Chameleon Labs Model 7602 Mic Pre/EQ Channel Strip

The Chameleon Labs Model 7602 is a channel strip that utilizes circuitry found in units used in studios worldwide for decades. It features a mic preamp with phantom power, instrument DI, 3-band EQ, phase reverse, and mic/line I/O all in a 1U rackmount chassis with break-out power supply. The 7602 boasts fully transformer-balanced XLR I/O, a front-panel Hi-Z direct instrument jack, 48V phantom power selector on the front panel, a 20-position gold contact rotary gain switch for mic and line sections, an output level control, and an oversize power supply that provides many times the necessary current for optimum sound quality at all times. By using proven designs and offshore manufacturing, Chamelon Labs is able to bring you the quality you deserve at a price you can afford.

The EQ controls start with a high pass filter with 3dB loss at 300Hz, 160Hz, 80Hz, and 50Hz with an 18dB cut per octave slope. Next is a low EQ circuit with a shelving slope with frequency selections at 220Hz, 110Hz, 60Hz, and 35Hz that affect the selected frequency and all others below it. The mid EQ follows next with a peaking characteristic at six frequency selections: 360Hz, 700Hz, 1.6kHz, 3.2kHz, 4.8kHz, and 7.2kHz. The high EQ section has a shelving characteristic with five frequency selections at 16kHz, 12kHz, 7kHz, 4.9kHz, and 3.4kHz that affect the selected frequency and all others above it. All EQ gain controls provide 20dB of boost or cut. The EQ section can also be completely bypassed by selecting pushing the EQ button.

The microphone/line sensitivity pot controls input level for the microphone and line inputs. The microphone and line inputs have their own input connectors on the rear panel and a separate input transformer. Each rear input has its own section of the control on the input gain selector switch. The microphone section provides 20-to-80dB of boost in 5dB steps, and the line section provides +10 to -20dB of adjustment.

Acting as a console fader, the output control is placed after the gain stage and before the output stage. This allows for trimming of the input signal between the 5dB steps of the input switch, as well as allowing the input to be intentionally overdriven. The normal position for this control is wide open.

What Makes Chameleon Labs Different?
Chameleon Labs is a new type of company, focused on delivering performance and value at a price previously thought impossible. How do they do it? By reinventing how global manufacturing is approached. Chameleon Labs engineers are not inexperienced kids in a garage, buying products that are designed and built in China. Chameleon Labs is comprised of audio professionals with many decades of experience in high-end pro audio gear. From its inception seven years ago, they pioneered the idea of "blended technology", using top-notch parts from the US, UK, and Europe combined with low-cost metalwork and assembly from China. This combination enables a superior performance level at a low price point.

Every Chameleon Labs product is first created and engineered here in the U.S. The goal is to achieve a specific sound through tedious testing in major U.S. recording studios and listening to numerous tracks and/or mixes with a very specific sonic target in mind. A new design must impress the best and brightest of our evaluation group before it ever reaches the factory floor.