Another new product from the English based Thermionic Culture is the twin channel Rooster. A valve based mic/line + DI pre-amp with EQ and a distortion section based around the same 5725 used in the ever-popular Culture Vulture. The input stage uses a custom 1200-ohm input Sowter transformer and an ECC81/12AT7 valve. The EQ section has a broad bass lift control, peaking at 60Hz, a mid cut at 700Hz, and a selectable mid/high lift at 2.5k, 4k ("bell" shaped) and 7k (shelving) respectively. . The 6 position bass cut is straight off the Earlybird 2 pre-amp. 

The 5725-distortion tube offers a subtle distortion characteristic in the triode position, more so than a Culture Vulture due to the higher HT voltage, and so has a very low (about 0.01%) distortion when the Feedback control is set to Max. In the pentode mode it generates more 3rd harmonic distortion. Distortion can be pretty radical when feed back is "off" and the input is high. The output valve is ECF80 which combines high output with low impedance (less than 100 ohms). There is +48v phantom power, and phase reverse. The output is unbalanced standard but a balancing transformer option will be available.

ROOSTER WINS RESOLUTION MAGAZINE 2009 EQ OF THE YEAR AWARD

Rooster Specifications

Measurements are made at typical ‘Attitude’ setting ‘2’. in Pentode mode with an output of +4dBu. Measurements made with AC mains input 236V 50Hz. Load resistance is 10kΩ.

10kΩ is the ideal load impedance. The Rooster will work into a load of 600Ω, but distortion will increase & MOL will be reduced.

VALVE COMPLEMENT (2ea)