Empirical Labs Distressor EL8-XXX (30th Anniversary Edition)
Discrete FET/opto hybrid compressor, transformer-input limited edition
Compressor / Limiter$1,996Manufacturer list price
Specifications
- Type
- Compressor / Limiter
- Description
- Discrete FET/opto hybrid compressor, transformer-input limited edition
- Topology
- FET, Class-A, discrete
- Signal path
- Analog (recallable / digitally controlled)
- Channels
- 1
- Channel format
- mono
- Form factor
- 1U rack
- Rack units
- 1
- Powered
- yes
- Power (W)
- 15
- Impedance (Ω)
- 600 (input, via Triad HS-56 transformer)
- Country of manufacture
- USA
Details
Controls: Input, Output, Ratio (8 curves incl. 10:1 Opto), Attack, Release, Distortion mode (Clean/Dist2/Dist3), British Mode switch, Stereo Image Link, 2x high-pass filters
I/O: Balanced DC-coupled analog audio in/out (XLR) with Triad HS-56 input transformer; no phantom power
Notable use: Limited Edition commemorating 30 years of the Distressor; includes EL8-X feature set plus Triad HS-56 input transformer for earlier saturation
Notes: FLAGGED limited edition variant, quantity/production run not stated on site. Frequency response not separately published for this variant (left blank rather than reusing base EL8 spec, since the input transformer changes response). Price is Sweetwater street price.