Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII

Chameleon Labs Model 7602 MKII Mic Pre / EQ Description

Ships with free matching red knob for a classic upgraded look, only at ZenPro!

Listen To The ZenPro "1073 vs The Clones" Shooutout

Get closer to the real thing with these quality upgrades. Choose from stock or 3 levels of modification!

"TT" Mod: Tantalum / Transistor upgrade, all capacitors replaced with original Neve value tantalum style, output transistor is replaced with new old stock Motorola 2N 3055 and re-biased.

"Carnhill" Mod: Carnhill mic input and line output transformers installed (transformers upgraded ONLY, like factory mod)

 Full ZenPro Mod: Complete upgrade includes both TT mod and Carnhill mod, closest to original values and sound.

The Model 7602 MKII is the sequel to our smash hit 7602 Microphone Preamplifier/Equalizer. The 7602 MKII new features include: selectable mic impedance, LED input metering, upgraded knob styles, and two different power options--all of this for the same price as the original unit. The 7602 MKII ships with an inline power transformer (all regulation is done inside the unit). The rackmountable CPS-1 can also still be used, but is no longer required.

The Model 7602 MKII Microphone Preamplifier/Equalizer is based on a classic and revered design utilizing pure Class ‘A’ circuitry. This unit is made with 100% discrete components, hand wound transformers and was fabricated to precisely match vintage counterparts manufactured in the early to mid 70’s. The Model 7602 MKII represents a dramatic breakthrough in delivering vintage audio performance at an affordable price.

Equalizer Section (Selectable 3 band design with a flexible filter section)

Filter: This is a high pass filter with 3db loss at 300Hz, 160Hz, 80Hz, and 50Hz with an 18db cut per octave slope.

Low Equalization: This section has a shelving slope with four frequency selections: 220Hz, 110Hz, 60Hz, and 35Hz. This equalizer affects the selected frequency and all others below it. The gain control provides 20db of boost or cut.

Mid Equalization: This section has a peaking characteristic with six frequency selections: 360Hz, 700Hz, 1.6k, 3.2k, 4.8k, and 7.2k. The gain control provides 20db of boost or cut.

High Equalization: This section has a shelving characteristic with five frequency selections: 16k, 12k, 7k, 4.9k and 3.4k. This section adjusts the selected frequency and all others above it. The gain control provides 20db of boost or cut.

 

Chameleon Labs Model 7602 MKII Features

• Fully balanced transformer mic and line inputs
• Balanced XLR output
• Hi-Z direct input for instruments on the front panel
• LED input metering *NEW
• Selectable mic impedance switch (300 or 1200 Ohms) *NEW
• 48VDC phantom power switch
• 180 degree phase reversal switch
• 20 position gold contact ELMA rotary gain switch for both Mic and Line sections
• Output level control functions as a fader when going straight to tape
• Carnhill® mic and output transformer option ($249 MSRP) *NEW
• One-year warranty

Chameleon Labs Model 7602 MKII Electronics

By employing classic circuit design, polystyrene capacitors, a gold contact ELMA gain selector and custom wound transformers, Chameleon Labs ensures that the Model 7602 MKII will exhibit classic audio sound.

The Model 7602 MKII has a transformer balanced input with a range between 20dB and 80 dB of gain. The separate line input is transformer balanced and accepts input levels from -20 to +10dB.

Chameleon Labs Model 7602 MKII Power Options

The Model 7602 MKII features two different power options.

24VAC Adapter: Each Model 7602 MKII ships with a mid-line power supply, type-dependent on country of operation. This is not a traditional "wall-wart" but simply an outboard AC transformer. DC filtering and regulation is accomplished inside the 7602 MKII itself.

CPS-1 Dual Power Supply: For users who prefer a rack-mounted power option, the Model 7602 MKII may instead be powered by the CPS-1 Dual Power Supply. The CPS-1 is offered as an optional accessory and can provide power to two 7602 MKII units. Users will need to contact their preferred dealer to acquire the DC Cable needed to connect the CPS-1 and 7602 MKII.

