Phoenix Audio N90-DRC 500 Owner's Manual

Costa Mesa
CA 92626
USA

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Owner’s Manual

N90-DRC 500 FORMAT COMPRESSOR/GATE

Firstly, let us congratulate you on your purchase of the N90-DRC Compressor/Gate

designed for the API 500 series Lunchbox or suitable compatible rack. We know
you will be as pleased with it’s sonic qualities as we are.

You are now the proud owner of a Compressor/Gate that has the advantages of
more than 40 years experience in audio engineering, today’s component and
manufacturing technology, but still retaining “that sound” uniquely achievable
through Class A design.

As you can tell, Phoenix Audio is dedicated to the development of Class A discrete
technology used within high build-quality equipment.

The N90-DRC uses our well proven and loved Class A output stage (DSOP-2).
You CAN hear the difference!!!

The N90- DRC (David Rees Compressor) Compressor/Gate combines
compression and gate facilities in a 500 series format.

Unlike the majority of other 500 series compressors, the N90-DRC is a single rack
space unit. This gives the versatility of buying just a single channel, or as many
channels as you prefer.

The compressor operates with the less common progressive control
characteristics.

Gain reduction begins at well below, and ends somewhat above, the nominal ratio.
The ratio knob indicates a range from 2 to 8 but these are midway values only.

The curves actually provide a spread of ratios from less than 1.5 to over 10.

Musically the progressive curves are very kind - There is no sudden change on
passing the threshold and audio processing is virtually "seamless". Rapid release
times become inappropriate and the 30:1 range provided is ample. A fully
automatic dual release is also available.

Technically the progressive curves are achieved using linear detection combined
with logarithmic attenuation inside a closed control loop. The method is not
suitable for "protective" limiters but is ideal for a compact wide ranging dynamics
unit.

"Limiter sound" is still provided by the higher ratios and there is a choice of attack
times.

The gate is more conventional, but it's release time is composite with a hold time
followed by a fade time. This makes the gate very versatile in that as well as basic
noise reduction it can also provide quite subtle changes to ambience or
background.

The N90-DRC is designed to be driven by "ear". Each control knob indicates
simply the range available and has a ring of marks to aid setting - Only experience
can determine optimum settings for the occasion and these may well include the off
buttons.