Sound Performance Lab 9527 specifications

Sound Performance Lab: Tel. +49 216 398 340, Fax +49 216 398 3420, Mail: info@soundperformancelab.com, Internet: www.soundperformancelab.org

SPL CHARISMA 8

The Charisma 8 is a tube processor whose

sophisticated circuitry enables extensive con-

trol over the tube sound characteristics.

In other words, it is a tube sound instrument

that doesn’t produce just the “usual tube

sound”, but is also capable of effects that

resemble the tape saturation of analog tape

machines: the signals gain more impact and

punch, so that especially in the case of per-

cussive instruments it is no longer necessary

to record to an analog machine. At the same

time level peaks can be captured by optimally

exploiting the headroom of digital recorders

resulting in a signiﬁ cant gain in loudness at

the same electrical level. The sound image

becomes more transparent, and a mix pre-

pared using the Charisma 8 has improved per-

ception of depth.

Voices can also be very effectively proc-

essed, to make them rougher and earthier for

example. In a dense mix the voices gain pen-

etration and presence.

Dance/Techno producers ﬁ nd the Charisma

a practical tool for distorting snare, bass drum

or lead sounds, MIDI guitar parts ﬁ nally sound

reasonable, and truly impressive sounds can

be created using virtually any synthesizer.

It’s that easy

The operational design of the Charisma is

simple in its concept: each of the eight chan-

nels has three potentiometers for controlling

the drive, tube sound variation and the output

level.

Charisma 8 Model 9527

The Charisma 8 is used ideally while record-

ing from the recorder – recording the optimised

signal saves rework and takes full advantage of

the digital headroom.

Speciﬁ cations

Inputs & Outputs

Instrumentation ampliﬁ er, electronically balanced

(differential), transformerless

Nominal input level +6 dB

Input impedance 22 kOhm

Output impedance < 600 Ohm

Max. input level +24 dBu

Reference level variable (Drive)

Minimum load 600 Ohm

Hard bypass switch

Measured data

Frequency response (40kHz = -3dB) 30 Hz-40 kHz

Common mode rejection -80 dBu @ 1kHz

THD & N (K2 max. 35%) 0.41% @ 1 kHz

S/N CCIR 468-2 -89 dBu

Power supply

Toroidal transformer 50 VA

Fuse 1000 mA

GND lift switch, voltage selection switch 115 V / 230 V

Dimensions

Standard EIA 19”/2U 482 x 88 x 237 mm

Weight 4 kg

Martin Hömberg,

Audio Professional (D)

“Of all the studio tube

processors I am familiar

with, the transitions from

‘clean’ through ‘saturation’

and ‘smoky’ to roughened

characteristics like ‘crunch’

and ‘overdrive’ are here by

far the easiest and most log-

ical to control.”

Ralf Kleinermanns,

Keyboards (D)

“The wide range of process-

ing effects, extending from

clearly audible tube distor-

tions, coupled with tube-

type hard or soft knee

compression, also turns the

Charisma into an outstand-

ing multi-distorter in mix-

down, and this application

makes it as interesting for

applications in analog

recording systems as for

pure keyboard setups.”

Walter Wehrhan,

Production Partner (D)

“A warning from the Min-

istry of Audio: Charisma is

addictive! Signals process

with Charisma get more

presence, more punch, the

sound image of a mix

becomes more transparent;

each instrument can be

clearly placed.”