TL-Audio - Ebony A2
Preliminary Information
New from TL Audio, The Ebony Series is a sleek looking range of discrete Class A processors designed to heighten your audio experience.
The range consists of 3 units, all of which use Discrete Class A circuitry and have an optional tube stage with variable drive putting you in control of how ‘creamy?or how ‘cool?your unit sounds.
Hand assembled in England to the highest standards, the Ebony uses stylish, quality chrome knobs together with a high gloss black finish to make the exterior look just as smooth as the circuits sound.
The Ebony Series have all the features you come to expect with TL Audio, including balanced I/O, multi input options, analogue VU metering and intuitive, precise controls.
All units are also compatible with the TL Audio DO-2 digital SPDIF interface for easy digital connectivity with high quality conversion.
A combination of supreme quality, unrivalled sound and stylish aesthetics - this range offers superior analogue processing to accompany a digital world.
Why Class-A?
Class A circuits are designed with a constant current flowing through all of the transistors, which is sufficient to drive the peak output required from each block of the circuit. This ensures that every transistor is kept at its optimum operating point, minimising nonlinearities due to changes in current and internal thermal effects, and eliminating the objectionable “cross-over” distortion typical of class AB circuits.
Due to the higher steady state (or “quiescent”) currents used, the power dissipation of class A circuits is substantially higher than can in general be handled by integrated circuits. It is also possible to design discrete transistor circuits to operate at higher voltage rails than are available for audio integrated circuits, adding the benefit of greater headroom and improved dynamic range. For these reasons, there are no integrated circuits in the audio paths of the Ebony Series.
The outstanding audio quality is reflected in the technical specification of the units, with particularly low noise and distortion, and wide frequency response.
- Discrete Class A and Tube Stereo Processor
- Balanced inputs and outputs
- Stereo operation
- Switchable tube stage with rotary drive control
- 3 band EQ with swept mid
- Compressor section with variable ratio, threshold, attack, release, knee and gain make up.
- EQ switchable pre and post compression stage
- Analogue style VU metering for level / gain reduction
- +10dB metering for use with DAW
- Line Inputs:
Discrete Class A circuitry from input to output (unless Tube stage In)
Gain Range: -20dB to +20dB
Maximum Input level: +26dBu
Frequency Response: 10Hz to 40KHz, +0, -0.5dB
Distortion: 0.007% @ 1KHz, +4dBu @ 0dB gain
Distortion (THD + Noise): 0.025%, 10Hz to 40KHz,
Noise: -94dBu, 22Hz to 22KHz, @ 0dB gain at input and output. - Outputs:
Gain Range: +/-20dB
Maximum Level: +22dBu (2Kohm load), +26dBu (10Kohm load) - Tube Stage:
Typical Distortion: 1% to 10%, depending on “Drive” level, predominately
second harmonic
Noise: -88dBu (22Hz to 22KHz), output gain @ 0dB. - Compressor:
Threshold Range: -20dB to +10dB
Ratio Range: 2:1 to 20:1
Attack: 1ms (“Fast”), 8ms (“Slow”)
Release: 200ms (“Fast”), 2s (“Slow”)
Knee: “Hard” and “Soft” settings
Gain Make-Up: 0dB to 20dB. - Equaliser:
LF: +/-15dB @ 80Hz, shelving
Mid: +/-15dB, swept 150Hz to 7KHz, Q = 0.7
HF: +/-15dB @ 12KHz, shelving,
“Pre” and “Sidechain” (Compressor) switches. - Metering:
Tube “Drive” LEDs: Variable intensity over 10dB level range, typically corresponding
to 1% to 5% THD.
Tube “Peak” LEDs: Dependant on level and drive, typically corresponding to 10% THD.
Output “Peak” LEDs: +19dBu on output.
VU Meter: Switchable to Channel A or B, Input or Ouput, and Gain Reduction.
Nominal calibration: 0VU = +4dBu.
+10dB switch calibration: 0VU = +14dBu. - Power Requirements:
Internally set to 230V 50Hz or 115V 60Hz operation
Detachable IEC power cord
Power consumption 32VA.
TL_Audio_A2_Manual.pdf (2012/09/23)