HAIRBALL Audio ELEMENTS GOLD

Gold Clean. Open.

Gold is based around the classic Jensen 990 op-amp. The Hairball Audio 990 is assembled in the USA and built to the specifications of Deane Jensen’s now famous JE-990 paper published in the February 1980 AES journal. The 990 op-amp has become the GOLD standard for discrete op-amp performance.

To complement this pristine signal chain, we’ve worked with Jensen Transformers to create a 500 series sized version of their classic JT-16 input transformer. This transformer has set the bar for clarity and performance. To complete the chain we’ve used the equally impressive Jensen JT-11 output.

It goes toe-to- toe with the John Hardy M-1, providing tons of gain while maintaining a low noise floor. Pristine, clean but not boring, lots of gain, making everything sound bigger and better without adding color.

This is one of the highest quality clean and open pres available. Unlike the cheap transformerless pres that come with many common audio interfaces, Gold does not sound dull. It enables the kind of clarity and detail you’ll only find with components of this caliber. It’s the perfect pre for recording acoustic instruments and anything you’d like to remain true to the source.

Good on voiceovers, vocals, and acoustic instruments, specially with brass with a clear top that avoided edgy overtones.

• Stepped Grayhill Input Switch
• Variable Ouput Potentiometer
• Assembled and tested Hairball Audio JE-990 op-amp
• Jensen JT-16-PCJR input transformer
• Jensen JT-11-DM output transformer
• Fully shielded PCB enclosure
• Gold anodize aluminum faceplate
• 63 dB of gain
• Customizable 20 dB pad
• Phantom Power
• Polarity switch
• DI input
• Grayhill Input gain switch
• Variable output level
• Capacitor selected by ear to compliment the Gold circuit

API (and compatible) Lunchbox and VPR500 racking systems.
Fully built to perfection in Canada with a 1 year warranty.
These can be also build to order.