The Rolling Stones had a silver one in their mobile truck, The Beatles had two green ones at Apple Studios and 10cc had a red one at their Strawberry Studios. These are, of course, the legendary Helios mixing desks, an often overlooked and forgotten console having recorded many hit records of the 60s and 70s and designed by the late Dick Swettenham. After Helios Electronics Ltd. closed down in 1979, Tony Arnold of Courthouse Facilities, who had been servicing the consoles, bought the company and started reissuing what's considered the best-sounding of the four different Helios module iterations: the Type 69 microphone preamp/EQ. Repeatedly tested against their surviving vintage modules, these incredibly faithful recreations pass every test thrown their way. The Type 69 mic pre is available through Vintage King alongside an exclusive series of Helios products, including the 1U dual-channel rack and Type 69 500-Series module.
The Helios Type 69 Mic Pre/EQ Module Born Again! Re-manufactured classic 3 band eq-pre. Discrete. Switchable lo/mid. Fixed top. Hi-pass. Unlike anything you have ever used (especially if you are stuck in API-Neve land) you will find the Type 69 a unique departure. These hand built units have a Sowter input transformer based on the highly desirable Lustraphone(Olympic) transformer models. The mids are so funky and sweet---- guitars and snare drum's from heaven; woody and sweet! 700 to 2k to die for! Lo's are Pultec-ish. Hi's are sweet and musical. Extremely open Mic-Pre!In mic shootout's, these are as open as the king daddy Telefunken V76m. Transform your life. The Legendary Helios Electronics Ltd has resurrected with much anticipation and patience, the Olympic Type69 Series EQ as used by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Led Zepplin and so on. Helios became known as the musician's choice of recording consoles. Brought in line with modern expectations, these units are built to military specifications with supervision of gear fanatic and music producer Tony Arnold. Endorsed by the late Dick Swettenham, of the original Helios Electronics Ltd, to maintain and service all of the original consoles, Tony later purchased the original company, including all of its circuits and parts. The Olympic Series is a classic 3-band EQ-Pre module, available in a dual mono 1U rack mount or a mono vertical module. The modern circuit is similar to the original, aside from one vast improvement, the build quality and reliability. The openness and clarity has been upheld with the addition of EQ frequency selections. Tony Arnold explains, "We asked many of the original users of the Helios Desks what they felt was missing, and could we make any improvements. Most wanted the 30 Hz added to the Lo-EQ. In order to meet todays CD standards, some wanted a tight high frequency around 16 k, which has been added without changing the original Helios sound whatsoever."
The Helios Type 69 Mic Pre/EQ Module Re-manufactured classic 3 band eq-pre. Discrete. Switchable lo/mid. Fixed top. Hi-pass. Unlike anything you have ever used (especially if you are stuck in API-Neve land) you will find the Type 69 a unique departure. These hand built units have a Sowter input transformer based on the highly desirable Lustraphone(Olympic) transformer models. The mids are so funky and sweet---- guitars and snare drum's from heaven; woody and sweet! 700 to 2k to die for! Lo's are Pultec-ish. Hi's are sweet and musical. Extremely open Mic-Pre!In mic shootout's, these are as open as the king daddy Telefunken V76m. Transform your life. The Legendary Helios Electronics Ltd has resurrected with much anticipation and patience, the Olympic Type69 Series EQ as used by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Led Zepplin and so on. Helios became known as the musician's choice of recording consoles. Brought in line with modern expectations, these units are built to military specifications with supervision of gear fanatic and music producer Tony Arnold. Endorsed by the late Dick Swettenham, of the original Helios Electronics Ltd, to maintain and service all of the original consoles, Tony later purchased the original company, including all of its circuits and parts. The Olympic Series is a classic 3-band EQ-Pre module, available in a dual mono 1U rack mount or a mono vertical module. The modern circuit is similar to the original, aside from one vast improvement, the build quality and reliability. The openness and clarity has been upheld with the addition of EQ frequency selections. Tony Arnold explains, "We asked many of the original users of the Helios Desks what they felt was missing, and could we make any improvements. Most wanted the 30 Hz added to the Lo-EQ. In order to meet todays CD standards, some wanted a tight high frequency around 16 k, which has been added without changing the original Helios sound whatsoever."
Vintage King 2U Single Channel Rack Information
Switchcraft™ E-Series gold XLR's.
¼” front panel line input (this is NOT an instrument input unless requested/optional).
Low noise VK Custom power supply utilizing toroidal transformer capable of 600mA+ at 24V DC and 100mA at 48V DC. The current rating is over spec for the module.
High quality NKK™ lighted switch for 48V.
Output “fader” wired to insert on module.
Proper grounding techniques, per Neve™ documentation, are utilized for low noise.
Chassis: 0.050” steel with aluminum front/rear panels and 6-32 steel press nuts. Chassis is an excellent blend of strength and weight.
IEC power cable included.
