Black Lion Audio Releases Auteur MKII Preamps

CHICAGO, IL, February 9, 2016 — As evidence of the recent bolstering of its product development and manufacturing capabilities, Black Lion Audio (BLA), acclaimed manufacturer of essential professional audio tools, has released the Auteur MKII preamp line. 

Building on the reputation and performance of the original Auteur design, the Auteur MKII boasts a revamped gain stage that results in higher gain, lower noise, lower distortion and an extended frequency response. The newly re-designed Auteur MKII retains the unique sonic combination of clarity and warmth that made the original design an instant classic. The preamp offers unsurpassed versatility, providing astounding performance on drums, adding silky polish to vocals and making guitars soar like never before. No matter the application, the Auteur MKII provides professional results. The preamp is available in dual-channel one-half-rack and 500 series formats, both with updated, superior specifications including a 10 Hz-to-30 kHz frequency response. 

BLA Auteur MKII preamp front panel.

The Auteur MKII is a two-channel preamp that features high-speed input stages for capturing detail and nuance, and Edcor transformer-coupled output stages that impart a nice touch of vintage vibe. It also features up to 65 dB of gain, 26 dBu max output, phantom power, polarity reverse, balanced mic input on XLR, a balanced TRS quarter-inch jack line output and a -10 dB pad. The Auteur MKII is housed in a 1U, one-half-rack chassis and can be linked together with a second half-rack unit by using the included connector plate. 

The Auteur MKII 500 is a single-channel, 500 series preamp that features up to 67 dB of gain, 28 dBu max output, phantom power, polarity reverse and a -13 dB pad, and a Hi-Z input. 

BLA Auteur MKII 500. 

Both preamps are available immediately at a price of $649 (MAP) for the two-channel Auteur MKII and $399 (MAP) for the Auteur MKII 500. 

Auteur MKII Features:

• Dual Channel
• Ultra High-Speed Input Stages
• Edcor Output Transformers
• 65dB Gain
• Extended Frequency Response
• Low Distortion & Noise
• Phantom Power
• Phase Switch
• 10dBu Pad
• XLR Microphone Input
• TRS Line Output (balanced)                                       

Specifications for Auteur MKII: 

Mic Preamp Section

• Max Microphone Input Level: +1 dBu
• Input Impedance: 6000 Ω
• Pad: -10 dB
• Gain (no pad): +14 dB to +65 dB
• Equivalent Input Noise (noise floor): -108 dB
• THD+N (@ +4 dBu output): .0033% @ +10 dBu Gain, .0054% @ +24 dBu Gain,  .0112% @ +32 dBu Gain, .027% @ +40 dBu Gain, .078% @ +50 dBu Gain, .21% @ +62 dBu Gain
• Bandwidth (1 kHz, 150Ω source, unweighted): 10 Hz to 30 kHz

Output Section

• Max Output Level: +26 dBu
• Output Impedance: 150 Ω 

Power Supply

• 24 VAC, 500 mA External Supply 

Product Dimensions

• 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.75 inches 

Product Weight

• 3.2 lbs 

Specifications for Auteur MKII 500: 

Mic Section

• Max Microphone Input Level: +1 dBu

• Input Impedance: 6000 Ω

• Pad: -13 dB

• Gain (no pad): +16 dB to +67 dB

• Equivalent Input Noise (noise floor): -108 dB

• THD+N (@ +4 dBu output): .0046% @ +12 dBu Gain, .0064% @ +24 dBu Gain,  .012% @ +32 dBu Gain, .028% @ +40 dBu Gain, .085% @ +50 dBu Gain, .3% @ +62 dBu Gain

• Bandwidth (1 kHz, 600Ω unbalanced source, unweighted): 10 Hz to 30 kHz 

D.I. Section

• Max D.I. Input Level: +18 dBu
• Input Impedance Balanced: 2.2 MΩ
• Input Impedance Unbalanced: 1.1 MΩ
• Pad: -13 dBu
• Gain: +16 dB to +67 dB
• Equivalent Input Noise (noise floor): -82 dB
• THD+N (@ +4 dBu output): .007% @ +12dBu, .11% @ +40dBu
• Bandwidth (1 kHz, 600Ω unbalanced source, unweighted): 10 Hz to 30 kHz 

Output Section

• Max Output Level: +28 dBu
• Output Impedance: 600 Ω

Power Supply

• +/- 15 VDC (From 500 rack) 

Product Dimensions

• 1.5 x 6.5 x 5.25 inches 

Product Weight

• .8 lbs 

For more information on the complete range of Black Lion Audio products, visit www.blacklionaudio.com.