Angel Lofte Audio Signature Series Studio Hardware
We are very pleased
to announce the release of:
The Source + Plus TM
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{More Info here:} {Audio Examples here:}
{Additional Images here:}
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Source + Plus TM
Dual-Mono, Dual-Valve, All Discrete,
Hand-Wired, Vacuum Tube Analog Signal Upgrade
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*** Improve Your Sound At The Source ***
Created and Designed by Michael Angel and Aric Kimball.
Available Exclusively at CDSoundMaster.com
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Superior Quality Build
Hand-Crafted in the U.S.A.
Limited Production
Beautiful Wood Grain Finish
100% Discrete
Dual-Valve Customized Original Design
Pristine Transformerless Signal Path
100% Point-To-Point Wiring By Hand
Silver-Soldered Connections
Mylar Poly Signal Caps Used Throughout
Xicon Filter Caps On The Power Supply
Power Stage Wired Using 16 Gauge Solid-Core Copper
Tube Circuitry Using Only Metal-Oxide Resistors
Audio Signal Path Is Carried Via 18/2 Shielded Microphone Cabling.
1/4" unbalanced and TRS balanced inputs and outputs, balanced
XLR inputs and outputs
No Circuit Board, IC's, Chips, or Solid State Parts to Compromise
the Signal Integrity
No Line Noise, Hum, or Hiss
Extremely High Headroom
Approximately +15dB Maximum Output Gain Balanced
10k Ohm Output Impedance
* 84dB SNR Of Natural Vacuum Tube Harmonics.
* 10Hz - 30kHz -3dB.
* Actual Specifications Vary, Based Upon The Actual Tubes Being
Used.
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The Source + Plus TM comes in two finishes: Light Natural Wood Stain Finish and Dark Wood Stain Finish
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Important!
The Source + Plus TM is a unique, custom designed and built piece of hardware. By purchasing our product, neither the purchaser or any party associated with the purchase in connection with the customer, whether a business or individual, are granted any rights for copying or modifying the proprietary design of this device for resale, re-distribution, access to design for patent purposes, or any form of cloning of this design. Purchase of the Source + Plus TM is for use in mixing, recording, and mastering audio, and does not designate the ownership of any rights to the sharing or recreation of the design. The design, build, use of parts, and complete concept of the Source + Plus TM remain the exclusive rights of the designers, Michael Angel and Aric Kimball.
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To order, email us at - mangelarts@aol.com
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U.S. Orders:
The Source
+ Plus TM - Light Natural Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + *$45 Shipping/Handling
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The Source
+ Plus TM - Dark Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + *$45 Shipping/Handling
*$45 U.S. Shipping/Handling via USPS Priority Mail with Insurance and Delivery Confirmation.
Please allow 10 business days for your Source + Plus TM to be custom-built just for you! We will send you a confirmation email when your hardware has shipped.
Important information on purchasing! If you do not have a PayPal account, you can still use your credit card without having to become a PayPal member.
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U.K. Orders:
The Source
+ Plus TM - Light Natural Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $75 Shipping/Handling
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The Source
+ Plus TM - Dark Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $75 Shipping/Handling
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Sweden Orders:
The Source
+ Plus TM - Light Natural Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $75 Shipping/Handling
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The Source
+ Plus TM - Dark Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $75 Shipping/Handling
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Spain Orders:
The Source
+ Plus TM - Light Natural Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $75 Shipping/Handling
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The Source
+ Plus TM - Dark Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $75 Shipping/Handling
The Netherlands Orders:
The Source
+ Plus TM - Light Natural Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $100 Shipping/Handling 
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The Source
+ Plus TM - Dark Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $100 Shipping/Handling
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Australia Orders:
The Source
+ Plus TM - Light Natural Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $95 Shipping/Handling
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The Source
+ Plus TM - Dark Wood Stain Finish:
$550 + $95 Shipping/Handling
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Other Countries Outside U.S., please email for shipping quote - mangelarts@aol.com
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Angel Lofte
Audio
Signature Series
Source + Plus TM
Dual-Mono, Dual-Valve, All Discrete,
Hand-Wired, Vacuum Tube Analog Signal Upgrade
____________________________________________
*** Improve Your Sound At The Source ***
____________________________________________
Superior Quality Build
Hand-Crafted in the U.S.A.
