1176LN Classic Limiting Amplifier

Overview

1176LN Classic Limiting Amplifier

FET-Style Compressor with Class A Output & Custom Transformers — True to the Original

The 1176LN Classic Limiting Amplifier is a modern reproduction, yet every effort was made to remain faithful to UA founder Bill Putnam Sr.’s visionary design and intentions. The original UA 1176LN was a major breakthrough in limiter technology — the first true peak limiter with all transistor circuitry offering superior performance with a signature sound — and set the standard for all limiters to follow. The ultra-fast attack time and trademark sound have lured legendary artists and studio moguls alike to the 1176LN — Peter Frampton, Joe Satriani, Joe Chiccarelli, Vance Powell, and Mike Elizondo are just a few names on a list that’s continued to grow, for nearly 50 years.

FET-Style Compressor with Class A Output & Custom Transformers
True to the original 1176 in design, manufacturing and performance
Ultra fast attack time – 20 microseconds to 800 microseconds
Hand-built in USA; backed by 1-Year limited warranty
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Carefully trained staff hand-wire and test each unit until it meets our uncompromising standards. This Universal Audio Classic version of the 1176LN captures all the nuance of the original through obsessive attention to detail and delivers that trademark sound. Demand the original. Accept no copies.

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Features & Specs

1176LN Classic Limiting Amplifier

Features:

True to the original in design, manufacturing and performance
Modeled after 1176LN, blackface, D and E revisions
Ultra fast attack time -20 microseconds to 800 microseconds
Class A line level output amplifier
Custom built Putnam-designed output transformer
Stereo interconnect operation
Hand-built in USA; backed by 1-year limited warranty

Technical Specifications:

Input Impedance

600 ohms, bridges-T control (floating)

Output Load Impedance

600 ohms, floating, damping factor 20

External Connections

Jones Barrier terminals and XLR connectors

Frequency Response

± 1 dB 20 Hz to 20kHz

Gain

50 dB

Distortion

Less than 0.5% total harmonic distortion from 50 Hz to 15 kHz with limiting

Signal to Noise Ratio

Greater than 70 dB at +10 dBm

Attack Time

20 microseconds to 800 microseconds

Release Time

50 milliseconds to 1.1 seconds

Stereo Interconnection

via 1176 SA Network accessory

Meter

dB gain reduction and dB output

Power Requirements

120/240 V

Environmental

Maximum operating temperature 160°F

Dimensions

19" Rackmount chassis, 2U

Weight (unboxed)

11 lbs.

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Reviews

Reviews

Jason Mraz
(Singer/ Songwriter/ Musician)
"For my past two albums I've had the UA 1176 in my vocal chain and now it's a mainstay. I know every studio performance I give is going to be intimate and authentic... I know my listeners are getting the best vocal quality possible."

04/2012

Hugh Robjohns
(Sound on Sound)
"The Universal Audio reincarnation [of the 1176] is every bit as good as the original."

06/2001

Andy Johns
(Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones)
“UA's new 1176LN sounds exactly like the ones I've used on every record I've done over the last 30 years.”

Greg Parkin
(Capitol Studios & Mastering)
"UA gear such as the 1176 and LA-2A have been staples here at Capitol since their creation."

Review
07/2010

Glenn Rosenstein
(Ziggy Marley, U2)
"There's a very specific reason why pieces of gear like an 1176 or an LA-2A or an LA-3 became ubiquitous."

Review
06/2010
Vance Powell
(The Dead Weather)
"1176LN? To say I am a fan is an understatement."

Review
05/2010

Vance Powell
(The Dead Weather)
"Live bands recorded to 1" 8-track? Sure! But I need some 1176LNs!"

Review
05/2010

Vance Powell
(The Dead Weather)
"I wanted 1176LNs in our rack in the Third Man Live booth because I know what they sound like: fantastic!"

Review
05/2010

Justin Gerrish
(Vampire Weekend)
"I also always have one mic in the room, my "crush mic," that I run through an 1176LN."

Review
02/2010

Justin Gerrish
(Vampire Weekend)
"That familiar sound of vocals being very present and clear. That comes from just using an 1176LN."

Review
02/2010
Justin Gerrish
(Vampire Weekend)
"Mixing [Vampire Weekend] I put LA-2As on the bass. I also used an 1176 and an LA-3A on the vocal, together in series."

