Chandler Limited Germanium Pre Amp/DI
Warm, Organic, and Chandler’s Most Vintage Sounding Pre Amp Yet!
The Chandler Limited Germanium Pre Amp/DI is a completely new microphone pre-amplifier design by Chandler Limited designer Wade Goeke that uses classic germanium transistors in an all class A, transformer balanced circuit.
The use of germanium devices opens a whole new sound palate not found in any pro audio equipment currently manufactured.
These incredibly smooth sounding transistors were the basis of the earliest transistor designs by Neve (1053, 1055, 1057), EMI (TG12345 MKI), Telefunken, and Fairchild. Those familiar with these units can attest to the special sound of the germanium transistor. The GERMANIUM series runs on +40 volt power, high current, and has a huge +34 output before clipping. The sound is warm and smooth, as with many vintage style circuits, but you’ll find a whole new world of smooth here, as well as a sound that settles in perfectly to your tracks without fighting. The Germanium uses Chandler’s new custom wound transformers that combine the best parts of our favorite St Ives and Gardners input and output transformers.
All Germanium units require and function on the PSU-1, Chandler Limited power supply. The PSU-1 has an internal switch for setting voltage to 120V or 220V (115V/230V). For more information please call us at (319) 885-4200.
If you like clean, pure, un-colored audio, run as far away from this baby as you can!
On the other hand, if you like flavor and fatness on your tracks, the Germanium mic preamp / DI will be among your favorite tools. Germanium transistors were what gave early sold-state gear its creamy tonality back in the ’60s. With this mono pre, you can dial-in a little or a lot of that sweet ”Ger-monic” distortion. Use it on mic’d signal, or to add color to previously recorded tracks. It’s a favorite of ours, often getting chosen over tube devices.
Germanuim Drivethis
– Controls the input gain of the Germanium amp. The amount of gain from this is related to the Feedback control position.
Pad and Thick Switches
– Both of these can be used great eect to control the tone of the pre amp. Use Pad to run the Drive and Feedback controls near full for increased low end and harmonic distortion. The thick adds a gentle low frequency rise for warmth and roundness.
Feedback Control
Controls the amount of out signal fed from the amplier output back into its input, as well as acting as a volume type control. This knob seriously aects the tone of the unit. With feedback to the left there is less volume, less Total Harmonic Distortion, lower noise oor, and more high frequencies. With feedback to the right there is more volume, more Total Harmonic Distortion, and a low end peak around 30hz. Combine this with the Germanium Drive control, Thick, and Pad switches for a cool variety of sounds.
VU Meter
– 10 segment LED meter that shows the unit output in two ranges. Low range -12 to +3 dB./ High range +5 to +20 dB.
Features:
– DIUnbalanced jack with 100k input impedance
– 48 volt and Phase Reverse
– VU Range switch