Black Lion Audio introduces API 312 clone

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Check out their FB page, the info's on the pic of the preamp PCB: https://www.facebook.com/blacklionaudio

"Single channel, rack mountable. Street price will be $299, available only from Alto Music."

I'm stoked. The 312 is an insanely simple circuit, so if this turns out good, the price is really reasonable.

 

[Wolfeman]

Is that $299 with a power supply? If so that would be an awesome deal. If the price is without, then it's about on par with the others out there.

 

[Wolfeman]

Yuck just noticed all the surface mount components. Probably how they are keeping the cost down. Still, I'm all up for a cheaper decent preamp.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Is that $299 with a power supply? If so that would be an awesome deal. If the price is without, then it's about on par with the others out there.

They say "This will be in a 1U 1/2 rack space format with an external supply", so it sounds like the PSU is included. Can't say for sure, though. But even without the PSU, I haven't seen a single pre-assembled 312 clone with a chassis out there for that price. DIY kits, sure, but add the labour and chassis and...

 

[ahjteam]

they also had a cool explanation on some things...

# Jesus Gomez
This is great considering what you guys did with the AGB compressor (33609). I previously read that you described the API as having a "very honky, nasty midrange because of its THD behavior." How will your clone fair with this description. Will you have some similarities to the original API but with the low end response of the Auteur?
Saturday at 1:42am

# Black Lion Audio
The THD is caused by two things: opamp behavior and transformer saturation behavior. The API opamp has a THD component that rises with frequency, and does so sharply after 1k. Thus the "honky" sound. The transformer tames some of that but then adds its own THD in the form of low frequency distortion from about 50Hz to 200Hz. The Auteur has the low frequency THD but the distortion above 1kHz remains low so it sounds smoother in the top end.
Saturday at 2:05am

 

[jangoux]

holy molly. Gotta buy it.

But for this price it can't be the same quality level as SCA stuff. Too good to be true.

 

[Wolfeman]

holy molly. Gotta buy it.

But for this price it can't be the same quality level as SCA stuff. Too good to be true.

yeah I think they went the china pre-assembly route to keep the cost down, hence all the surface mount stuff. Edcore transformers though, that's pretty cool.

Should be ok for the price, for those that don't want to shell out the cash for name brand.

 

[jangoux]

Like me

Isn't it simple enough for a DIY route? Never seem this schematic.

 

[Trevoire520]

If this is any good then I want 2! Even if it was $100 to ship it over here it'd only be like £550 for 2!

 

[Pedro Teixeira]

Oh god! This looks promising!

 

[gabriel g.]

if this is any good, and has the fast transient and the crunchy mids I so gonna order one!!!

I would love to see one without AD for a bit cheaper?!?!

 

[JeffTD]

Wait... 300 for a 312 clone AND A/D? Gotta be cutting corners, somewhere. Glad I have my SCA stuff but this does look particularly awesome.

 

[jipchen]

Looks interesting.. but why are there no international shipping prices in the Alto Music online store?
Does anyone know how much the shipping to Europe is?

 

[JeffTD]

if this is any good, and has the fast transient and the crunchy mids I so gonna order one!!!

I would love to see one without AD for a bit cheaper?!?!

Ignore my last post, it was after I read this - doesn't look like the API clone has AD at all, but they're developing a separate AD converter.

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

Ignore my last post, it was after I read this - doesn't look like the API clone has AD at all, but they're developing a separate AD converter.

Yeah, this Apparently they have a whole line of AD/DA converters coming up.

 

[MetalJonesy]

wow, awesome!!

 

[MarcusGHedwig]

Forgive my ignorance, but what's so bad about surface mount construction, and does it actually negatively impact the tone?

 

[gabriel g.]

Yeah, this Apparently they have a whole line of AD/DA converters coming up.

but tze pics on facebook showed clock, spdif, maybe aes ebu and optical.
I dont need that stuff I only want the preamp!!!

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

but tze pics on facebook showed clock, spdif, maybe aes ebu and optical.
I dont need that stuff I only want the preamp!!!

What? The preamp doesn't have any of that. Perhaps you're looking at the wrong picture?

 

[Wolfeman]

Forgive my ignorance, but what's so bad about surface mount construction, and does it actually negatively impact the tone?

It's a cost cutting way of doing things, a machine puts the components on the board and then a machine heats everything up and the parts solder themselves in to place so to speak. It's one of the reasons why Behringer can make things cheaper than everybody else. If it's done right it won't make a difference. When it comes to repair time, good luck fixing it though That's why on most surface mount products they just toss the board and replace it with a new one.