15,000+ reviews

SPL Gainstation 1 Class A & Tube Microphone and Instrument Preamplifier

SPL-GAINSTATION1 - RRP $2,587.06
In store: None
Online: None
Available to Order
$2,199.00
  • MasterCard
  • VISA
  • American Express
  • PayPal
  • Zip
  • Apple Pay

free

shipping!*
1

year warranty

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the shipping rates?

We offer free shipping on orders $100+ and under 32kg to metro areas in ACT, NSW, VIC, and QLD. If you are in a regional area we will subsidise your delivery rates. You can calculate shipping in the checkout and on product pages with your postcode.
All orders under $100 are charged at minimum $10 shipping.

Basic vs Standard vs Express Shipping

Express 1-5 days.
Standard 2-10 days.
Basic 4-10 days.
Our shipping platform will automatically determine and display the Express or Standard shipping options that are available to you.
Delivery times are determined by how far you are away from our store in Canberra.
If Express is not displaying, you're either located too far away from our store in Canberra, or the Standard shipping option will get it to you just as fast for the same price.

What payment methods do you offer?

We offer secure checkout options like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Zip Pay and Bank Deposit.
American Express payments are also accepted, although most AmEx transactions will require manual authorization after payment (Someone from the team will contact you to confirm the transaction after checkout)

Can I cancel my order?

If you need to cancel your order it is best to give our online team a call on (02) 6282 3199
On weekends our online team may not be operating. Either give us a call Monday morning or reply to your order email and we will get back to you asap.

Need Assistance?

Feel free to contact us by phone, email or chat

  • (02) 6282 3199
  • Talk to our experts on live chat
  • 18 Salamander Court, Phillip 2606, ACT
  • Map
  • Hybrid design combines Class A and tube stages
  • Class A mode ensures low distortion and noise
  • Butterworth Hi Pass filter for enhanced audio clarity
  • 48 V phantom power supports condenser mics
  • Switchable impedance for versatile mic input
  • Peak/FET Limiter offers dynamic range control
  • Tube stage provides subtle to brutal saturation
  • LED level indicator for precise audio monitoring

The GainStation 1 is a discrete high-end preamplifier that combines Class-A clean gain with high-sounding tube gain and operates with an operating voltage of 60 V.

Class-A meets Tube
The GainStation 1 is a hybrid preamplifier consisting of a discrete Class A transistor stage and tube stage. The hybrid design of the preamplifier combines the advantages of semiconductors (high dynamics with low distortion, low noise) with the musical qualities of tube sound (pleasant high/overtone spectrum, beautiful three-dimensionality).

The Class A transistor preamplifier is based on our DMPA operational amplifiers, which operate with an operating voltage of +/- 30 V.

The preamplifier has a Butterworth Hi Pass filter, polarity inversion, impedance selection, 48 V phantom power and a limiter.

Clean Gain
The Clean Gain stage is a balanced instrumentation amplifier built with our DMPAs (Discrete Mic Pre Amp, 60 Volt rail).

In Class A mode, both end transistors always remain in a conducting state, thus avoiding crossover distortion.

With a slew rate of over 100 V/µs, it is capable of amplifying even fast details and high frequencies cleanly and with low distortion.

Tube Gain
The tube gain stage is equipped with a 12 AX 7 LPS. It impresses with good noise figures and an open and clear sound image.

As decoupling capacitor a WIMA MKP type is used, which is very generously dimensioned with 2.2 µF, in order to work clean and powerful also in the bass range.

HiZ/Line Input
The instrument input is a discrete impedance converter that also operates in class A mode. The core is a low-noise field-effect transistor, which is ideally suited as an impedance converter due to its very high input resistance.
Input & Output Stages
The input differential amplifiers are constructed with closely toleranced and thermally coupled transistor pairs.

The output stage operates as a current amplifier, which also offers pure class A operation with over 6mA quiescent current. DC voltage components are eliminated with an active servo circuit instead of coupling capacitors.

AD Input 2
The optional converter has two channels and can therefore convert an external mono signal in parallel with the GainStation 1.

Features
Separately controllable transistor and tube preamplifiers
The (switchable) tube stage delivers subtle to brutal tube saturation
Only high-quality MKP film capacitors are used in the tube stage
Peak/FET Limiter
Polarity-reversal stage
48-Volt phantom power
LED level indicator
Switchable impedance adjustment for the microphone input (200 Ω, 1,2 kΩ & 10 kΩ)
Discrete operational amplifiers in Class A technology instead of industrial ICs
Amplifier slew rate of <100 V/µs
Gas-encapsulated relays with gold-plated contacts
Resistors with 0.1 % tolerance in the entire audio path
Power supply with double shielding, each voltage with its own winding and regulation

More Information
Brand SPL
Got bluetooth? No
Built in effects? No
James

Got Questions?

Read our FAQ, find our contact deets or book a Video Call with an expert from our store. We can answer any and all questions live, and even demo products for you!

Customer Reviews

Free Musician Advice

Get in touch to request a 1 on 1 consultation
with our expert musicians.
Available Mon - Sat.
Call us on (02) 6282 3199

Want to know more about music?

We write a bunch of helpful articles, news and reviews

Visit our blog
Servicing & Repairs
LEARN MORE
AV Installations
LEARN MORE
Trade-ins!
LEARN MORE
Pre-owned pianos
LEARN MORE