AEA RPQ500 500 Series Mic pre

AEA RPQ500 500 series Mic Pre

Originally designed to deliver the truest and most natural gain for impedance and noise sensitive ribbon microphones, the full-rack AEA RPQ preamp has proven itself to be the perfect match for any microphone, ribbon or not. The AEA RPQ500 module is based on this successful design and provides the same ultra-clean, high-gain signal path that has earned AEA preamps their great reputation, in a 500 series package. The RPQ500 has been enhanced with additional features, turning it into a workhorse tool for your API 500 compatible rack.

The AEA RPQ500 delivers the bandwidth and quietness needed for high resolution recording. JFET circuit topology delivers all the dynamics, subwoofer bass, and fast transients that your microphones can record. No Load™ input impedance above 10,000 Ω means the RPQ500 will not load down a mic and change its sound. Low Energy Storage™ circuit design instantly recovers from overloads for superior dynamic performance.

The CurveShaper™ offers a natural option for sculpting your sound right at the start of the signal path. Switchable and tunable low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) contour controls allow you to tame proximity problems and provide HF extension and slope control. The high-frequency CurveShaper™ excels at adding a touch of air or presence, and the low-frequency control can remove boxiness and boominess in a fast and unobtrusive way. The bottom line is a versatile channel strip that will deliver an unadulterated performance in any application.

The Line/Mic switch bypasses the microphone gain stage and allows the EQ to be used for tracking with other preamps or during mixdown. Add the output level control and the RPQ500 becomes a high-quality processing tool that can be used for mixing and mastering when combined with summing racks and mixers such as the Purple Audio Moiyn or the Roll Music Folcrom.

The original RPQ with CurveShaper™ was designed to fully capture every nuance of ribbon microphones: vintage or modern, passive or phantom powered. Engineers have discovered that the RPQ also complements their moving coil, tube and solid-state mics. By virtue of its sonic qualities and versatility, the AEA RPQ500 is the tool of choice for all microphones whenever a true and pristine signal path is needed. It will allow the best performance of all your microphones with a cleaner, more open, and more responsive sound than you’ve ever heard.

Features:

• 80 dB of quiet JFET gain
• High-impedance No LoadTM inputs
• CurveShaper™ EQ for extended highs and articulate lows
• Line-level input mode for using the EQ during mixdown
• Output level control
• VPR alliance application pending

Specifications

Gain at 1kHz:  81 dB of gain at 1kHz, balanced-in to balanced-out in Microphone Input Mode

Noise figure, rms A-weighted:  < 2 dB

Noise figure, rms unweighted:  < 3 dB, 20 kHz LPF bandwidth

EIN:  < -130 dBu A-weighted, 150 Ohm resistive source

Frequency response:  -3dB < 1Hz and > 100 kHz

THD:  < 0.02% at 1 kHz

Input impedance:  10 kOhm

Balanced Microphone Input Impedance:  33 kOhm

Input Gain control:  twelve-positionswitch provides from +7 dB to +56 dB of gain for the preamplifiercircuit, as measured between the input and the before the output linedriver.

Switched LF Shelving filter:  -3 dB break-frequency tunable from 18 Hz to 360 Hz; maximum reduction -20 dB

Switched CurveShape EQ:  +3dBbreak-frequency tunable from 2.1 kHz to 26 kHz; HF gain adjustable from+0 dB to +18 dB; the slope of the HF filter varies interactively anddirectly with the CurveShaper™ frequency and gain settings

XLR output maximum level into 600Ω load:  +28 dBu, balanced; 0 dBu = 0.7746 V rms

XLR connectors polarity:  pin-1 is ground, pin-2 is high, pin-3 is low

LED signal level indicators:  green snaps on at -6 dBu, red snaps on at +23 dBu, and yellow varies in brightness with level from -3 dBu to +20 dBu.

AEA RPQ500 External Features:

Laser engraved front panel markings

Grayhill series 71 stepped gain switch

AEA RPQ500 Dimensions:

Zinc-plated steel chassis with 0.125″ anodized aluminum front panel (measured without knobs and switches): 

1.488″ w, 6.033″ d, 5.247″ h (3.78 cm x 15.32 cm x 13.32 cm)

Weight:  14.5 oz (411 g)