels with the necessary current Gold Mike Tech Talk The GoldMike combines superb signal to noise specs with not only the amplification power of semi conductors but also the warmth and liveliness of tubes An outstanding dynamic range of 111 dBu outperforms even the average 24 bit recording system Dual Mono Layout with central power supply and star grounding delivers excellent channel separation two discrete signals snare vocal may be recorded simultaneously without crosstalk precise spatial definition identical sonic perfo
12. ntee a stable power supply even when extreme level changes demand an immediate current supply The star ground wiring scheme ensures a quiet electronic performance The dimensions of the PCB conductors and their respective layout wide or narrow were especially designed for the integration of tubes and ICs in the preamplification circuitry The MIC GAIN potentiometer adjusts the semi conductor stage allowing amplification up to 2200 times the original signal The following secondary tube stage adds a constant 6 dB of gain therefore the same amount of tube character is added regardless of amplification The MIC GAIN should be adjusted for a 0 VU meter reading At this level the best signal to noise performance is achieved and the tube will perform in its ideal sonic range Please note that the VU readings are not peak PPM but average levels In other words watch out for the meter hitting the red In summary our dual stage design maximises the amplification power and signal to noise performance of the SPL semi conductor at the first stage and then maximises the warmth and liveliness of a meticulously selected and tested ECC 83 tube at the second stage This makes the GoldMike an ideal partner for high end HD recording The unit s dynamic range of 111 dBu even outperforms some 24 bit recording gear Advantages of the dual mono design GoldMike s two mono amplifier blocks are designed with a central power supply that utilises a star grou
13. power conditions The GoldMike s XLR inputs which are used for connec ting microphone and line level signals are electronically balanced while the outputs allow for simultaneous feed to the balanced XLR connectors as well as to the unbalanced 1 4 outputs The unit can even be used as a microphone splitter Gold Mike Hookup CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN AVIS RISQUE DE CHOC ELECTRIQUE NE PAS OUVRIR Important safety instructions please read carefully Installation amp Connections a Power Supply A stable low ripple torroidal power supply is the foundation for any high fidelity sound shaping The GND LIFT switch helps eliminate hums caused by ground loops Phantom Power with a complex filtering scheme and highly selected components 6 L The following graph shows the correct wiring for connecting un balanced signals to the balanced XLR connectors VERY IMPORTANT Phantom power must be switched off before unbalanced signals are connected Otherwise short circuits cause damages Input Output balanced unbalanced balanced unbalanced 1 GND 2 hot 3 cold Built around a torroidal transformer the power supply allows fora minimal electromagnetic field with no hum or mechanical noise The supply voltage can be set to 230 V 50 Hz or 115 V 60 Hz Check your country s power requirements for the appropriate setting An AC power cord is included to feed the IEC spec
14. rmance per channel L Tech Talk The FLAIR circuitry enhances a signal s presence and cutting ability The correlation between frequency and amplitude time base to the dynamics of the input signal remains intact Ideally suited for HD recording 8 L Sound optimization already during recording FLAIR circuitry The FLAIR circuitry enhances the presence of vocals and acoustic instruments FLAIR makes these elements cut better through a mix It has proved to be superior in double blind tests Once a signal completes the semi conductor amplification stage it is then split and fed into the tube stage and the FLAIR electronics The FLAIR circuit is built from a unique valve inductor capacitor hybrid It operates in a bandpassed frequency range from 1 5 kHz to 20 kHz The center frequency is set at 6 kHz with a boost of 2 5 dB Frequency response harmonic contents and time of impact are manipulated as well The FLAIR circuit s output is mixed directly in the tube with the source signal The circuit s character can be best described as a closed shelving bandpass neverthe less a shifted timebase phase is responsible for boosting the harmonic content The close correlation however between frequency and amplitude timebase to the dynamics of the input signal remains intact When working on a hard disc recording system you will greatly appreciate the appeal of the Flair circuitry and the topnotch sounding signal it deliver
15. s It can spare you hours of twiddling with acompromised recording WARM UP circuit The WARM UP circuit measuresthe tube s anode plate and heater voltages After approximately eight seconds the anode voltage of 250 Volts is reached the heater voltage takes only four seconds Once the ideal working status is achieved the output signal is enabled As the WARM UP LED is lit no output is present Gold Mike NN MODEL 9844 20 72 88000 The MIC GAIN knob controls the input signal s amplification The range extends to 72 dB of gain The levels should be adjusted for a meter reading around 0 VU to get the best signal to noise perfor mance Please note that the meters show only an rms average level so keep your GoldMike from pegging the meters needles When adjusting the MIC GAIN consider the type of microphone dynamic condenser or ribbon and the microphone s sensitivity likewise check sound pressure levels at the sound source the microphone placement and room acoustics The sensitivity of a dynamic microphone is approximately 2 mV Pa whereas a condenser microphone may reach 20 mV Pa an increase of 20 dB Condenser Mics require a 48 volt power supply which is sent through the balanced audio cable on pins 2 and 3 When turning on the supply voltage a phantom circuit is generated by splitting the 48 volt supply signal equally between the and conductors of the audio cabling the voltage is returned through the cable s shield
16. t could generate large variations in power supply or cause electrical interferences Do not install the unit in close proximity to power amplifiers or digital processors You may consider placing it in a rack contai ning other analog gear Such placement can prevent interference from Word Clock Smpte MIDI etc Do not open the case You may risk electric shock and may damage your equipment e Leave repairs and maintenance to a qualified service technician Should foreign objects fall inside the case contact your authorised dealer or support person e To avoid electric shock or fire hazards do not expose your unit to rain or dampness e In case of lightning unplug the unit Please unplug the cable by pulling on the plug only never pull on the cable Never force a switch or knob e To clean the case use a lint free cloth Avoid cleaning agents as they may damage the chassis Manufactured in standard 19 EIA format it utilises two rack units e Please support the back of the unit whenever it is being mounted into a 19 rack especially important when touring Again while GoldMike s housing is EMV proof and protects against HF interference placement of the unit is very important since it is capable of amplifying microphone signals as well as other unwanted signals up to 2200 times Before connecting the GoldMike or any other equipment turn off all power Adjust the voltage setting on the back so that it corresponds with the
17. the source signal s dynamics remains intact FLAIR boosts the frequency range from 1 5 kHz to 20 kHz The center frequency set at 6 kHz is boosted 2 5 dB and applied mainly to the harmonic content and format frequencies of voices and acoustic instruments And finally the FLAIR s output is mixed right along with the original source signal by the tube during the tube amplification stage The resulting recorded signal resounds with more detail intelli gibility presence and cut through The FLAIR circuitry is especi ally valuable when working in an HD recording environment because of the great sounding signal it delivers at the outset thereby sparing you hours of fixing acompromised recording Each of the GoldMike s channels is equipped with a backlit VU meter calibrated to 0 dBu that displays the unit s output level Five LEDs per channel display the current operating status The WARM UP LED located next to the power switch remains lit until the unit s tubes reach their optimum operating condition As long asthe WARM UP LED is lit no output is available Gold Mike FLAIR Circuitry enhances presence and boosts cut through Manipulates frequency range time impact and harmonic content Q simultaneously DISPLAYS L 11 Specifications Audio Frequency Response 10 Hz 100 kHz 0 5 dB Common Mode Rejection at 20 dBu 1 KHz 80 dBu 10 KHz 73 dBu Harmonic Distortion Input level
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