Yet another 500 series preamp success from our friends at Classic Audio Products, Inc!
This is the single unit listing.
After the success and love shown to our approach towards complete 2-stage preamplifiers (like our VP28, VP28-Platinum and Heider H2) we knew immediately that our MEC line needed the same treatment. We started with our MEC31 and added a 80Hz high pass filter and complete 2nd gain stage including a stepped fader booster. The 2nd stage fader booster has 12dB of gain 'in hand', exactly like a real console! To complete the package we added an accurate metering circuit referencing to today's digital storage capabilities. That said, don't let the red LEDs fool you. The ROCLEM™ MEC32 has 9.8dB of headroom beyond illuminating the top meter LED!!
So, what or who was Melcor?
Melcor was a pro audio equipment manufacturer in the mid to late 1960s. They predated API by a handful of years. In fact, rumor has it that product designers and engineers left Melcor to start API with Saul Walker circa 1969 or so. The same folks that designed the Melcor 1731 opamp would then go on to design the API 2520. Besides the opamp, the Melcor CL-20 compressor limiter would morph into the early API 525. The Melcor 2-band GME-20 EQ would transform into the very first API 550 and the Melcor AML27 preamplifier card would become the legendary API 312.
Background
Near the end of summer in 2023 my main transformer winder hit me up asking if I had any interest in his rendition of the Melcor 400-20 input transformer. Oddly enough and without his knowledge I was just nearing the end of my version of the 1731 opamp. I told him I would only be interested if he could also make a recreation of the OG 400-17 output transformer. "Challenge accepted" was his reply and suddenly we had the 3 main building blocks to create a new preamp.
Using these 3 main building blocks I created the ROCLEM™ MEC31. All the surrounding bits were tweaked to work and sound as best as I could get them. That said, the MEC31 is not really a copy or clone of the AML27. Just a badass mic or line amp built around great transformers and a killer unique discrete opamp.
Each and every ROCLEM™ MEC32 is hand assembled, burned in and tested at CAPI headquarters in Nashville Tennessee.
Features
- In MIC mode, the stepped PREAMP GAIN ranges from +16dB to +60dB in 4dB increments (as indicated on the front panel) with an input impedance of 600 ohms.
- In LINE mode (MIC pushbutton out or disengaged), the stepped PREAMP GAIN ranges from -20dB to +24dB, with an input impedance of 8.5K ohms.
- The PAD pushbutton equates to 10dB of attenuation in either MIC or LINE mode. With the PAD pushbutton engaged while in MIC mode, the input impedance remains 600 ohms.
- The stepped CHANNEL FADER switch and 2nd stage booster amp provide a range of -16dB to +12dB in addition to the above-mentioned preamp gain range. This equates to a maximum gain of 72dB when in MIC mode.
- In LINE mode with unity gain settings, the ROCLEM™ MEC32's clipping level is +29.8dBu.
- PHANTOM POWER is defeated when LINE mode is selected.
- Physically and electronically fully VPR compliant with current draw less than 100mA per rail (under typical operating conditions)
