If ever there is an official “Audio Technology Hall of Fame”, it will definitely include a shrine to the iconic Teletronix LA-2A*. We pay homage to this audio-processing pioneer that has graced so many recordings, with our 2A-KT Classic Leveling Amplifier. And while vintage Teletronix LA-2As are extremely rare and expensive, the 2A-KT is amazingly affordable – and designed for the 21st Century. Mastering quality compression and limiting, at a price point that makes the 2A-KT equally at home in your studio – and your live rack!
The 2A-KT draws inspiration from the original Teletronix LA-2A leveling amplifier, which was first produced in the early 1960s. Since then, Teletronix leveling amplifiers have been prized for their smooth musical sound, and audio engineers have utilised them at all stages of the recording process – from tracking to mastering.
At the heart of the 2A-KT is a vintage lag-free optical attenuator based on the very same electroluminescent technology used in its predecessor. The 2A-KT is constructed from the highest-quality discrete components – all of which meet or exceed the LA-2A’s original specifications. This is just one of the many ways the 2A-KT brings unparalleled precision and superb signal integrity into the new audio age.
2A-KT owes its characteristic warmth to a set of premium, hand-selected 12AX7, 12BH7 and EL84 tubes. This time-tested combination provides ultra low-noise analog output with the ideal balance of tight, warm bass, silky-smooth midrange and brilliant, airy treble.
2A-KT frequency response extends from 10 Hz to 20 kHz (+/- 1 dB), and provides the kind of flexibility you simply won’t find in the average leveling amplifier, such as gain limiting from 0 to 30 dB with an ultra-fast attack time of 10 milliseconds, a release time that ranging from 50 milliseconds to a full 5 seconds, and so much more. The Limit/Compress switch lets you select between the internally-fixed compression ratio of Compress mode and the near-infinite ratio in Limit mode. A built-in adjustable stereo-link TRS connection allows a pair of 2A-KTs to blend their sidechain signals for shared threshold response between the two devices.
The controls on the 2A-KT consist of a Pre-Emphasis trimmer which adjusts the compressor / sidechain interaction. When set fully clockwise, the sidechain responds to the full frequency bandwidth of the incoming audio. As the trimmer is turned counterclockwise, the compressor responds less to the signal’s high frequency transients. The Peak Reduction knob controls the threshold of the compressor/limiter with an available maximum 40 dB of gain reduction. The Output Gain knob provides any makeup gain necessary for setting the output signal to the optimal level.
