Thermionic Culture The Earlybird 2.3 offers two channels of exceptionally clean valve pre-amplification by using a push-pull, class A design to deliver the lowest noise and distortion figures achievable in a microphone preamplifier. Its custom-wound input and output transformers, developed in collaboration with Sowter transformers, ensure minimal phase shift and maximum headroom.
All the essential microphone preamplifier functions, including gain, input impedance, forty-eight volt phantom power and phase inversion, are controlled from the front panel of the Thermionic Culture The Earlybird 2.3. The three-band active lift equaliser features bass and top lift controls with unique varislope curves and a mid-lift control that can be set to boost at eight hundred hertz or two point eight kilohertz via a switch.
Because the equaliser operates in the feedback loop rather than adding extra gain stages, switching it in does not introduce unwanted artefacts, permitting subtle tone shaping without compromising signal integrity.
The high-pass filter switch provides two cut-off points at forty hertz or one hundred hertz with a twelve decibel per octave slope, plus a third shelving-type position that combines with the bass lift for simultaneous mid cut and bass boost. A function switch selects the input source, microphone XLR, line-level jack or pullet input, while variable impedance and pad settings let you tailor the input circuitry for a wide variety of microphones and signal levels or explore creative tonal variations.
With its extensive feature set and outstanding sonic performance, the Thermionic Culture The Earlybird 2.3 is an extremely versatile addition to any recording or mixing setup. Paired with the Pullet mastering equaliser, it completes a superb mastering chain.
Features
- 2 Channels of extremely high quality push pull’ ‘class A’ type of valve pre amplification.
- 3 bands of active lift EQ with 2 mid range frequencies and switchable high pass filters.
- Clean gain, giving extremely low noise and distortion figures.
- Essential mic-preamp settings such as gain, impedance, 48v power and phase are all catered for by the front panel controls.
- Can be optimised for use with a large variety of mics, signal levels and different uses whilst remaining in an equipment rack.
- Function switch will allow the unit to take it’s input from, mic. in, line, or the Pullet sockets.
- Massive clean output, but can be trimmed by output level controls, some colouration can be obtained if desired.
