Short Description:

The Europa 1 is one of the absolute most versatile preamps on the market - with the ability to adjust harmonic color and transient response right from the front panel.

What We Think:

Simply put, this is a must have preamp for anyone doing virtually any type of music production in their studios.  The ability to change not only the speed and response of the transient content, but to be able to dial in 2nd and 3rd order harmonics at the twist of a few knobs is simply revolutionary!

Dave Hill has been building the highest quality studio components for decades, and the Europa was him taking his knowledge from pieces like the HEDD, the Ibis and Flamingo and wrapping it up into 1 kick ass preamp.  The Europa is not like the old Fousrite Liquid Channel, claiming to be a Neve, UA, Millennia and everything else in one box.  Instead, the Europa is one of the highest quality preamps in production that allows you total control of transient response as well as color from harmonics.  

Whether you are a vocal overdub studio and looking for that 1 preamp to get you set up, or a studio with every color and flavor of preamp under the sun, the Europa will be one of your BEST performing preamps in the studio.  Give us a call and let us send you one to try, you won't regret it!

Manufacturer Description:

Dave Hill Designs is proud to introduce a totally unique design concept in microphone pre amplifier technology, The Europa One. After years of design to prototype to production we feel the recording industry is ready to experience a feature packed Europa One!

Included are the standard functions such as phase, phantom power and an instrument input.  The microphone input has 3 input impedance choices which are 2.2K ohms for normal microphone operation, 300 ohm and a Hi-z choice for different microphone sounds.  The instrument input has an impedance of 1.2 Meg ohms which is ideal for guitars.  The gain over all is adjustable in 1db steps from 0 to 66db on the mic input and 0 to 30 db on the instrument input. Gain is displayed on a 2 digit led display.  The low cut filter which is a 3 pole, 18db per octave has 8 frequencies 148 Hz, 130 Hz, 117 Hz, 100 Hz,  81 Hz, 63 Hz, 48 Hz, 33 Hz, and off. 

Unique to the Europa pre-amp are 3 controls for changing the color of the pre-amp.  The first control is a SPEED which changes how fast the pre-amp can respond.  The control goes from 0 to 8 with 8 being the fastest rate, and 0 being very drastic.  The even harmonic control provides 9 levels of color from 0 to 8, and the odd harmonic control which also has 9 levels color with the 0 setting being the cleanest in both cases.  These three controls are a series analog process so that the even harmonic control affects the sound of the speed control and the odd harmonic control affects the sound of both the speed and even harmonic controls.

Europa 1 is a preamplifier that is constructed with 91 transistors in it’s main audio path and it is of discrete Class A topology. The preamplifier controls are either traditional pre-amplifier type controls or color controls. It is also necessary to understand that distortion may not sound like what one normally thinks distortion is. Distortions can be very pleasing colors - sounds.

All the controls; gain, speed, even harmonic, the odd harmonic controls are stepped which makes it easy to recall settings. 

The level meter has a 0 VU reference point of (+4dbu) with one db steps going to +20 db above 0VU and to -25 db below 0 VU with the steps being larger than 1 db below -16 db.

The maximum output level is +24 dbu balanced with the maximum balanced input level of +24 dbu at 0 db of gain.  This allows the Europa 1 pre-amp to be used in a mix environment for coloring.

Specifications:

Maximum input: +24dbu balanced, +16dbu unbalanced
Maximum output: +24dbu balanced
Hipass Filter: 3 pole, 18db per octave, 8 frequencies 148 Hz, 130 Hz,
                   117 Hz, 100 Hz, 81 Hz, 63 Hz, 48 Hz, 33 Hz
Gain: 0 to 66 db, 1 steps
Gain Instrument Input: 0 to 30 db, 1 db steps
Mic Impedance: 200K, 2.2k, 300 ohms
                       at gains < 13db the Hi-z position will be around 15K ohms
Instrument Impedance: 1.2 Meg ohm
Noise: EIN -127.5 dbu, 20KHz Bw
Power: 25 watts at 115 or 230 volts, 50 or 60 Hz.
           Fuse size is GMD .315A for 115 volts
           GMD .15A for 230 volts
           for 100 - 120 volts set to 115v
           for 220 - 240 volts set to 230v
Shipping Weight: 15 lbs (6.7kg)
Depth Behind Panel: 8.625 inches plus user input/output connectors