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Rock-solid 500-series rack with all-steel chassis and greater current handling for wider 500-module compatibility
Noted for handcrafting spot-on Neve reproductions, BAE (formerly Brent Averill, now British Audio Engineering) has been one of a very few to offer API/VPR Alliance-compatible 500-series racks and lunchboxes. BAE 500-series power racks are available in three formats: the BAE 6-space rack and lunchbox, BAE 11-space rack, and BAE 3LB 3-space desktop lunchbox. To ensure compatibility with a wide variety of 500 modules, BAE 500-series racks offer greater amperage rating, to accommodate 500-series modules that stray outside the original VPR specs.
Don’t forget to check out RSPE’s Rack Revolution, a virtual 500-series rack builder that lets you custom-configure the perfect 500-series lunchbox for your studio, DAW, or mobile recording rig. RSPE carries every 500-series module imaginable, including mic preamps, compressor-limiters, equalizers, and 500 power racks.
While other 500-series racks use an internal power supply, BAE chooses to go a different route in the form of an external PSU. The advantages of an external PSU are many. To begin with, not having space constraints allows you to design the power supply without compromise, and makes the shielding concerns of integrated power supplies a non-issue. When power supplies are built into the same chassis as the audio circuitry, nearby audio paths are susceptible to nasty magnetic fields radiated from the transformers, thus increasing noise. Additionally, components are subject to extra heat generated from transformers, regulators, and rectifiers—and heat is the enemy of all electronic components.
Heat causes unwanted changes in operational parameters and premature component failure. Conversely, loading up a rack with 500 modules of varying power requirements can overheat an internal power supply. To deal with those power-consumption variations, BAE’s external PSU was designed to handle greater current. The power output of the BAE 6-Space Rack is ±16 VDC, 1.6A (800mA per rail). And finally, BAE uses on the finest card edge connectors for your 500 module’s pin-out.
The BAE 6-Space rack comes in two configurations; rackmount and desktop lunchbox.* So, whether you’re staying put, or going mobile with your 500-series 6-space lunchbox, it’s good to know your precious 500 modules are safely housed in BAE’s solid, road-resistant all-steel chassis. Integrating your BAE 6-Space 500 rack into any studio is as easy as it gets thanks to BAE’s use of high-quality, balanced XLR input and output connectors. To power and protect your 500-series modules from RF and other noise, BAE thoughtfully provides and external power supply. You’re thinking, “but now I have two things to carry.” Au contraire, mon frere and frerettes, BAE thinks of everything and offers you a vintage-style lunchbox & PSU road case.
*(optional rack ears allow 6-Space lunchboxes bought after June 2012 to be rackmounted)
Answering to a higher authority (maintaining the legacy of Mr. Rupert Neve), BAE puts nothing but the very best and their very best into every unit they built. Under the guidance of president/CEO Mark Loughman and Neve guru, Avedis Kifedjian, BAE uses the only highest quality components from the original suppliers, such as Carnhill (formerly St. Ives) and Jensen. All BAE products use discrete electronics and are completely hand-built and wired point-to point (no circuit boards). For more information about BAE, check out RSPE's Designer’s Perspective feature and get a first-hand look at the inner workings of BAE.
Manufacturer | BAE |
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