Limited Production
100% Discrete
Dual-Valve Customized Original Design
Pristine Transformerless Signal Path
100% Point-To-Point Wiring By Hand
Silver-Soldered Connections
Mylar Poly Signal Caps Used Throughout
Xicon Filter Caps On The Power Supply
Power Stage Wired Using 16 Gauge Solid-Core Copper
Tube Circuitry Using Only Metal-Oxide Resistors
Audio Signal Path Is Carried Via 18/2 Shielded Microphone Cabling
1/4" unbalanced and TRS balanced, and balanced XLR
No Circuit Board, IC's, Chips, or Solid State Parts to Compromise
the Signal Integrity
No Line Noise, Hum, or Hiss
Extremely High Headroom
Approximately +15dB Maximum Output Gain Balanced
10k Ohm Output Impedance
* 84dB SNR Of Natural Vacuum Tube Harmonics
* 10Hz - 30kHz -3dB.
* Actual Specifications Vary, Based Upon The Actual Tubes Being
Used.
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Forward:
The Source + Plus TM
has been custom designed to fill a specialized niche in
Mastering Facilities and Recording Studios alike, where the absolute
highest standard of sound reproduction is desired. The Source + Plus TM is
designed to improve the sound quality of your analog signal path,
increasing the overall perception of volume, clarity, dimensional
stereo imaging and sound stage. The design allows for use at every
stage of your signal path, reducing the stress placed on any source,
improving the performance of your equipment, allowing the best
performance of any analog amplification stage, while providing
the user with a wide range of tonal control, introducing only
the most desireable attributes of natural vacuum tube harmonics
anywhere in your signal chain.
Give ALL of your favorite hardware a complete upgrade with one device!
Definition:
Source: A point of origin.
Plus: Greater than that specified.
The Source + Plus TM has been created to give your recording/mastering facility a complete system upgrade! Not only is the Source + Plus TM a solution to multiple issues, but a single unit can be used in a wide range of applications, working to bring every aspect of your recording process to it's peak performance. Not only can this customized creation maintain the signal integrity provided at the input, but actually improve upon it!
Because of the uniqueness of it's design, it is a challenge
to describe the Source + Plus TM usefulness with just a few words.
Phrases like "Sound Betterizer", "Input Improverizer",
"Sonic Enhancerator", or "Audio Mammoth-ometer"
may be helpful descriptors, but with this classic design, it is
best to avoid the sensationalism and simply describe the benefits.
The Goal:
The goal here is to create a single hardware device that
increases the value and quality of EVERY piece of gear you are
currently using in your studio, instead of replacing or upgrading
only one element. This has been designed to be a complete studio
upgrade.
It must be created with zero compromises on sound, quality, and
must be affordable to any facility, whether it is an individual
with a home studio, or the most advanced Mastering room.
The device must constitute an improvement to the overall system,
whether it consists of shelf speakers and a cheap soundcard, or
a world-class facility with thousands of dollars worth of outboard
compressors, eq's, etc. This device must serve a purpose at every
point in the signal chain with the utmost in simplicity in use.
While providing absolute quality, the device must also
provide the user with a great deal of flexibility to tweak the
sound to their liking, or to alter it's tonal character for the
project at hand.
The Solution:
you guessed it...
Source + Plus TM
Each channel uses a 12AU7 dual triode. The two independent
triodes are implemented in serial, passing the signal of triode
#1 on to
triode #2. Each triode has it's own input control, where the adjustment
for triode section two controls both the output drive of triode
#1 and the input level of triode #2. The 12AU7 has been selected
for it's perfect combination of clarity and personality.
The Source + Plus TM can also accept any variety of 12AX7 or 12AT7
tubes, making it a widely variable palette of sound for those
who wish to experiment with shaping the tone for different projects.
Source + Plus TM combines every necessary input/output option
required via switchable balanced/unbalanced 1/4" connectors
and balanced XLR inputs and outputs.
The Build Quality And Design:
The front panel provides the user with individual input
and output level selectors. In addition, each input has two-stages.
Completely variable level controls allow the user to fine-tune
any stereo source or individual mono sources to perfect accuracy
without negative side effects generated from stereo-linked functionality.
Left and Right signal paths are completely separate, so they can
be used on two separate mono sources at the same time if so desired.
Each input stage selects the signal level to the primary
and secondary vacuum tube stages. The primary control on each
channel chooses the input level to vacuum #1. The second control
adjusts the output of vacuum tube stage #1 while simultaneously
controlling the input to vacuum tube stage #2. The third control
is used to set the output level coming from vacuum tube stage
#2, which is a
summation of both stages in serial. To make this design complete,
there is a final fourth control which allows the user to set the
bias of the tubes! Bias can be set in combination with the amount
of tube saturation for a range of sound from clean processing
to noticeable distortion. This can be especially useful for special
effects in mixing, use with individual instruments, guitar amplifiers,
and d.i.
where flexible vacuum tube controls are desired.