1 Year Warranty
The Helios Type 69 Mic Pre/EQ Module Re-manufactured classic 3 band eq-pre. Discrete. Switchable lo/mid. Fixed top. Hi-pass. Unlike anything you have ever used (especially if you are stuck in API-Neve land) you will find the Type 69 a unique departure. These hand built units have a Sowter input transformer based on the highly desirable Lustraphone(Olympic) transformer models. The mids are so funky and sweet---- guitars and snare drum's from heaven; woody and sweet! 700 to 2k to die for! Lo's are Pultec-ish. Hi's are sweet and musical. Extremely open Mic-Pre!In mic shootout's, these are as open as the king daddy Telefunken V76m. Transform your life. The Legendary Helios Electronics Ltd has resurrected with much anticipation and patience, the Olympic Type69 Series EQ as used by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Led Zepplin and so on. Helios became known as the musician's choice of recording consoles. Brought in line with modern expectations, these units are built to military specifications with supervision of gear fanatic and music producer Tony Arnold. Endorsed by the late Dick Swettenham, of the original Helios Electronics Ltd, to maintain and service all of the original consoles, Tony later purchased the original company, including all of its circuits and parts. The Olympic Series is a classic 3-band EQ-Pre module, available in a dual mono 1U rack mount or a mono vertical module. The modern circuit is similar to the original, aside from one vast improvement, the build quality and reliability. The openness and clarity has been upheld with the addition of EQ frequency selections. Tony Arnold explains, "We asked many of the original users of the Helios Desks what they felt was missing, and could we make any improvements. Most wanted the 30 Hz added to the Lo-EQ. In order to meet todays CD standards, some wanted a tight high frequency around 16 k, which has been added without changing the original Helios sound whatsoever."
Vintage King 3U Dual Channel Rack Information
Switchcraft™ E-Series gold XLR's.
¼” front panel line input (this is NOT an instrument input unless requested/optional).
Low noise VK Custom power supply utilizing toroidal transformer capable of 600mA+ at 24V DC and 100mA at 48V DC. The current rating is over spec for the module.
High quality NKK™ lighted switch for 48V.
Output “fader” wired to insert on module.
Proper grounding techniques, per Neve™ documentation, are utilized for low noise.
Chassis: 0.050” steel with aluminum front/rear panels and 6-32 steel press nuts. Chassis is an excellent blend of strength and weight.
IEC power cable included.
1 Year Warranty
8 channel VK rack loaded with 8x helios Type 69 reissue modules
Helios Description
Re-manufactured classic 3 band eq-pre. Discrete. Switchable lo/mid. Fixed top. Hi-pass. Unlike anything you have ever used (especially if you are stuck in API-Neve land) you will find the Type 69 a unique departure. These hand built units have a Sowter input transformer based on the highly desirable Lustraphone(Olympic) transformer models. The mids are so funky and sweet---- guitars and snare drum's from heaven;woody and sweet! 700 to 2k to die for! Lo's are Pultec-ish. Hi's are sweet and musical. Extremely open Mic-Pre!In mic shootout's, these are as open as the king daddy Telefunken V76m. Transform your life.
The Legendary Helios Electronics Ltd has resurrected with much anticipation and patience, the Olympic Type69 Series EQ as used by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin and so on. Helios became known as the musician's choice of recording consoles.
Brought in line with modern expectations, these units are built to military specifications with supervision of gear fanatic and music producer Tony Arnold. Endorsed by the late Dick Swettenham, of the original Helios Electronics Ltd, to maintain and service all of the original consoles, Tony later purchased the original company, including all of its circuits and parts.
The Olympic Series is a classic 3-band EQ-Pre module, available in a dual mono 1U rack mount or a mono vertical module. The modern circuit is similar to the original, aside from one vast improvement, the build quality and reliability. The openness and clarity has been upheld with the addition of EQ frequency selections. Tony Arnold explains, ?We asked many of the original users of the Helios Desks what they felt was missing, and could we make any improvements. Most wanted the 30 Hz added to the Lo-EQ. In order to meet todays CD standards, some wanted a tight high frequency around 16 k, which has been added without changing the original Helios sound whatsoever.
Helios Description:
Born Again! Re-manufactured classic 3 band eq-pre. Discrete. Switchable lo/mid. Fixed top. Hi-pass. Unlike-anything you have ever used (especially if you are stuck in API-Neve land) you will find the Type 69 a unique departure. These hand built units have a Sowter input transformer based on the highly desirable Lustraphone(Olympic) transformer models. The mids are so funky and sweet---- guitars and snare drum's from heaven;woody and sweet! 700 to 2k to die for! Lo's are Pultec-ish. Hi's are sweet and musical. Extremely open Mic-Pre! In mic shootout's, these are as open as the king daddy Telefunken V76m. Transform your life.
The Legendary Helios Electronics Ltd has resurrected with much anticipation and patience, the Olympic Type69 Series EQ as used by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin and so on. Helios became known as the musician's choice of recording consoles.
Brought in line with modern expectations, these units are built to military specifications with supervision of gear fanatic and music producer Tony Arnold. Endorsed by the late Dick Swettenham, of the original Helios Electronics Ltd, to maintain and service all of the original consoles, Tony later purchased the original company, including all of its circuits and parts.
The Olympic Series is a classic 3-band EQ-Pre module, available in a dual mono 1U rack mount or a mono vertical module. The modern circuit is similar to the original, aside from one vast improvement, the build quality and reliability. The openness and clarity has been upheld with the addition of EQ frequency selections. Tony Arnold explains, "We asked many of the original users of the Helios Desks what they felt was missing, and could we make any improvements. Most wanted the 30 Hz added to the Lo-EQ. In order to meet todays CD standards, some wanted a tight high frequency around 16 k, which has been added without changing the original Helios sound whatsoever."
The Helios Type 69 500 holds true to the original Dick Swettenham design, but with a number of modern updates such as 5db steps on the mic preamp gain switch as opposed to the original 10db steps, additional 16khz EQ frequency selection for today's high-bandwidth digital recordings, and a balanced output for easy interfacing with any digital converter.
Helios Type 69-500 Now Shipping!
All the legendary sonics of the renowned Helios Type 69 pre/eq module neatly packed into the convenient and cost-effective 500 series format! Vintage King Exclusive
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