Review
02/2010

Adrian Younge
(Black Dynamite Score)
”It's really the 1176 that’s the essential part of my sound. Everything was run through that."

12/2009

Ed Cherney
(Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton)
"You cannot make a classic rock record, in my mind's ear, without an 1176 on the snare drum."

07/2009

Ed Cherney
(Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton)
"I use an 1176 as part of my signal chain on basically on all my channels."

07/2009

Carl Glanville
(U2)
"The sonic picture is completed with the output of the 610 being connected to my LA-2A or 1176 before being committed to tape."
Gareth Jones
(Erasure, Mogwai)
"I know many of my engineering colleagues would say, if they could only have one compressor, it would be the 1176LN."

Jimmy Mitchell
(Billy Bob Thornton)
"The vocal chain I’ve been using with Billy [Bob Thornton] for years is an M-149 into a Neve 1073 through an 1176LN"

Jeff Balding
(Amy Grant, Faith Hill)
"I use those [1176LNs] quite a bit on drums, guitars, even vocals"

Peter Frampton

“The LA-2A and 1176 have been in my life for so long. I can’t do without those."

Jason Carmer
(Third Eye Blind)
"The 1176s are probably the best all around compressors, in my opinion. I use them on everything."
Joe Chiccarelli
(Beck, U2)
"The new 1176s are better for vocals because the old ones are grittier. The new ones are cleaner and just sweeter on tape."

Frank Filipetti
(James Taylor, Rod Stewart)
“I wish more companies paid attention to what you guys are doing at UA ... it's right on the money."

Ariel Borujow
(P-Diddy, TI, Black Eyed Peas)
"The 1176LN is my go-to compressor for bass. Really helps you achieve that in your face sound!"

09/2010

Adrian Younge
(Black Dynamite Score)
“When I use the [All Buttons Mode] on the 1176 on my drums, it makes the drums hit hard."

12/2009

Gareth Jones
(Grizzly Bear, Depeche Mode)
"Mixing Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest, we used all UA gear we could get our hands on - 1176s & LA-2As of course."

11/2009
Mark Cross
(Audio Media)
"Having this quality of gear [LA-2A and 1176LN] available for these sessions was a privilege that I could get used to."

07/2001

Mark Cross
(Audio Media)
"The re-release of the 1176LN is truly historic."

07/2001

Mark Cross
(Audio Media)
"From percussion to voice to guitars to strings, [the LA-2A and 1176LN] proved to be sonically and technically impressive."

07/2001

Stephen Murphy
(Pro Audio Review)
"[The 1176LN] is one of the tools of our trade that you can make a shape with; it becomes an extension of the sound."

03/2001

Stephen Murphy
(Pro Audio Review)
"Like its predecessors, the UA 1176 reissue is easy to use and sounds great."

03/2001
Dave Martin
(Recording Magazine)
"The 1176 is the original -- the standard by which all others are judged."

Review
10/2000

Trevor Curwen
(Mix Magazine)
“This is a unit that will definitely delight long term 1176 users and those new to the model.”

08/2000

Barry Rudolph
(Mix Magazine)
"The 1176LN reissue, based on the D and E revisions, is as close as you get to 'the sound of '67' without a time machine."

06/2000

Hugh Robjohns
(Sound On Sound)
"Every rack should have at least one of these fabulous [1176LN] processors"

Review
10/1999

Jay Newland
(Norah Jones)
"We put two 1176s in series & cranked up the gain on one & this distortion thing happened ... it made the song, it was great!”
Adam Hawkins
(50 Cent, Maroon 5)
"We used a Universal Audio 1176 reissue recording all of [50 Cent's] vocals, and it ended up sounding great.

Jimmy Douglass
(Justin Timberlake)
“I always use an 1176 on the insert. It tickles but doesn’t take over ... [and] puts the vocals up front.”

User Ratings

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Average Rating (2 Reviews)

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by D. Jenkins (Sunday 19 June, 2011)
My Favorite Compressor/Limiter of ALL! I do own the Vintage Silverface UREI Blue Badged Red Off Button Version - which I find is particularly good on soft ballad vocals.... It is my favorite SWEET Limiter & is also good as an Over-Compressed sound effect on Drums etc... Awesome on Electric … Read more
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by J. Teeters (Tuesday 25 January, 2011)
I have used the 1176LN hardware for about a year now and it has breathed new life into my mixes and recordings. Its great on just about everything, a real work horse. … Read more

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