Truly, at any stage the Source + Plus TM brings you the sonic
upgrade and addition of the most necessary and useful analog features
for every piece of hardware you regularly use.
It is important not to confuse the Source + Plus TM with
hybrid solid-state tube designs, often known as "starved-plate"
or low-voltage designs. While some of these devices are actually
better than they are given credit for, they provide a very different
purpose and generate a great deal of variance in signal quality,
tone, and musical fidelity from what we have developed with
the Source + Plus TM.
In fact, the Source + Plus TM should not be viewed as as a mic/line
amplifier or signal driver at all.
The main problem with most "starved plate" designs
is not limited to the voltage being supplied, as popular opinion
may have it, but rather the problem exists in the design. "Starved
plate" has become synonymous with 'cheap' build and marketing
hype used to sell tube gear to the masses while lowering the price
for availability. Well, most people will agree that good vacuum
tube design
does not come cheap, and in trying to make 'tube' devices available
for ultra-cheap, manufacturers will employ the use of a very
inexpensive IC solid state amplification stage followed by an
ambiguous tube stage, often an optional stage, which allows for
the tube to be overdriven with a shared power source and degraded
solid state signal path. The result can be flexible and very useful,
but
represents an inexpensive and compromised signal path with many
under-performing parts in the chain. This type of design can only
be viewed as a signal processor, or special effect, and is not
an acceptible design for direct mastering transfer. What makes
this concept even worse, is that these inexpensive solid state
amplifiers have become so common, that even well-regarded manufacturers
of 'tube' devices are making well-built hybrid designs at very
inflated prices. Many users assume they are the same as their
expensive all-tube predecessors or other similar devices in their
lines, but the truth is that it is much easier and less expensive
for them to integrate inexpensive solid state parts into a tube
design, sometimes not even mentioning that this has been done.
The misconception about a 'starved plate' is that the problem consists of running the tube at low voltage. This is not the problem. In fact, many tubes have been intentionally used to perform well at as little as 6 volts for wide frequency range, low heat, and consistent long life signals. The counter-concept in this process is that "real" tube designs use high voltage. Well, for an all-tube amplification mic/line amplifier, high voltage is a requirement for best sonic performance, perhaps at the sacrifice of heat and often shorter tube life. But, this is not a requirement for every audiophile, all-tube design. The Source + Plus TM works at an optimal voltage when bias is turned all the way up. When bias is reduced, the voltage is reduced, but the signal integrity is maintained, providing a range of sonic possibilities where intentional processing is desired. Once again, the source is never diminished by an inexpensive and compromising amplification stage.
Description of Controls and Features:
Front Panel Controls
On/Off Switch - Once your input and output connections have been
made, turn the switch to the "on" position. A light
will turn on, indicating that the unit has powered up. Do not
turn the unit on
without a tube installed in both channels. Do not install tubes
while the unit is turned on. The Source + Plus TM gradually powers
up and down to protect the life of the tubes.
The Tubes - Source + Plus TM comes with a pair of JJ Tesla 12au7 tubes already installed. These have been chosen as a high quality, new production tube that is a good match for the demands of this unit.
You are free to experiment with other tube manufacturers
and a few other tube models within the same family.
The 12au7, 12ax7, and 12at7 are all acceptible tubes for the Source + Plus TM.
There are many variations of names for these same tubes, including
ECC82/ECC83 for many European codes. We have developed a special
website for hand-picking tubes for your Source
+ Plus TM if you are interested
in experimenting with changing the
tonal possibilities of your unit. Go to www.TubeGetter.com for more information.
To remove and replace tubes,
unscrew the bottom covering of the unit and gently pull/push the
tubes into place. Do not twist the tubes, and do not touch the
tubes just after the unit has been running, as they take a while
to cool down.
The tubes that are installed will reproduce program material with reliability for a long time. When operating the unit for clean reproduction, these tubes are known to react quickly to source material. With fast transients like drums, they are very tight and focused, and provide a slightly sharper peak at the cleanest setting. This can be very effective when restoring the natural transients of overly processed source material. When adding extra harmonics and driving the Source + Plus TM harder, the tubes react with sensitivity to complex combinations of audio, with wide dynamics and a spacious soundscape. The low frequencies and high frequencies will compress and eventually roll-off earlier than mid-range frequencies. Simultaneously, mid-range frequencies receive more pronounced harmonics at the same rate, allowing for a great amount of control of your source for sound-shaping.
Input A - This control adjusts the input level for the first tube stage of the unit. This is directly tied to the "Triode B" and "Output" controls. When turned all the way down, the source material arrives at the tubes at its cleanest, most unaltered setting. Increasing this control sends a hotter signal to the first triode stage, which is controlled and balanced between the input and "Triode B". The effects of the input can only be heard when "Triode B" and "Output" are also being tuned.
