Description

Thermionic Culture The Kite

The Kite has been developed by Thermionic Culture in response to requests and feedback from many of our customers. Familiar features include the “Attitude” control and broad, effective EQ in a 2-channel format.

The sound shaping controls are all dual channel controls, allowing the user to make fast, intuitive changes to the stereo mix without having to check alignment between channels. However, there are independent output level controls should any adjustment need to be made to the left/right balance.

The “Attitude” design is taken from the Fat Bustard and allows the Kite to be run as a very low distortion device or to be progressively made richer in 2nd harmonic content as the “Attitude” control is increased. We should point out that this “Attitude” circuit is unique to Thermionic Culture Ltd.

The type of valve used is critical to the success of the sound in adding useable and desirable harmonic content to the signal without incurring any noise or headroom issues. It was selected for several electronic properties that it has and also through many careful listening tests that proved it simply “sounded right” when used in the “Attitude” circuit.

The effect of adding 2nd harmonic content to the stereo mix bus is well known to bring extra dimension and character to the sound. There is also a subtle squeezing of the dynamic range due to the saturation of loud peaks and transients in the stereo signal. This can be very beneficial when used judiciously to achieve a louder overall mix, rather like the effect of running a mixing console’s stereo mix bus just to the point of saturation. However, the valve circuitry will inherently give a larger, more forgiving range within which to utilize the saturation than any solid-state console could provide.

Features include:

• All controls are stereo except O/P TRIM and are indented for easy recall;’
• HPF (High Pass Filter) operates at 20 & 40Hz with a 12dB/octave curve;
• BASS BOOST and BASS CUT both have 2 selectable operating frequencies,
  which can be used together for a Mid-Cut effect;
• TOP SHELF is a broad Mid/Top Lift, a little like a Presence control. Also has 2 frequencies.
• AIR boosts the higher Top and will give an amazing clear yet warm sound, only available without valve products;
• ATTITUDE is our own switch that adds those special 2nd harmonics only possible with valves! ;
• OUTPUT TRIM – Separate controls to adjust finely the 2 channels, also -6dB switches;
• XLR connectors, “semi-floating” inputs, and unbalanced outputs are employed;
• A transformer-balanced version is available to order.