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Thermionic Culture The Swift EQ  From Thermionic

Stereo Equalizer with Attitude

Thermionic Culture

$3,999.00

"Experience the Difference"

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Manufacturer's Description from Thermionic

Features

 ♦ All-valve signal path using NOS and new production valves;

 ♦ Combines features of the best USA and UK equalisers with Thermionic magic;

 ♦ Quick and easy to operate, clearly labelled front panel

 ♦ Shelving Bass and Treble lift /cut Controls at 2 frequencies each;

 ♦ Mid Cut and Lift at 4 Frequencies each with Three ‘Q’ combinations;

 ♦ Our own Presence and Air Controls;

 ♦ A Switchable High Pass Filter with a Special last position which used in conjunction with the Bass lift can be a very interesting combination;

 ♦ Adjustable gain in .75 dB steps;

 ♦ Frequency response from below to well above human hearing with miniscule phase shift;

 ♦ Virtually no distortion unless driven beyond DAW capability and practically noiseless;

 ♦ Typical Thermionic Culture warm, natural sound;

 ♦ Equally superb as mix buss eq and for individual instruments/tracks;

 ♦ Lovingly hand-made and tested in Harlow, England.

 

This two channel equaliser had been designed to be as much at home in tracking individual instruments or sitting across a stereo mix buss to equalise the final mix. As with other units of ours, such as The Phoenix, all controls are clearly labelled and setting up the eq is quick and easy, so we named it after Britain’s fastest bird in level flight.

 

THE SWIFT utilises influences of 2 classic designs of the “golden days” of all valve recording with improvements to bring the specs up-to-date for today’s pro use, plus added features of our own designs.

 

The main electronics are based around a 1950s EMI desk but with extended top and bass response. It had a BAXANDALL type active eq which we’ve kept and we added a Presence switch to give a broad band lift to mid/hi frequencies. This is based on one invented by Vic Keary in 1963 and used in his own mixing desks.

 

The mid lift controls are based on the Pultec design and are passive. For speedy operation and economy we have chosen just 4 frequencies, with 3 “Q” settings.

 

Special features of ours are Hi Pass Filter, Mid Cut and “Air” (all passive). An interesting (Pultec type) effect can be obtained by setting the High Pass Filter at its last setting which combines a shelving bass cut with a filter at very low frequency, then using plenty of bass lift at either 50 or 100 Hz.

 

All pots are continuously variable. We have chosen not to use indented ones for subtlety and reliability reasons.

 

Gain is on switches, for comparison purposes. BYPASS switch disconnects the electronics so you hear the unadulterated original signal. No metering is provided as it was deemed to be just a distraction. The Swift can output + 20 dBu without noticeable distortion and it’s practically noiseless.

 

Although The Swift is influenced by old designs, our electronic design is a great improvement on the old ones. There are only two valves per channel to keep colouration minimal. We use modern, specially designed, Sowter transformers and valves (tubes) not used before in this type of circuit. They simply sound better and the technical spec is outstanding. In all fairness to the original designers, these valves were probably not then available at the design stage so this gives us a little advantage!

Thermionic Culture

About Manufacturer

Thermionic Culture is focused on producing the very best all valve design audio products. In this day and age of mass-produced solid-state audio equipment it's a refreshing change for a company to constantly strive for the ultimate all valve signal path.

The owners/key people involved at Thermionic Culture are totally dedicated to valve audio equipment, all having many years experience in recording and working with valves. Company founder and designer Vic Keary built his first studio in the late 50's and went onto building Maximum Sound Studios which was later bought by Manfred Mann and renamed The Workhouse, Chalk Farm Studios, and the all valve based studio Chiswick Reach.

Jon Bailes, Thermionic Culture's co-founder is responsible for the mechanical design & visual appearance. Jon has a wealth of experience as a Chief Designer in the electronic manufacturing industry .

Nick Terry engineers on many current albums and singles working recently with artists such as McAlmont & Butler, The Libertines. All this 'real world' experience is an invaluable aid to creating all valve equipment that other artists will no doubt appreciate.

Audio amplification, compression, mixing and equalisation took a backward step when solid-state technology was introduced. Valves are much more real and natural when amplifying and processing audio. We use no transistors or ICs in the signal path. Solid state is relegated to where it works best - in power supplies, although we do use a valve voltage regulator in The Culture Vulture's HT supply.

Some of our circuits take ideas from the 1940s to '60s and refine and update them to produce the low noise and distortion which are expected now. Other circuits are really original! To achieve high standards we use modern components such as 1% metal oxide resistors and polypropylene capacitors where their use is a positive advantage, but we avoid Hi-Fi type gimmicks such as gold plated XLR connectors. We take pride in the construction and reliability of our equipment. To date it is all hand wired using the best quality components. We give a 2-year guarantee against manufacturing defects, though we can only guarantee valves for 1 year. Many valves we use, are Military/Industrial grade. Also, we select and match (where necessary) all of the valves that we supply so a far longer life span can be expected

Specifications

Input impedance: 10kΩ

Output impedance: 250Ω

Gain: -10.5 to +3 dB in 0.75 dB steps 

Frequency Response: +0.5 / -1 dB 12 Hz to 40 kHz

Power consumption at 115 or 230VAC mains in: 30W

Net Weight (no packaging): 7 kg

Indicator lamp: 12V, 3W  

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