Triode B - This control regulates the levels of the first tube stage's output along with its input level to the second triode. With a single turn of the knob, you have control over a very complex interaction with source material. When the input control is set all the way to the left, the "Triode B" control will not noticeably change the audio. As the input is increased, the more you turn up the "Triode B" level, the more you will notice an apparent rising in volume and harmonic saturation. This is also being balanced at the output control, which must be turned on at least marginally to hear these effects. With the input turned up just a small amount, the two triodes will gently 'grow' the signal and feed the resulting sound to the output. With the input turned halfway, both triodes are similarly unified in driving the signal increasingly more as you turn up the "Triode B" level.
Output - This control balances the volume of all previous stages to the output of the unit. It is at its cleanest setting when turned all the way down. It must, however, be turned up just a small amount for the effects of the other controls to be activated. The output interacts with both triode outputs so that is continues to drive the signal the more the "Triode B" control is turned up. If you send a hot signal from the input into both triodes, as you increase the "Triode B" control, you can further increase the audible effects when turning up the "Output" control as well. For the cleanest results, turn all three controls down and the "Bias" up.
Bias - This control affects
the tonal palette of all three other controls. Turn the "Bias"
all the way up to run the unit at full power for the most accurate
reproduction of dynamics and frequencies. Reduce the "Bias"
for interacting with the other controls to retune your sound,
to engage a different overdrive character, and to revoice the
equalization of source material.
Rear Panel Controls
1/4" inputs and outputs - Connect your unbalanced
TS or balanced TRS cables here.
1/4" unbalanced/balanced switch
- set the device according towhich kind of source you have connected.
XLR inputs and outputs - Use these
connectors for balanced equipment.
In Use:
Mastering Applications:
1. Master Two-Track Analog Transfers using the Source + Plus TM
between your playback device and analog to
digital converters.
As a Mastering Engineer, my primary motivation for designing the
Source + Plus TM
was to give me the benefits of a high-end all tube signal path
without having to send the signal through extra undesired processes
like compression or eq. There are many benefits to mastering via
the Source + Plus TM,
including the benefit of analog headroom, frequency balance, stereo
information, natural harmonics, and overall sonic characteristics.
The Source + Plus TM
allows you to control the most important elements of stereo program
material while avoiding any extraneous interconnections.
You can naturally re-tune the spectral balance of a mix without using eq, and can likewise control the the natural dynamics with natural limiting and harmonics without the use of an actual leveling or compression stage. Keep your mix as clean as the original, with the subtle benefit of dimension that only a high quality tube device can provide.
2. Restoring dynamics to overcompressed source material.
The Source + Plus TM
may be used in its cleanest setting to help restore fast transients
and provide a better stereo recording
before digital processing takes place.
Mixing Applications:
1. Using the Source + Plus TM between your microphone and
your microphone preamplifier.
Plug your microphone of choice into the Source
+ Plus TM and plug the corresponding
output to your microphone preamp. Any options that are available
on your mic preamp work exactly as they would normally be used.
Select phantom power where necessary,
adjust any levels and select your usual impedence options as you
normally would. However, now your microphone has several
new benefits. Even by setting the input level to the exact same
volume by ear, the microphone preamp is being fed an improved
signal, optimizing the cable's performance, and feeding a stronger,
more pure signal to it's input. As a result, the microphone preamp
is now working to achieve the same output with less effort. The
audible results include improved frequency range and accuracy,
faster transient response, greater overall dynamic range, and
a flexibility in tone coloration by adjusting input balance from
two-stages of vacuum tubes.
Add more color and subtle harmonics to your microphone's sound to give it a natural, vintage effect. Gently increase the signal level to your preamp and adjust the way your preamp's gain staging works.
A special note about using the Source + Plus TM before your mic preamp: when adjusting its controls, the Source + Plus TM will make a scratching sound. This is normal for the device, as removing this affect would add unwanted coloration to the signal. This sound is not harmful to your interconnections and does not cause any harm to the tubes. For the most accurate sound with the benefit of improved clarity, adjust the "Input A", "Triode 2", and "Output" controls turned all the way down, and turn the "Bias" control all the way up. For a more vintage sound or for a present, mid-range adjust the "Triode 2" and "Input A" until it reaches the desired affect, controlling the level and amount of overall effect with the "Output" control.
2. Using the Source + Plus
TM between your microphone preamp output
and your ADC.
