The Shelford Channel

Mic Pre + Inductor EQ + Compressor

A Whole New Vintage.

The Shelford Channel is built around Rupert Neve’s first new transformer-gain, class-A microphone preamplifier in over 40 years, a “best-of-the-classics” inductor EQ section, a tone-packed diode bridge compressor, the power of variable Silk saturation, a new dual-tap transformer output stage, and twice the operating voltage of vintage designs.

The Input Stage and Transformer Gain Mic Pre

Like Rupert’s designs from his time in Little Shelford , the Shelford Channel’s preamplifier uses a directly-coupled transformer input with gain provided by the custom transformer itself – a first in over 40 years for Rupert Neve. This new custom-designed input transformer, along with its careful integration with the surrounding class-A circuitry, is critical to the Channel’s bold and instantly recognizable character.

Conveniently, the Direct Input uses the same topology as the best-selling RNDI Active Transformer Direct Interface, providing astonishing clarity for high-Z instrument signals, with unparalleled low-frequency response and an incredibly smooth high end.

SPECIFICATIONS:

MIC PREAMP

INPUT IMPEDANCE
2200 Ohm

MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL
+21.5 dBu from 150Hz to 22kHz
+8 dBu 20Hz to 22kHz

NOISE
Un-weighted, 22Hz - 22kHz, source impedance 150 Ohm balanced.
Line Out (Unity Gain) -100.9 dBu
-6dB Out (Unity Gain) -106.6 dBu
Line Out (+30dB Gain) -91.37 dBu
Line Out (+66dB Gain) -64.1 dBu
Equivalent Input Noise -121.37 dBu

FREQUENCY RESPONSE
17Hz to 45kHz: +/-0.25 dB

DIRECT INPUT

MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL
+8 dBu from 20 Hz to 120 kHz

NOISE (LINE OUT)
-100 dBu (22Hz to 22kHz)

LINE INPUT

MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL
+30.5 dBu from 20Hz to 30kHz

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE
@ 1 kHz, +20 dBu output level, no load: Better than 0.002%
@ 20 Hz, +20 dBu output level, no load: 0.05% Typical (2nd and 3rd harmonic)

NOISE (MAIN OUTPUT)
Un-weighted, 22Hz - 22kHz, source impedance 40 Ohm balanced, no load.
-101.1 dBu

FREQUENCY RESPONSE
<10 Hz to 110 kHz: +/- 0.25 dB
120 kHz: +/- 0.32 dB

MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL
16Hz to 20kHz: +26 dBu

TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION AND NOISE WITH SILK ENGAGED

SILK RED
MIN TEXTURE @ 100 Hz, +20 dBu input level, no load: 0.0131%, mostly 3rd harmonic (typical)
MAX TEXTURE @ 100 Hz, +20 dBu input level, no load: 1.66%, mostly 2rd harmonic (typical)

SILK BLUE
MIN TEXTURE @ 100Hz, +20 dBu input level, no load: 0.0079%, mostly 3rd harmonic (typical)
MAX TEXTURE @ 100Hz, +20 dBu input level, no load: 0.941%, mostly 2rd harmonic (typical)

HIGH PASS FILTER
Continuously variable swept frequency from 20 Hz to 250 Hz.
Slope: 12 dB/Octave

EQ NOISE
Un-weighted, 22 Hz-22 kHz: -92 dBu

SIGNAL PRESENT
Illuminates GREEN when input stage signal level reaches -20 dBu

OVERLOAD INDICATOR
Illuminates RED when input stage signal level reaches -23 dBu

DIODE BRIDGE COMPRESSOR SECTION

COMPRESSOR NOISE (BW 22 Hz – 22 kHz)
0dB Makeup Gain: -84.5 dBu
+20dB Makeup Gain: -64.2 dBu

COMPRESSOR TIMING CONSTANT MEASUREMENTS
Note: TIMING measurements represent the full range between 1.5:1 and 8:1 ratio and FAST mode
FAST – Attack 250 μS - 2 mS // Release 100 mS - 200 mS typical
MF (MEDIUM FAST) – Attack 1 mS - 5 mS // Release 100 mS - 200 mS typical
MED (MEDIUM) – Attack 3 mS - 18 mS // Release 350 mS - 700 mS typical
MS (MEDIUM SLOW) – Attack 5 mS - 40 mS // Release 600 mS - 1 S typical
SLOW – Attack 10 mS - 80 mS // Release 800 mS - 1.5 S typical
AUTO – Attack 5m S - 40m S // Release T1 400-900 mS, T2 1-2 S typical

PRODUCT DIMENSIONS
19” (48.3 cm) x 10.5” (26.7 cm) x 1.75” (4.5 cm)

SHIPPING DIMENSIONS
24” (61 cm) x 13” (33 cm) x 4” (10.2 cm)

SHIPPING WEIGHT
12.25 lbs. (5.5 kg)