DP-1 is TK ProAudio’s follow-up after the huge success with the BC1 buss/mastering comprssor. The new DP-1 preamp is a hybrid between vintage and modern circuits. Germanium stage, silicon transistors and integrated circuits, all in the same box. DP-1’s various sound-characters extends over several decades, the germanium sound from the mid 60’s, British class-A from the early 70’s and a more modern tone from the 80’s and 90’s.
The inputstage is built around a Swedish Lundahl transformer and an IC that operates in class-A. The preampsection is followed by a germanium unity-gainstage for coloration. Finally the DP-1 has two different outputstages that you can switch between, a transformerless IC-based outputstage or a discret transformer-balanced class-A stage, built around a heavy Carnhill output-transformer.
The IC-based outputstage is less colored. In the vintage class-A mode the sound has a fat, punchy low-end with more mid character., the germanium mode will add even more harmonics to the sound. Never before has a unit with so many features been offered to such a low price.