The Lawson 110A Mic Pre/DI is a blast from the past.The Lawson
110A Mic Pre/DI is a two-channel mic pre based on the original vin-
tage Spectra Sonics (patented in 1965) 110A discrete pre amp card.
The Lawson 110A Mic Pre/DI also includes Hi Z direct instrument in-
puts that utilize discrete super low noise field effect transistors
(FETs). In the DI mode,the output of the FETs feeds the input of
the 110A card for adjustable gain.
The Lawson 110A Mic Pre/DI features:
1. Two channels with large VU meters,switchable 48V phantom,and
phase reversal switch;
2. Lundahl transformers on input and output with special attention
to the impedance ratio of the input transformer;
3. Film capacitors used on I/O of 110A amplifier card (instead of low
quality electrolytic capacitors used in the original);
4. Balanced continuously variable input pad (long life high quality
conductive plastic dual potentiometers);
5. Ruler flat frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz;
6. Modest 50dB gain (designed specifically for condenser micro-
phones);
7. Extremely low distortion,virtually unmeasurable;
8. Overload recovery time is 1micro second for up to 1000% over-
load;
9. Hand-selected low noise discrete transistors matched for beta;
10. Only the very finest components including Neutrik™ gold-plated
XLR connectors,1% metal film resistors,highest quality long frame
1/4” jacks for DI,Gotham™ shielded cable used for internal wiring,
toroidal transformer on power supply,anodized aluminum front
panel with permanent lettering;
11. Designed for ease of use (straightforward uncomplicated layout
of controls).
Features
The Lawson 110A Mic Pre/DI contains two separate channels.
Each channel has five controls.Channel One controls and meter
are located on the left.Channel Two controls and meter are lo-
cated on the right.
The five controls are (refer to front panel shown on next page):
1. Rotary Gain Control Knob
2. Microphone/DI Selection Switch
3. 48 Volt Phantom On/Off Switch
4. Phase Switch (Positive/Negative)
5. Meter Zero Adjustment
1. Rotary Gain Control Knob
The gain control adjusts the level of the microphones or DI (in-
struments).
2. Microphone/DI Selection Switch
Selects the input source: either microphone (rear panel XLR)or
DI (front panel 1/4” guitar jack).
3. 48 Volt Phantom On/Off Switch
Turns on or off 48 volt phantom power for microphones that re-
quire phantom powering.If you are using a vacuum tube mic,
switch to off.
4. Phase Switch
Changes the phase/polarity of the mic/DI (0º or -180º). The nor-
mal position for this switch is the “+” position.
5. Meter Zero Adjustment
Controls the position of the meter needle at rest.With no signal,
the needle should rest directly on the line just below -20. This
adjustment requires a small slotted-blade screwdriver.Insert the
screwdriver into the meter adjustment hole and gently rotate
slightly clockwise/counter-clockwise until the needle rests on
the line just below -20. Adjustment of this control rarely needs
attention.
Controls