Chameleon Labs Model 7602 MKII Specifications

• Input impedance: Microphone: 300 & 1,200 ohms; Line: 10,000 ohms; D.I.: 100,000 ohms
• Sensitivity: Microphone: -80dBm to -20 dBm in 5dB steps for 0 dBm output; Line: -20 dBm to +10 dBm in 5 dB steps for 0 dBm output.
• Noise: Measured at 80 db of gain with 200 ohm input termination, without 20Hz to 20kHz to assist in filtering out noise. -49dbu with final output stage at 50% EIN -129 dbu; -46dbu with final output stage at unity EIN -126 dbu; -56dbu without final output stage EIN -136 dbu. Controls either “flat” or switched out.
• Output: Balanced and floating to feed a 600 ohm load. Maximum output +26 dBm into 600 ohms, or +20dBm into 150 ohms.
• Output impedance: 600 ohms, balanced (source impedance 75 ohms).
• Frequency Response: 11 Hz – 77.65 kHz – 3 dB. Level variation is less than 0.2%.
• Distortion: 1k Hz = 0.0245%

Chameleon Labs 7602 MKII Review / See All ZenPro Audio Reviews Here: Review Page   This “1073 clone” mono channel strip offers your choice of mic, line or instrument level input, features phase reverse, selectable mic pre input impedence (300 or 1200), phantom power and limited LED input metering (better than nothing!). There is also an output volume control, which gives you more choices in gain staging (driving the input if desired). The mic pre offers an astounding +80dB of available gain so it’s one of the few that would never leave you high and dry wishing you could push a little more. There is a switchable hi-pass filter, as well as 3 band (2 shelving, one peaking mid) EQ on board which takes the unit over the top for usefulness.   The 7602 MKII is one of the better values on the market in mic pre and EQ. The discrete design is all hand soldered (read also can be easily repaired if needed) using discrete components. Every part on board is sourced in China where it is built, except for the gold ELMA switch used in the mic / line gain position. The switches all feel good and pots are pretty darn smooth in action too. The staging for the input gains takes a little bit of getting used to, discerning between line and then mic / DI stages, but is not difficult to grasp. Concerning the mic pre, it delivers an overall smooth sound (transformer i/o helps) and tames the extreme transients of things like snare drums nicely. It has a full range response with detailed midrange, and the ‘stock’ unit is slightly soft up top. It has decent depth to it overall too. The DI on bass I really like, it’s not one of these big boomy sounding DI’s (where you have to roll off all that low end in the mix anyhow) but rather it has a tight midrange sound to it which lets face it, is what brings definition to bass and keys in a mix.   The EQ section is simple and straight forward, offering classic frequency bands to choose from plus a few updated ones. For kick drum I regularly enjoy the pre by filtering the low end at 50hZ, boosting 60hZ, scooping 360hZ and adding a little slap at 3.4k. Very big and controlled sound can be had with these settings on just about any kick drum. For snare, filtering 80hZ and boosting 220hZ (sometimes 110hZ depending) and adding some 7k if needed, or some 12k shelf (if it doesn’t bring up the hat bleed too much!). These pre / EQ units are first reaches for me on kick and snare, controlled and big sounding stuff (kick and snare are the pulse of your music, make it rock).   The top end shelf is one of those “a little dab will do ya” deals: rarely do I find myself using more than a small turn of the dial. It can be pretty brutal if you just start cranking it, but hey sometimes brutal is called for in rock and pop production! The low end can just get downright huge with this unit, a big round bottom and thickens up nicely. I do like that filter so I can tame the subsonic stuff easily (click, done!). The midrange is an obviously EQ’d sound but it’s a good obviously EQ’d sound, smooth enough for electric guitar EQ’ing while tracking or mixing too.   ZenPro Mod: It brings a new depth and richness to the sound by starting with the Carnhill transformer upgrade on the mic in and line out. Bottom end gets deeper, mids are more detailed and rich. Next the tantalum capacitors bring a subtle upper midrange ‘edge’ that gives definition to the source, without being annoying. The Motorola output transistor (new old stock) offers more clarity and brings a bit more transparency to the sound. Overall the mod brings a ‘high-end’ sound, and it’s all based on original Neve values. We find it to be a fantastic upgrade, been doing this a long time too. The other upside of the mod is the extra step of testing and Quality Control each unit goes through.   Conclusion: Stock units are excellent, I mean they really excel in their price range. The fully modified unit is where it’s at though: there is a whole new life to be had by taking the standard mod into a deeper territory of sound enhancement and certainly brings it where you want it to be.