RADIAL ENGINEERING TWIN Servo | 500 Series Microphone Preamp

Twin-Servo

500 Series Microphone Preamp

The Twin-Servo 500 Series Microphone Preamp from Radial Engineering is a detailed and accurate analog preamp based around two 100% discrete 990 opamps derived from the legendary JE-990 circuit, originally developed by industry icon Deane Jensen in 1988. Ideal for discriminating engineers looking for the widest possible frequency response and plenty of headroom, the Twin-Servo delivers on its namesake, as well as provides a few extra bells and whistles for the modern recordist.

The all-steel, 500 Series enclosure comes with push buttons for 48V phantom power, -15 dB pad, convenient high-pass filter, and 180º polarity inversion switch on the front, along with a 10-segment LED VU meter. An XLR-1/4" combo jack is also included on the front panel for easy use, providing both mic input and automatic Hi-Z mode for direct instrument recording. Oversized Jensen transformers coupled to the input and output enable ultralow noise and an impressive 0.5 Hz to 150 kHz frequency response for remarkable fidelity and fantastic bottom end. When meticulous detail and pure, clean tone is desired, the Radial Engineering Twin-Servo can deliver winning results.

Powerful Preamp Features

One of the biggest advantages of the Twin-Servo is the incredibly wide frequency response available with bass frequencies down to 5 Hz. However, in some situations the bass response may be excessive, such as recording multiple acoustic instruments together. That's why a convenient high-pass filter is included, gently rolling off the bottom end below 80 Hz. Other features include a -15 dB pad for extra loud sound sources, a 180° polarity reversal for stereo mic placement, 48 VDC of phantom power for condenser mics, and a ground-lift mini-slider for rare situations where the unit's Jensen transformer is unable to quash noise.

Legendary Preamp Hardware

While the Twin-Servo has plenty of features common to other preamp circuits, what sets it apart is the hardware under the hood: Two JE-990 discrete opamps, two servos that eliminate all coupling capacitors, and two professional-quality Jensen transformers. The Twin-Servo has been meticulously designed to reproduce Deane Jensen's original Twin-Servo 990 mic pre, regarded by many audio professionals as one of the finest preamps ever made. The Dual JE-990 opamps allow for maximum efficiency and the lowest possible noise at all signal levels, while the servos eliminate the need for signal degrading capacitors. Jensen transformers at the input and output deliver a fantastic amount of bandwidth, extending the natural low end and providing a huge amount of headroom. Up to 60 dB of gain is available, perfect for source material with a high dynamic range.

Convenient Design

The 500 Series Twin-Servo is compatible with most 500 Series chassis, including the Radial Workhorse. When you just need some convenient I/O without the need to mess with rear connectors, the Twin-Servo provides a handy XLR-1/4" combo jack upfront for connecting anything from ribbon mics, to condensers, to direct-in instruments. The preamp's tremendous headroom and dynamic range make it ideal for recording high-dynamic-range sounds with condensers, while plugging in an instrument instantly switches the Neutrik combo jack into a Hi-Z instrument input with significantly increased impedance for plenty of clarity and bottom end.

Efficient Control

The front panel features an efficient use of space with easy control. The 10-segment LED VU meter uses a custom-designed circuit for greater accuracy, and the polarity switch, high-pass filter, pad, and phantom power are all located on clearly marked push buttons with dedicated LED indicators. The dual gang pot simultaneously controls the dual 990 opamp topology for optimal gain at all levels.

Specifications

• Compatibility
  • API 500 Series Rack Chassis
  • Radial Engineering 500 Series Workhorse 
• Audio I/O
  • 1x Combo XLR-1/4" 3-Pin Hi-Z/Instrument/Mic Input (Balanced XLR Mic In, Unbalanced TS Instrument In) 
• Power Source
  • Proprietary Interface (Built-In)
• Operating Current
  • 110 mA
• Mounting
  • Front: 2x 500 Series Rackmount Holes
• Color
  • Black
• Material of Construction
  • Steel
• Certifications
  • CE, RoHS
• Dimensions
  • 7 x 5.5 x 1.5" / 17.8 x 14 x 3.8 cm
• Weight
  • 1.75 lb / 0.79 kg

In The Box

• Radial Engineering Twin-Servo 500 Series Microphone Preamp
• 12 x Radial ThumbSet Screws (For Mounting)
• Limited 3-Month Manufacturer Warranty