Classic Audio Levelling Compressor

The original LA-3A Leveling Amplifier made its debut at the 1969 NY AES show and marked the departure from the tube design of the Teletronix LA-2A Leveling Amplifier. The LA-3A incorporated components and design concepts from the Putnam-designed 1176LN Limiting Amplifier. Immediately embraced as a studio workhorse and still widely used today, the LA-3A remains a favorite of engineers and producers worldwide for its unique compression characteristics and sonic signature. Our UA Classics reissue of the LA-3A meticulously retains all the internal and external qualities of the original: The same simple control set, and the T4 electro-optical attenuator, which is the source of the Universal Audio LA-3A’s program dependent compression. It also retains the 2RU half-rack design, and comes complete with a single-unit rack assembly--no additional kit is necessary. All the original rear panel connections and controls are also maintained, while the commonly performed “LA-3A gain mod” is added as an additional switch for maximum studio versatility.

Universal Audio LA-3A Features:

• Classic Solid-State Opto-Compressor
• Custom UA Transformers & T4 cell
• Discrete Amplifier – up to 50dB gain
• Rear Panel "Gain Mod" switch for gain control
• Designed by ex-UREI engineer- Dennis Fink

Universal Audio LA-3A Specifications:

• External Connections Jones Barrier terminals and XLR connectors
• Gain Reduction up to 40 dB
• Distortion Less than 0.33% at +24dBm
• Frequency Response 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.5 dB
• Noise Floor -80 dB below program at threshold of limiting
• Gain 30 +/- 1dB, 50 +/- 1dB
• Output Level +20 dBm nominal
• Input Level 0dBm @ 50dB gain; +20dBm @ 30dB gain
• Attack 1.5ms or less
• Release 0.06s for 50% release