You may choose to run the output(s) of your microphone preamp
or line/instrument device through the Source
+ Plus TM just ahead of your
Analog To Digital Converters. The average ADC made today is a
simple, inexpensive, and generally great sounding translation
of audio compared to early digital devices. However, not all converters
handle a loud input level very well without inaccurately translating
noise, distortion, or fast transients as misplaced bits or distorted/overloaded
source information. Although these artifacts are not always distinguishable
from the source, they do have a great impact when individual tracks
are added up inside of your computer, and by mixdown, there are
often perceivable sonic disappointments that arise from these
unwanted variations coming from your converters. The inexpensive
IC based amplifiers in many ADC designs do not handle analog sources
very well either. Although these amplifiers are well made and
are designed to meet a demanding specification on paper, the truth
is that when they are pushed to extremes,
the very small amount of negative artifacts in their reproduction
compund with the
converter to bring many unwanted results. Here is where the Source + Plus TM
can help! By preparing the signal just ahead of the ADC, lower,
cleaner signal from the microphone preamp or other source can
result in a higher quality transfer by allowing for the
Source + Plus TM
to share the load from the source before it goes to your ADC's
analog signal path and is ultimately translated by the converter.
In addition, you can choose to tune the sound to your liking,
without increasing the output volume to your ADC, thus capturing
a more robust sonic image of your source.
For high end converters, and for those who already like
the sound of intentionally sending "hot" signals into
their ADC's, the Source + Plus TM provides you with a more musical, yet neutral
source with better connectivity to your ADC, thus allowing it
to perform even
better than you are used to! All of this, and for good measure
you still have the advantage of an extra level of control in hitting
your dual stage vacuum tube analog source with a heavier signal,
whether to optimize the levels of your microphone preamp or other
source and adjust bias and vacuum tube levels accordingly, or
to use the entire signal path in a more neutral and transparent
manner.
Either way, you will find that the combination makes for an absolutely
ideal signal path to your converters.
3. Using the Source + Plus
TM in your signal processing chain.
If you incorporate analog signal processing in your digital mixing
setup, you will find the flexibility and signal quality of the
Source + Plus TM
to be an incredible asset. When used ahead of a reverb device,
eq, chorus, or other effect, the Source + Plus
TM can allow you to change the characteristics
of the instruments or mix going to the effect separate from the
dry or uneffected signal. The range of diversity this adds to
the signal processing at hand is tremendous, and can go from subtle
additive harmonics to a smooth overdriven sound followed by the
effects.
Using the Source + Plus TM after your effects allows you to increase
the depth and alter the sonic dimensions of the sound being
effected. Reverbs can take on a more prominent, longer sounding
tail; chorus effects can sound wider and more forward if desired;
delays can be easier to hear as they diminish. The more that these
elements are adjusted by a pure, clean signal chain produced by
the Source + Plus TM, the easier it is to get more believable
results from your vst effects as well, which can often be used
minimally as a result.
4. Using the Source + Plus
TM to re-shape/re-tune your recordings.
Often times, processors like equalizers, compressors, limiters,
and vst effects are over-used to correct problems with program
material that simply doesn't sound right. There are several vital
elements at work with the Source + Plus
TM that allow for you to re-shape/re-tune
your tracks and complete mixes. The input, dual-valve, and output
stages all interact with each other in a unique way that specifically
addresses the perceived width, depth, and dynamics of your stereo
recordings. By varying the input and output stages in relation
to the valve level, you can subtly increase the presence and roundness
of the source, or you can increase this affect to re-shape
the frequencies to slightly reduce the lowest frequencies and
extreme upper frequencies while simultaneously increasing
natural harmonics and gently compressing the signal. This cumulative
affect replaces several devices with one process, avoiding
unwanted loss from filters, opto-cells, transformers, etc. For
more extreme results, both tube stages can be increased to
audible overdrive, which is shaped differently depending on the
volume of the source, the range of dynamics and frequency of the
source, the level of the input and output in relation to the triodes,
and the bias adjustment.
There are countless other ways to use the Source + Plus TM in your current setup, including:
Using the Source + Plus TM as a final stereo analog bus between your
DAC and final mixdown device.
Using the Source + Plus TM
between your analog mixing desk and your analog mixdown tape machine
or final digital transfer.
Using the Source + Plus TM
between your mixing or mastering chain and your monitoring system.
We hope that you will find the Source
+ Plus TM to be an indespensible
device for making your favorite gear sound it's best, and for
bringing flexibility to every stage of your work.
With the Source + Plus's TM
design, you can truly unleash the creativity in your gear!
Warranty information:
Manufacturer's warranty covers the Source +
Plus TM for one year for repairs,
and 30 days for installed tubes.