Unity Audio are showing two new Thermionic Culture items at this years Music Messe in Hall 5.1 stand D48.

The second is the Thermionic Culture – Rooster – Stereo Valve Mic/Line/DI with EQ and Attitude!

A valve based mic/line + DI pre-amp with EQ and a distortion section based around the same 5725 used in the ever-popular Culture Vulture. The input stage uses a custom 1200-ohm input Sowter transformer and an ECC81/12AT7 valve. The EQ section has a broad bass lift control with up to 15dB of Lift, peaking at 50H. A mid cut at 700Hz with 17dB of cut with a ‘Q’ that is dependant on the amount of Cut, and a selectable mid/high lift at 2.5k, 4k (“bell” shaped with 18 dB of Lift) and 10k ( shelving with 20dB Lift ) respectively. The 6 position bass cut is straight off the Earlybird 2 pre-amp.

The new ‘ Attitude’ section uses a 5725- Culture Vulture distortion tube offering subtle distortion characteristic in the triode position, more so than a Culture Vulture due to the higher HT voltage, and so has a very low (about 0.01%) distortion when the Attitude control is set to 1. In the pentode mode it generates more 3rd harmonic distortion. Distortion can be pretty radical when Attitude is set to Max and the input is high. The output valve is ECF80 which combines high output with low impedance (less than 100 ohms). There is +48v phantom power, and phase reverse. The output is unbalanced standard but a balancing transformer option will be available.

Price £1395.00 ex VAT

The Sontronics CHIMERA is a single-channel preamp/DI box that offers two discrete circuits: at the flick of a switch, you can choose between the character of the solid-state amplifier or the smooth, silky tones served up by the valve preamp. Each vintage circuit design is totally unique to Sontronics, employing custom-made transformers.

…like Optimus Prime!

“Sontronics is all about offering musicians the tools they need to perfect the front end of their recording chain,” says brand founder Trevor Coley, “and ever since I launched Sontronics, I’ve wanted to create a preamp that did exactly that.”

Additional features include a variable high-pass filter, three-stage attenuation and phase controls, and electronically balanced inputs and outputs .

“We have some amazingly talented engineers working for us in the Far East, but this project has grown out of my meeting with some great musicians and technicians on my visits to Portugal,” says Coley. “They have turned my concepts for a preamp into a stunning reality, and it’s all been done without a single trip outside our own continent. In this age of carbon emission awareness, this is something we’re very proud of and we already have blueprints for several complementary products due to join our line-up in the near future.”

GBR £680
EUR €999
USD $1399 all exluding VAT/Tax

USEFUL INFORMATION
• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz max. +/-0.5dB (solid-state), max. +/-0.7dB (valve)
• Controls: Line/mic/48V input selector, input gain 0-60dB, high-pass filter (linear to 200Hz, stepped),
attenuation (0dB, -10dB, -20dB), phase reverse, mode select, master output level
• Inputs (all analogue): Balanced XLR/jacks front and rear
• Outputs (all analogue): Balanced XLR/jack rear, insert point
• Metering: Input/output VU meter, signal and clip LEDs
• Valve: Electro-Harmonix ECC82/12AU7 (branded)
• Power: mains powered via IEC 100V-240V switchable
• Format: Desktop unit with rack kit option (two units can sit side-by-side in rack)
• Available: March 2008