Thermionic Culture The Earlybird 4

4-channel microphone preamplifier

• Limited edition "revival" in red - only 49 units
• 4 channels of "push pull" class A tube preamplifier
• Clean gain from 3dB to 62dB, with selectable input impedance
• Hand-wired with point-to-point wiring
• Custom transformers in collaboration with Sowter
• Selectable VU meters and peak indicators

Thermionic Culture The Earlybird 4 - The best tube microphone preamplifier

Thermionic Culture's The Earlybird 4 offers four channels of the highest quality tube preamplifier in a compact 19" format. This limited edition "revival" in red, made in only 49 units, echoes the original 1999 design but incorporates updated and simplified circuitry for an even more natural and detailed sound performance.

Class A circuit design for impeccable sound quality

The circuit adopts a Class A "push pull" architecture, offering extremely clean gain, with some of the lowest noise and distortion values ever achieved in a microphone preamplifier. Gain ranges from 3dB to 62dB, with selectable input impedance for perfect matching with any microphone.

Handcrafted wiring and high-end components

Each unit is handcrafted with point-to-point wiring, a hallmark signature of Thermionic Culture products. Input and output transformers, developed in collaboration with Sowter, ensure precise frequency response, minimal phase shift and high headroom.

Comprehensive controls for each channel

Advanced control features for maximum flexibility

• Selectable input impedance
• Switchable +48V phantom power supply
• Switchable gain from 42 dB to 62 dB with 20dB pad
• 2-position high-pass filter
• Variable output trim with phase inverter
• VU meters selectable between channels 1/3 and 2/4
• Overload indicators with +10 dBm threshold (20 dB headroom)

Specifications.

• Type: 4-channel tube microphone preamplifier
• Operating class: Class A push-pull
• Gain: 3 dB - 62 dB
• Pad: -20 dB
• Input impedance: selectable
• Phantom power supply: 48V switchable
• VU meters: 2, selectable among the 4 channels
• LED overload: active over +10 dBm
• Construction: entirely hand-wired
• Limited edition: 49 units in red finish