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Empirical Labs EL8-XXX Distressor
Who';s up for some debauchery?
Come join in the celebration.

Back in 1996 Empirical Labs released the very first EL8 Distressor. Thirty years and 40,000 units later, the Distressor has earned itself a spot in the rack dedicated solely to legends and classics. In recognition of this latest milestone, Empirical Labs is releasing the limited edition EL8-XXX Distressor. Aside from the obvious uniform change which features the original Distressor prototype font panel design, other differences include incorporating a HS-56 transformer at the input stage for added size and clarity in the low frequency range. The addition of the HS-56 also significantly reduces the input impedance to 600 ohms. Contributing even further to the units unique sound profile,  the EL8-XXX uses different discrete components that were selected specifically to saturate and color the signal earlier. Alright, let's go. Grab what you want for beers and tequila, we're doing this right. Old school Mercenary style. So as the old corny adage goes, be there or be square.

Empirical Labs EL8-XXX Distressor

$1,996.00Price
Quantity

  • 30th Anniversary Edition

    - Housed in a signature red steel 1U chassis.

    Custom Transformer

    - Features a Triad HS-56 input transformer that provides enhanced clarity and low-end "size".

    Enhanced Saturation

    - Modified internal components allow for increased saturation and color, offering a slightly different, warmer tone than standard models.

    Eight Ratios & Modes

    - Ratios range from 1:1 (clean/coloring) to 20:1, plus the extreme "Nuke" brickwall setting.

    10:1 Opto Mode

    - Emulates vintage light-controlled compressors, with separate detector circuitry for smoother, slower compression.

    Distortion Modes

    - Three modes (Dist 2/3) provide tube-like 2nd order harmonics and tape-like 3rd order harmonics.

    British Mode (All Buttons In)

    - A dedicated switch to mimic the aggressive, high-ratio compression of classic 1176 limiters.

    Advanced Sidechain

    - Includes HP (high-pass) filters in the detector path to prevent low-frequency pumping.

    Stereo Linking

    - Allows for coupling two units to maintain a stable stereo image.

  • Frequency Response

    - 2 Hz – 160 kHz in clean audio mode (+0, -3 dB).

    Dynamic Range

    - 110 dB.

    Input Impedance

    - 600 Ohms (due to transformer).

    Attack/Release

    - Fast attack (50𝜇S – 50mS) 

    - Release (0.05 – 3.5 seconds, up to 20 seconds in Opto).

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