sta level

I haven't been keeping up with groupdiy lately, but this looks like a cool build. I'll probably have to wait a bit on it since I'm already working on a couple other comps. Curious how people like this, and if it's noisy. I see that Dan is making a case for it, or maybe his existing case can be adapted?

I'm going to build 2. I've got 2 of the P.S.B.
I'm on the feeler list for 2 of the custom cases by Kid Squid along with 2 of his custom power transformers.
I figure if I get his case and Power transformer It will be an easier and more professional build.
Haven't decided if I'll go all the way with tubes and transformers. I can always get the tubes and transformers any time.

How much would this total up to using the good stuff?

I'm less than a newb when it comes to DIY but I have some esperienced friends. I've always wanted a STA Level.

Word. Thanks.

I don't know, Drip designs his boards around Sowters, I don't know what or how the guy behind this was thinking. from what I remember he did the board without really thinking about transformers.
That said, and don't take this the wrong way, Gates was the low end of broadcast , and wasn't really big on custom parts , so while the Sowters maybe historic recreation, if gates would buy from someone like Edcor not Sowters.
Unlike a Gear pimping mod on GC I don't have a problem with OEMs like EDcor they make decent stuff and do some fantastic OEM for some very respected Manufactuerers.
So I guess give the Edcors a shot, don't like them you can probably sell them for a minimal loss , less of a loss than if you tried to resell Sowters!

What does "assembled but non operational" mean?

I used to say it a lot, but got tired of doing so because fighting hype is nearly impossible..

Unless you have a specialty transformer (I.E., Neve gapped output) or are driving a transformer into saturation, the model/brand/type/material, doesn't have nearly as much bearing on the sound as people seem to think it does.

Transformers used to be standard, because there was no other choice. They weren't chosen back in the day for their attributes like we do today..

That being said, there are a few things that the DIY crowd in general overlooks in cloning things with transformers.

1. Ringing. Being large inductors, transformers will always ring. The degree to which they do is based on their design, the load, and the driving circuit. Generally the original designs took these things into account or had such low bandwidth/high parasitic transformer designs that it wasn't a problem, but since most DIY designs are using reproduction transformers with much higher bandwidths, ringing is likely to be a problem. Even using the Sowter on a direct clone might mean needing a zobel or other loading device on the primary, secondary or both. Changing to an Edcor means a completely different damping circuit will be needed.

2. Proper transformer action. The original designers tried like hell to get RID of all the harmonics/distortion that we actually seem to look for in transformer based products today. Unfortunately, a lot of DIY designs that didn't take into account ringing and other problems result in signals with excessive harmonic content, that they mistake for what they are looking for by using transformers.. Ringing after a large signal change can add considerable distortion and harmonics that are NOT the "transformer" sound. People mistake these distortions as "detail" and "richness" all the time, but they just add a layer of problems, especially when the ringing happens at certain frequencies, which just add mud to the sound.

I suggest that even if you use the intended transformers, to do square wave tests through the unit (no compression) and add/adjust the zobel networks for almost zero overshoot. There are plenty of tutorials out there on this kind of thing.

I used Sowter Iron in my point to point build of a Sta Level. I also used really nice tubes. It sounds amazing. Nothing else I have sounds anything like it. It would not be the only compressor I would want but since I have a stash of great comps this one really stands out. It has a very unique tone that makes it very valuable to me.

I would be curious to hear how the Edcor TX sounded next to this. Edcor TX are hit and miss. I know they make some good sounding TX for some projects. Usually things like guitar amps, which the Sta Level is similar to so it could be a good fit. I just didn't want to waste my time testing them on this build. I wanted to go all out and build a killer Sta Level for my own personal use.

If I ever do another one, maybe I would try the Edcor? It would be a lot cheaper. My guess is they could be even more colored?

are you selling the cases?

Right here.

collectivecases.com/?product=sta-level

Yeah, I could do them. I need to know that there is enough interest in this specific project to do them. These are more like the retro version it looks like. Do you know how much interest there is in them?

+1. im sure zayance will add you to the page. he has all the other options.