The Anthropic Audio AA351
Additional Pictures
The AA351 combines a time-proven design with the modern modifications
pioneered by one of the finest studio technicians, in one of the world’s
foremost recording studios.
BACKGROUND
Let’s start at the beginning. In the 1950’s and 60's, the
Ampex corporation designed and manufactured some of the highest quality,
most widely used, and best-sounding professional tape machines.
A huge number of records were recorded using Ampex equipment during
that time.
After these Ampex tape machines were scrapped in favor of newer technologies,
recording engineers began using the preamplifier modules as stand-alone
microphone preamps. Steve Albini (owner of Electrical Audio Recording)
was one of those engineers. He began using preamplifiers removed
from Ampex 351's. Evidently, he enjoyed their sound.
In time, Greg Norman [Electrical Audio’s in-house technician
and staff engineer] was given the monumental task of stripping-down
a sizable number of these preamplifier modules to their most basic amplifying
components. In case you weren’t aware, the pair of preamplifier
modules included with the Ampex 351 recorders also functioned as remote
control units for the tape transport mechanism. This fact meant that
the modules were filled with now-useless parts cluttering the signal
path. To allow these modules to be used most effectively as stand-alone
microphone preamplifiers, Electrical Audio decided to remove all of
the “extra” stuff and tweak the circuit for optimum performance.
After their hard work, they ended up with a new creation, a preamplifier
that is, on one hand, an absolute classic, while, on the other hand,
optimized for the modern studio environment.
I know what you’re thinking (because I’d be thinking it
too!): “Optimized for the modern studio environment? That means
they replaced all of the things that made the old ones great with cheap
modern components and new-fangled circuit topologies.” This couldn’t
be further from the truth. Every change from the original is completely
in the interest of sound quality. Things like conductive plastic pots,
metal film resistors, and polystyrene capacitors only affect the inherent
noise of the unit, not the tone [and they’re not cheap!] We still
use the same tubes, transformers, and topology of the originals.
The only noticeably “modern” feature of the unit is the
Output Attenuator. This was installed so that an engineer can distort
the signal while still feeding a useable signal to the recorder. This
is great for special distortion effects and can be completely switched
out of the circuit if so desired.
As most recording engineers use a variety of microphones, each with
varying outputs and impedances, the AA351 incorporates a –18 db
input attenuator pad to avoid overloading the preamp or saturating the
input transformer.
We feel that Electrical Audio is uncompromising in its pursuit of pure,
quality sound and uses it’s original modified 351’s on many
of its sessions. For all intents and purposes the AA351 is an exact
reproduction of the preamps that fill Electrical Audio’s equipment
racks. The only real differences are an improved power supply and the
rack case. The AA351 is 3 rack-units high (but deeper in depth, as opposed
to the original’s 4-unit size and shorter depth) and features
a slightly modified knob placement. The smaller vertical spacing of
the AA351 allows you to save space in your racks while the increased
depth allows additional space to separate the power supply and input
sections, reducing noise.
Unfortunately, the price of original Ampex 351 preamplifier modules
is skyrocketing. Furthermore, the cost of modifying those originals
for optimal studio use, in terms of component costs, skill needed, and
hours of labor required, would also run into the many hundreds, or thousands,
of dollars. Anthropic Audio is determined to make these fine microphone
preamplifiers available at the lowest possible cost and without any
of the hassles.
FINEST COMPONENTS
No expense was spared when it came time to select components for the
AA351. Sowter-made Input and Output transformers are wide-bandwidth,
Mu-Metal shielded and created specifically as drop-in replacements for
the transformers in vintage Ampex 351’s.
The VU meter is made in England by Sifam and approximates the look of
the old Simpson meters on the originals. It is a “true”
VU meter, not a cheap meter modified to produce VU-like characteristics.
The large black phenolic control knobs are custom-made from the original
Daka-Ware molds (as used on vintage Ampex's).
The Output Attenuator is a custom-made, 3-section, Clarostat Conductive
Plastic T-pad audio attenuator that not only presents a constant input
and output impedance, but also maintains the balanced nature of the
signal from the output transformer. Replacing the trusted Daven-style
attenuators of the past, the Clarostat attenuator may be the only one
of its type still available. This comes at an extremely high price,
but alleviates the need for any compromises in the design of this preamplifier.
Only the highest quality, longest life, Panasonic Aluminum Electrolytic
capacitors are used in the power supply and are bypassed by smaller-value
plastic film caps to ensure lowest power supply ripple voltage. Tube
heater voltages and the 48V Phantom Power Supply are rectified to DC,
smoothed by large filter caps, regulated, and smoothed again to avoid
noise. Ultra-premium polystyrene Rel-Caps are used for signal coupling
capacitors (except for one polyproplene "Orange Drop" cap,
used to match the "original" Greg Norman-modified preamps).
Many manufacturers argue that “premium” capacitors won’t
make a difference, so they don’t use them. We say we’re
not taking any chances. If the improvement in sound quality were as
low as .001%, we’d still use them. We’re not going to sacrifice
quality to save a few dollars.
Even the solder used to hand-connect each component is silver-bearing,
resulting in the most conductive connection possible. No slip-on, clip-on,
or screw-on connectors are used for any wires, reducing the possibility
of junctions becoming "intermittant" over time.
All switches (other than the Main Power and Phantom Power) have been
replaced by fully sealed relays with gold-plated silver/palladium bifurcated
contacts activated by switches on the front panel. Each of these relays
has an estimated life of over 500,000 operations.
The front panel is engraved, not silk-screened- ensuring that important
visual indicators do not wear away with time and use.
The AA351 is truly made to last a lifetime and beyond. We wouldn’t
make them any other way.
Price: $1899.00 +shipping
ANTHROPIC AUDIO IS CURRENTLY ON HIATUS AND NOT PRODUCING THE AA351 AT THIS TIME. WE ARE MAINTAINING A LIST OF CUSTOMERS WHO WOULD LIKE ONE WHEN WE BEGIN BUILDING THEM AGAIN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THIS LIST, PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. THANK YOU!
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