Got my hands on a pair of JCF LEVRs. I wanted to see how they compare to my usual “go to” API 312 for makeup gain after the folcrom. After a week of pulling my hair out trying to get the LEVRs to play nice with my setup, (more on that later) they do have a nice presence that sets them apart.
For this comparison I mixed a quick ITB drum mix. Then sent the individual drum channels (16) to the FOLCROM/One of the listed makeup gain amplifiers.
What do you prefer out of the group?
312 pre
LEVR with Transformer
LEVR no Transformer
ITB
As I said it was a bitch getting the LEVRs setup properly. I noticed severe distortions when the LEVR received signals for most of my converters/outboard. LOOONG story short LEVRs with the transformer output option need to see “symmetrical balanced” signals. Many balanced devices only send signal down the + leg. This for some unknown reason really makes the LEVR with the output transformer unhappy. Thanks to the help of Bill Whitlock & my curiosity I found two solutions.
- Add transformers before the LEVR. Bill recommend the JT-MB-CA
- Disable the output transformer.
I’ve tried both & opted for solution 2.
So couldn’t you just order the one without the transformer and avoid this problem from the get-go??
I originally purchased them with transformers. Hence the ordeal. If I knew beforehand it would of been a different story.
Gotcha. I was more proposing the viewpoint of ordering them without transformers to be a simple solution to the problem… NOW that we do actually know the problem. Really i was just making sure it was that simple of a remedy 😉