ProAudio Review - November 2008 - (Page 24)

studio review by Russ Long Arsenal Audio by API R24, V14 and R20 Arsenal Audio provides reasonably priced, yet “fantastic” mic preamp and EQ modules. Reminiscent of a piece of equipment you would expect to find in a WWII military bunker, Arsenal Audio’s line has an awesome look and feel, and after using it for the past two months, I can vouch that it sounds every bit as good as it looks. The Arsenal Audio line provides a sonically creative outlet for API’s design team to innovate and expand beyond their deep roots with 2520 discrete op-amp based products. Each unit is hand-assembled and designed to provide years of greatsounding analog audio performance at a surprisingly reasonable price. Features—R24 and V14 Although quite rare today, Americanbased APSI manufactured consoles and equalizers were built during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. The APSI 562 was a 4-band parametric EQ that was manufactured by APSI, but distributed through API. The R24 and the V14 are both re-engineered versions of the classic APSI 562 equalizer. The R24 is a 2-channel, self-contained unit that contains two identical equalizer channels in one 2U chassis with a built-in power supply; the V14 is built around the popular 500 VPR format. Both equalizers have high headroom with the R24 having a +23dB clip level and the V14 a +24dB clip level. The R24 provides XLR connectors and 1/4-inch balanced connectors for both input and output. Both equalizers cover from 20Hz to 20kHz in four EQ bands of overlapping frequencies: 20Hz to 200Hz, 100Hz to 1kHz, 500Hz to 5kHz and 2kHz to 20kHz on the R24 and 2.2kHz to 20kHz on the V14. Each band has a continuously variable control of frequency and gain (+/- 12dB) and provides peaking response characteristics. Two separate pots control the R24’s frequency and gain while the V14 utilizes a set of dual concentric pots for each of the four bands. When using the V14, I initially found that when I made adjustments on the outside knob. Otherwise, adjustments on both units are quick and easy. Both the R24 and the V14 have an EQ in/out switch that places the circuit into the active audio path via a silent relay. In the “out” position, there is no active circuitry in-line. The two equalizer variations offer almost identical performance with a bandwidth of 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.5dB and a THD+N @ 1kHz, +4dBu of 0.01%. The R24 has a signal-to-noise ratio of 100dB and the V14’s signal to noise is 102 dB. Both have a 12K ohm input impedance and a 300 ohm transformer balanced output impedance. Features — R20 Unlike the Arsenal Audio R24 and V14, which are based on a classic design, the Arsenal Audio R20 was designed from the ground up by API’s design team. This dual-channel, high-quality microphone preamplifier offers a flexible, high-quality front end for microphones and instruments. The dual mic preamps provide up to 55dB of gain and the front-panel, highimpedance instrument inputs each provide up to 31dB of gain. The R20 is a sin- Russ Long is an producer/engineer in Nashville and a regular contributor to Pro Audio Review. www.russlong.ws 24 ProAudioReview | November 2008 www.proaudioreview.com http://www.russlong.ws http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - November 2008

ProAudio Review - November 2008 Contents Technically Speaking First Look 2008 PAR Excellence Awards New Studio Products Studio Sense Review: Solid State Logic Matrix Review: Arsenal Audio by API R24, V14, and R20 Mini-Review Review, Second Opinion, and Benchtest Review: A-Designs HM2EQ HAMMER Review: Sontronics Sigma Phantom Powered Ribbon Microphone Analog In The Studio: Nostalgia Ain’t What It Used To Be New Live Products Worship Audio Review: Community VERIS Series Loudspeakers Installation Profile Single Slice

ProAudio Review - November 2008

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