The Black Lion Audio Seventeen 500 is a 500 Series compressor that pays homage to the classic '76 limiting amplifier. It envisions what the '76 could have been if created with modern technology and packaged in a 500 Series format.
The Black Lion Audio Seventeen 500 FET Limiting Amplifier features an enhanced IC-based front end and a custom-designed output transformer by BLA. These advancements result in a clean and contemporary sound with light compression, a vintage character with heavier drive, and a remarkable low end that complements its open high end. The Seventeen 500 incorporates Black Lion Audio's proprietary power decoupling for an impressively low noise floor, and its high-grade Nichicon signal capacitors are renowned for their exceptional quality. Overall, the Seventeen 500 impresses with its detail, character, and versatility.
Black Lion Audio gained recognition for its custom modifications to classic studio equipment, showcasing a penchant for innovative thinking. Therefore, many of the Seventeen 500's standard features would be considered "hot-rodded" compared to other hardware compressors. These features include a frequency-adjustable sidechain, separate selectable HPF/LPF, and a dry/wet mix knob for onboard New York/parallel compression. Additionally, the Seventeen 500 offers stereo link functionality for linking two units together. Like its inspiring predecessor, the BLA Seventeen 500 FET Limiting Amplifier will likely find its way onto numerous drum, bass, and vocal tracks and beyond. A noteworthy tip: Unlike the original, the Black Lion Audio Seventeen 500 exhibits faster attack times when turned to the left and slower attack times when turned to the right. Considering its price, why not consider getting two?
Founded in Chicago in 2006, Black Lion Audio has established itself in the audio industry by enhancing audio equipment and elevating the sound quality of popular music production gear. They have taken industry-standard products to new heights of sonic quality. While initially specialising in gear modifications from other manufacturers, the company's collective expertise has led to the developing of a distinct line of boutique mic preamps and word clocks. BLA gear and modded gear can be found in studios across various cities, and their signature sound has been heard on projects from renowned artists spanning multiple genres.