SPL Audio P8 8-Channel Microphone Preamplifier with ADAT Converter

The SPL Audio P8 is equipped with eight identically designed microphone preamplifiers. All eight preamps have a discrete design – without ICs, made of individual transistors. This is typical for absolute high-end preamplifiers and is one of the main reasons for the outstanding sound. Besides an analog gain control for adjusting the preamplification, each of the eight preamps features an individually switchable phantom power supply (48 V), a PAD switch, a phase inversion function and a switchable analog high-pass filter. With the included eight-channel ADAT converter option, the purely analog P8 can be digitally connected to an audio interface.

DISCRETE PREAMPS

P8 is equipped with eight preamplifiers. These have a discrete design and they are tuned for a sound- neutral, open and transparent characteristic. The gain control can be used to adjust the preamplification. The control range ranges between +8 dB and +62 dB – so even really demanding microphones can unfold their full potential!

Each of the eight preamplifiers has a 48V switch. This switch activates the required phantom power of 48 volts for the use of condenser microphones. The PAD switch in the respective preamplifier section attenuates the signal of the microphone input by 20 dB, so that even very high levels can be processed with the P8. This is the case, for example, with loud percussion or brass recordings. The phase reverse function of every preamplifier reverses the polarity of the signal. After pressing the switch, the phase is reversed by 180°. A high-pass filter with 6 dB per octave is also available in each of the eight preamp sections and, when activated, reduces subsonic noise below 80 Hz.

ANALOG I/O

The eight microphone inputs of the P8 are equipped with Neutrik XLR sockets and gold-plated contacts. The signal transmission is electronically balanced, at a nominal level of 0 dBu. With the AD option, the P8 has one DB25 socket at the output stage which provides the analog line level output signal from microphone preamps 1 to 8.

AD CONVERTER

The converter chip in the digital-to-analog converter is the highly acclaimed AKM AK5538 ADC chip, which thanks to its architecture reproduces the finest sound details. The AD converter converts analog audio signals with sampling rates of up to 192 kHz and therefore recommends itself as the first choice for transferring the maximum sonic quality of the microphone preamps of the P8 to the digital world. The AD converter provides two optical ADAT outputs (TOSLINK) and thus offers compatibility with a wide range of audio interfaces.

The word clock connection panel of the AD converter contains one clock input and output each as well as a switch for terminating the clock input. The AD converter processes standard word clock signals incoming and generates them outgoing, thus ensuring perfect digital transmission and the highest sound quality.

The service port (USB) on the optional AD converter of the P8 ensures that the digital interface can also be easily maintained. It is used to transfer the operating software (firmware) and is not intended for audio connections. Audio connections can only be done via the ADAT ports and the DB25 socket.