The Black Lion Audio Seventeen is a modern reimagining of the classic ’76 FET compressor, not a clone but a contemporary redesign shaped by today’s technology. Created in collaboration with acclaimed engineer and plug-in designer Tobias Lindell, the Black Lion Audio Seventeen incorporates a fully overhauled IC-based front end that delivers a more articulate, versatile compression character than traditional ’76 units. Under gentle compression it provides a clean, punchy and transparent sound, while pushing it yields a distinctly vintage tone with warmth and grit.
This updated front-end design is paired with a custom output transformer built in Chicago, providing solid low-end presence and a smooth, open high-frequency response. Black Lion’s proprietary power decoupling ensures an extremely low noise floor, while the use of high-grade Nichicon signal capacitors contributes to its refined sound quality.
Designed with modern workflows in mind, the Black Lion Audio Seventeen includes a frequency-adjustable sidechain, independent high-pass and low-pass filter switches, a wet/dry mix control for parallel compression, and stereo linking capability. These additions extend its tonal palette well beyond the classic design and offer a flexible tool for both tracking and mix bus applications.
Features
- Inspired by the classic ’76 FET compressor/limiter
- Designed in collaboration with Tobias Lindell
- Improved IC-based front end delivers modern or vintage tone depending on gain level
- Proprietary power decoupling for ultra-low noise
- Custom-made Chicago output transformer
- High-grade Nichicon signal capacitors
- Frequency-adjustable sidechain
- Selectable high-pass and low-pass filters
- Wet/dry mix knob for parallel compression
- Stereo link function