Black Lion Audio unveils Seventeen 500, inspired by the classic ’76 compressor

Boutique audio company Black Lion Audio has announced the availability of Seventeen 500 as its 500-series spin on what the classic ’76 compressor ‘could have been’.

Seventeen 500 features a redesigned and improved IC-based front end, as well as some features unavailable on original ’76s, packaged in a space-saving standardised format for modular signal processing.

Seventeen 500’s updated front-end circuit is coupled with Black Lion Audio’s custom-designed output transformer, to achieve what the company describes as a huge bottom end that balances out its open top end nicely. The new IC-based front end has been designed to give Seventeen 500 a clean, punchy, modern sound under light compression and a more colourful vintage character when pushed.

Meanwhile, its proprietary power decoupling looks to provide an incredibly low noise floor, while also using high-grade Nichicon signal capacitors considered to be some of the best quality caps available.

Seventeen 500 also includes some significant additions and upgrades, such as stereo LINK functionality, a frequency-adjustable side-chain for preventing unwanted over-compression triggered by big low-frequency signals (such as kick drums), and a COMP MIX (wet/dry mix) knob for blending the dry signal with the compressed signal.

Finally, Seventeen 500 allows for an ‘all-buttons-in’ mode, making it much easier to simultaneously engage multiple RATIO controls than on classic ’76 compressors, for instance.

Seventeen 500 is available to purchase via Black Lion Audio’s global network of dealers/distributors with a MAP of $499.00 USD and an SRP of €665.00 EUR (including VAT).