Chameleon Labs 7603 | Preamp + EQ Channelstrip – B-Stock

The basic design concept follows the path of the highly regarded classic British preamps of the 70’s as well as the popular Chameleon Labs 7602. The engineers at Chameleon Labs have worked tirelessly to develop new, critical components that allow you to take the next step in “clean sound” and “musicality”.

The improvements begin with all-new proprietary microphone and line-level input transformers, with custom nickel laminations and coil assemblies. By developing new engineering processes that focus on the material science associated with lamination manufacturing, Chameleon Labs was able to develop a lamination “recipe” that delivers optimized audio performance and gives the 7603 incredibly low distortion.

When developing the new transformers, the focus was on the need to capture and preserve the audio input signals in their truest form. This is why the housing is made of highly permeable MuMetal, which is designed to protect the components and the audio signal from radio frequencies, interference signals and parasitic noise.

As a starting point, a new discrete audio input amplification stage was developed based on a solid topology that offers extremely low noise, high dynamics and frequency bandwidth. All operational amplifiers used throughout the 7603 are based on this topology.

The 7603 features EQ stages with variable high pass, low frequency shelving, mid frequency and high frequency shelving. Chameleon Labs have made a conscious decision to retain the same desirable inductor-based topology that made the 7602 so popular. However, they have implemented a new discrete operational amplifier to drive the signal through a new set of custom Chameleon designed and manufactured inductors to achieve the musicality we all love to use.

The output stage of the 7603 is unique in terms of its design and performance. It can be described as a variable gain circuit that simultaneously adjusts the input and output levels to ensure a lower noise floor.

The microphone input impedance can be selected between 300 and 1200 ohms, allowing a microphone to be more ideally matched to the input stage and making it easier to get the best out of microphones with lower output power, such as ribbon microphones.

A low-impedance DI input has been added on the front panel for connecting instruments such as guitars that can be driven through the line input stage, and a precision VU meter with custom ballistics for visual monitoring of input and output levels.

The output stage is unique in terms of design and performance. It can be described as a variable gain circuit that adjusts both the input and output levels simultaneously to ensure a lower noise floor.

The microphone input impedance can be selected between 300 and 1200 ohms, allowing a microphone to be better matched to the input stage and making it easier to get the best out of microphones with lower output power, such as ribbon microphones.

The 7603 also features a low-impedance DI input on the front panel for connecting instruments such as guitars that can be driven through the line input stage, and a precision VU meter with user-defined ballistics for visual monitoring of input and output levels.