SPL Elector Analog Preamp - Black

Product Description

The SPL Elector is based on the Director Mk2 and designed as a pure analog preamplifier. It features a total of six analog inputs. Three of which are balanced with XLR connectors. The Elector is equipped with the big remote controllable aluminum volume control with marker LED and two mechanical VU meters. External audio processors or analog tape machines can be inserted in the Tape Monitor loop.

MILLED FROM SOLID

The massive 45mm volume control knob milled from aluminum is a haptic highlight. Its mass together with the motorized Alps RK27 “Big Blue” potentiometer enhances the “spoon in the honey” feeling even further. The red marker LED ensures good visibility of the volume parameter even in darkened environments. The volume control can be remotely controlled with any infrared remote control. The Elector learns to communicate with it with the simple push of a button.

VU METERS

The two VU meters display the source's level. It's mechanical design 'slows' the measurement, averaging out peaks of short duration, and reflects thereby more the perceived loudness or 'energy'. VU means Volume Units. A typical VU meter shows a range of -20 dB to +3 dB. The VUs go slightly above +5 dB. A mastered CD can produce much higher levels depending on the settings of the DA converter which would glue the needles to the right side. To prevent this the VU toggle switch set to position 6 shows a dB value with the needle pointing at 0 of +6 dB. Set to position 12 the value is +12 dB when the needle points at 0. With the VU switch set to +12 dB the VU meter can display levels slightly above +17 dB. If the needle goes beyond that it does not indicated that the Elector is clipping. Thanks to the VOLTAiR technology there is still more than 15 dB headroom.

TAPE MONITOR

In the 70s and 80s cassette recorders were very popular and a hifi equipment used to offer a tape monitor function. Later this feature went away, but fans of recording and processing found the lack of this feature in today's preamps being a real drawback. Well, this feature is re-introduced in the Elector. It is possible again to insert a tape machine and to listen back while recording (tape monitoring) or to insert beloved equalizers or other processing devices to room-EQ or to tune sound. On the rear of the unit is a level calibration switch besides the tape send and tape return sockets. Consumer tape machines, cassette desks or consumer equalizers may clip when being exposed to the levels that the Elector easily handles. To prevent peaks and distortion this switch reduces the outgoing level by 10 dB and lifts it again by 10 dB when coming back into the Elector. Thereby no level difference will be audible and your gear performs on level it can handle.

ALL VARIABLE – OR SLAVE THRU?

The Elector provides two stereo output pairs for connecting power amplifiers or active loudspeakers. One pair of outputs with XLR, the other with RCA outputs. Both have the same output signal, which is controlled by the big volume control. Thus, a pair of speakers can be fed via one stereo output and a subwoofer via the second stereo output. The playback volume for both stereo outputs is adjusted together via the volume control on the Elector. With a DIP switch on the back of the device, the volume control for the RCA and XLR outputs can separately be switched out of the signal path – this makes the respective output a “Slave Thru” output to e.g. connect a headphone amplifier with its own volume control. The volume control of the Elector no longer affects the playback volume of the connected headphone amplifier when a stereo output’s Slave Thru mode is active.

HOME THEATER BYPASS

Since the hardware revision 1.1, the Elector features a Home Theater Bypass function. This allows the Elector to be used in combination with a multi-channel home theater system. The L and R channels of the home theater system can be simply connected to Input 6 of Elector. When the Home Theater Bypass is active (DIP 4), Input 6 is no longer affected by the volume control of the Elector.

EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL – AMP CTL

The standby mode of devices with 12V trigger input, can be switched on and off via AMP CTL, together with the Elector. This allows, for example, the SPL Performer s800, Performer m1000 or Performer s1200 power amplifiers to be ideally integrated into the set-up.

VOLTAIR TECHNOLOGY

The 120V technology is SPL's reference technology. The 120V technology is unique in the world. It operates at a DC voltage of 120 volts. This is four times that of IC-based semiconductor op-amps. In SPL's Professional Fidelity series, they refer to this unsurpassed technology as VOLTAiR technology. The 120V technology works with ±60 V. To be able to handle such a high voltage, SPL have developed special proprietary operational amplifiers that can operate with a DC voltage of ±60 V: the SPL 120V SUPRA operational amplifiers. This high voltage would destroy conventional components and operational amplifiers. The 120V technology achieves exceptional technical specifications and sonic benefits. Technically, in terms of dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and headroom. Sonically, in terms of richness of detail and an absolutely relaxed listening experience.