Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Microphone Preamp

Original retail price 850 euros

Microphone preamp Preamp equalizer preamplifier

> People say it's better than its successor, ... and it's also “built like a tank”

The Chameleon Labs CL 7602 MK2 is a classic microphone preamp in 19" format with balanced microphone input transformer, balanced line input transformer, and high-impedance DI input. 48-volt phantom power, selectable microphone input impedance, 20Hz - 20kHz (-0.5dB), 10Hz - 50kHz (-3dB), discrete Class A amplifier, 20dB to 80dB microphone gain, +10dB to -20dB line level control, selectable output level up to a maximum of 20dB, shielded against RF interference, balanced output transformer

Chameleon Labs CL 7602 MK2 Overview:

• Classic analog sound
• Developed based on Rupert Neve's 1073 model
• Partially rasterized rotary switches (20 positions) manufactured in Switzerland
• Signal LEDs for power, signal, overload, and peak
• Induction coil EQ and high-pass circuit
• Phase reversal switch
• Input noise: <-125 dBm
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 116 dB (output control at maximum)
• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (-0.5 dB), 10 Hz – 50 kHz (-3 dB)
• Total harmonic distortion: 0.0245% at 1 kHz

Inputs

• Microphone: XLR, transformer-balanced, Carnhill transformer, shielded against RF interference
• Switchable impedance: 300 Ω or 1200 Ω, switchable 48 V phantom power
• Line: XLR, transformer-balanced, shielded against RF interference, impedance: 10 kΩ
• DI: TRS jack (6.3 mm), high impedance, for connecting passive electric guitars, E/A guitars, electric basses, etc., impedance: 100 kΩ

Amplification

• Type: Class A circuit, discrete design, Fairchild transistor
• Microphone: 20 dB to 80 dB, 20-step Swiss-made rotary switch (in 5 dB increments)
• Line: -20 dB to +10 dB, 20-step Swiss-made rotary switch (detented in 5 dB steps)
• EQ
• Circuit: based on coils and capacitors
• High-pass filter: -18 dB/octave, switchable corner frequency: 50 Hz, 80 Hz, 160 Hz, 300 Hz or OFF
• Bass: Cowtail filter, ±20 dB adjustable, switchable cutoff frequency: 35 Hz, 60 Hz, 110 Hz or 220 Hz
• Mids: Bell filter, ±20 dB adjustable, switchable cutoff frequency: 360 Hz, 700 Hz, 1.6 kHz, 3.2 kHz, 4.8 kHz, or 7.2 kHz
• Treble: Cow tail filter, ±20 dB adjustable, switchable cutoff frequency: 3.4 kHz, 4.9 kHz, 7 kHz, 12 kHz, or 16 kHz

Output:

• Type: XLR, transformer-balanced, Carnhill transformer, galvanically isolated, impedance: 600 Ω
• Maximum output level: +26 dBm

Indicators:

• Power LED: blue (“Power”), Level LEDs: green – input signal present (‘Signal’)
• yellow – output signal ?+4 dB (“+4dB”), red – signal overloaded (“Peak”)

Other:

• Switches: Power, microphone input impedance, phantom power, DI (switches the jack socket to the input), HPF/EQ section (active/bypass), phase reversal
• Power supply: generously dimensioned external power adapter, primary voltage 240 VAC, secondary voltage 24 VAC, quiescent current consumption 3.5 W, power consumption 8.5 W

Housing:

• Sheet steel with 6 mm thick aluminum front panel,
• Dimensions: 48.0 x 30.8 x 4.4 cm, Weight: 4.54 kg

Test conclusion and download:

Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII test conclusion:

4.5 DELAMAR SCORE. This preamp amplifies up to 80 dB, is well-built, offers wonderfully large potentiometers, and scores particularly well with its first-class equalizer. Surprisingly moderate in price, all in all. For the detailed Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII test conclusion:

• PROS: Clean, neutral sound, good to very good build quality and great feel, flexible, musically coherent 3-band EQ with wide control ranges. Up to 80 dB gain – also suitable for old ribbon microphones, variable impedance for microphones
• CONS: External power supply required for European 220V operation

Who is it for? Highly ambitious beginners, advanced users, and price-conscious professionals looking for a preamp with an excellent equalizer.

Source: delamar

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