Overview

8 Channel Transformer Coupled Class A Mic Preamp with Premium 24 Bit 192k ADC

Heritage Audio decided to meet the demands of many musicians, producers and engineers and offer and all-in-one package with the Súper 8 to get eight high-quality signals recorded into your DAW with the absolute minimum of fuss. For the first time ever Heritage Audio is introducing a package with eight of our famous 73 style preamps all in just one 2 rack space unit. So this piece is stuffed with all the goodies you´d expect including exclusively designed Carnhill transformers on the Inputs and Outputs and Tantalum capacitors to make sure you get all the juice, vibe and feel from that golden era all while dishing out a very generous 80dB of gain.

The Súper 8 Preamps are complete with the features you´ve come to expect. Each channel has a button to activate the 48v Phantom power, a LINE button to prepare the input for Line Level signals, a PHASE button to flip it 180º, and a LoCut button to produce a -3db cut at 80Hz. The first two channels are also equipped with a Lo-Z button which will change the input impedance from 1200Ohm to 300Ohm, a PAD button to reduce the input -20db, our famous JFET D.I. as well as a fully sweepable LoCut filter. Everything you could possibly ask for in a professional preamp. So there are eight channels of our famous high-quality 3 Stage Class A fully transformer balanced analog input and outputs, always available.

And what might be the best part of it all, we have incorporated a premium analog to digital converter to send your signals on to your DAW as easily as possible. This high quality, premium ADC is 24Bit and offers selectable internal sampling frequencies variable from 44.1k to 192k in addition to being externally syncable by WordClock. Three different digital output options are available; ADAT/SMUX, SPDIF and AES/EBU to make sure all of your needs are taken care of. Now it´s possible to turn your wallet-friendly audio interface into a quality, professional recording rig. One of the neatest features of the unit is the ability to individually, per channel, decide whether the signal converted and sent to the DAW comes directly from the corresponding input(preamp) or from an external source. What this allows you to do is send your preamped signal out to a processor and then return it to the unit so it can be converted digitally and sent along to your DAW. This can really come in handy if you need a bit of EQ or compression for more control before the digital conversion. This actually means you have 2 selectable sources for each of the eight converters, a seemingly small detail that can really make a big difference when you´re knee deep in the mix or session and don´t have time to spare.

Another great possibility is the option to also use the Súper 8 as a stand-alone converter. When all you need is a top-of-the-line analog to digital converter, look no further, you already have it right here.

All the inputs and outputs are provided on gold plated XLRs with LINE inputs and outputs also being offered on DB25 connectors for convenience. The alternative 8 returns for the converter are also available on a DB25 connector. Then, of course, are the format specific connectors for ADAT ( two of them for SMUX possibilities) and BNC WordClock Input and Output, as well as a 9 PIN connector to access either the SPDIF or the AES/EBU conversion.

Product Details

  • 8 Class A 3-Stage 73 style Preamps
  • Exclusively designed Transformers from Carnhill assuring that no gain stage or transformer is left out of any of the Input or Output signal paths.
  • Premium 8 channel 24 Bit 192kHz Converter
  • Digital output on ADAT/SMUX, SPDIF and AES/EBU
  • Switchable path for converters per channel, either directly from Preamp or from External Source.
  • Stand-alone 8 channel premium converter when mic pres use is not required.
Microphone input impedance (channels 1, 2)
High: 1200 Ω min.; Low: 300 Ω mini. Higher gain positions gradually have greater impedances, optimum for low gain ribbon mics. Input is transformer balanced and floating
Microphone input impedance (channels 3-8)
High: 1200 Ω min.
Line input impedance
10 kΩ bridging, transformer balanced and floating
Output impedance
< 75 Ω, transformer balanced and floating, to drive a load of 600 Ω
D.I. input impedance
> 2 MΩ, unbalanced (Channels 1 & 2)
Maximum output
> +26.5 dBu into 600 Ω (internally terminated)
THD
< 0.025% at 1 kHz, < 0.05% at 100 Hz
Frequency response
20 Hz (+0.3 dB) to 20 kHz (-0.2 dB).
Maximum Gain
80 dB
Equivalent Input Noise
< -125 dBu
Output stage noise
< -100 dBu
S/PDIF Connector Type
9 PIN Breakout Cable (RCA)
S/PDIF Format
IEC 958
S/PDIF supported Sample rates (kHz)
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
AES/EBU Connector Type
9 PIN Breakout Cable (XLR)
AES/EBU Format
IEC 60958
AES/EBU supported Sample rates (kHz)
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
ADAT Connector Type
Optical TOSLINK JIS F05
ADAT Format
ADAT Digital Lightpipe with S/MUX
ADAT Supported Sample rates (kHz)
44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192
ADAT Channel Assignments @ 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz
Port 1 = Channels 1 - 8, Port 2 = 1 - 8 (mirrored)
ADAT Channel Assignments @ 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz
Port 1 = Channels 1 - 4, Port 2 = Channels 5 - 8
ADAT Channel Assignments @ 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz
Port 1 = Channels 1 - 2, Port 2 = Channels 3 - 4
Word Clock Connector Type
BNC
Word Clock Input Termination
75 Ohms, switchable
Synchronization Sources
Internal, Word Clock (EXTERNAL)
Dimensions (W x H x L)
280 x 88 x 482 mm
Weight
9.45 kg