CHIMERA
500 Series Module
From Serpent Audio:
Faithfully replicating the vintage LA3A design, The Serpent Chimera brings the classic Opto sound to 500 series format. Featuring an all discrete circuit design, Orange Drop and Elna capacitors, full steel enclosure & cover, class AB transistor output, true T4B optical cell, and transformer balanced input & output, the Chimera delivers the thick, rich, & smooth opto compression sound that you’re looking for.
All units are made in the USA to an exceptional level of craft and workmanship.
The Chimera™ is a single channel 500 series compatible Opto compressor, and can be used for mono applications, or can be paired with a second Chimera™ for stereo applications. The Chimera™ contains a transformer input & output, as well as all discrete circuitry and a Class AB transistor output circuit. At the heart of the Chimera™ is the T4B optical cell, which utilizes an Electroluminescent (EL) panel and photo resistor cells to achieve gain reduction.
Specs
- Format
- 500 series, single channel (stereo linkable)
- Maximum current consumption
- 70mA @ +/-16V
- Input
- Transformer Balanced Input
- Output
- Transformer Balanced Output
- Maximum input level
- +16dbu
- Maximum output level
- +19dbu
- Maximum output load
- 600 Ohm
- Attack time
- 1.5ms or Less (Program Dependent)
- Release time
- Program Dependent
- Gain
- 50db (+/-1dbu)
- Gain reduction element
- T4B Optical Cell
- Frequency response
- (20Hz-20KHz)
- Noise floor
- -80dbu
- Made in
- USA
Source: Serpent Audio Chimera manual v1.2 (PDF)