Based in California, Phoenix Audio design and manufacture boutique-grade professional audio equipment.

Phoenix Audio products include mic preamps, EQs, compressors, DIs and summing mixers. By building pure Class-A circuits to the highest standards possible, while still offering excellent value, all Phoenix Audio products feature an intuitive user experience and a sound that leading engineers, producers and musicians alike have all come to love.

Originally formed in 1996 as the UK’s leading service provider for pre-1980 Neve recording consoles, the brand’s lead designers include David Rees (formerly a designer with Neve and who was responsible for the famous 2253/4 limiter/compressor) and technician Shaun Leveque (who specialised in large format Neve consoles). Both designers have been with Phoenix Audio since its inception and with the deep knowledge of the recording world’s most beloved circuits, Phoenix Audio now create their own products featuring robust, forward-thinking Class-A electronics, comprised of today’s best components, which has made the brand’s designs become modern classics.

In order to reach a wider audience, Phoenix Audio relocated to Costa Mesa, California in 2009. However, the company’s ethos, customer support and component sourcing have all continued to improve, year after year and today the brand is proud to be an US manufacturer of professional audio equipment, while still maintaining the British heritage.

Hand-wired in-house by a team of experienced engineers, from the DRS Series, the Ascent Series, the Nicerizer summing mixers, the Gyrator and Pivot Tone EQs, the DRC Compressor, and right through to the range of dedicated DI boxes, you can really sense (and of course, hear) the quality of boutique, small-scale manufacturing that’s in in the DNA of every single piece of Phoenix Audio gear.

Ascent Series Mic PreAmps/DI

Available in both mono (as a 1U half-rack – Ascent One) or dual mono (in a 1U 19” rack – Ascent Two), the Ascent range of Class A Mic Preamp/DIs takes what made the original DRS series so acclaimed, but evolves them for the modern era with an upgraded linear power supply with toroidal transformer and even higher-quality components throughout.

Both mono and dual mono models are also available with or without Pheonix’s Gyrator EQ and the range continues to deliver both extreme clarity and the warm saturation associated with vintage UK consoles.

The electronically balanced, transformer-less microphone input stage has an almost flat frequency response and is designed to work well with microphones in all shapes and sizes. From Ribbons, Dynamics to Condenser mics, this circuit will deliver the goods effortlessly!

As with other Phoenix Audio products, the Ascent output stages are also driven by Phoenix’s proprietary DSOP-2 Class‑A amplifier, coupled to the custom-wound DB694 output transformer. This combination defines Phoenix Audio’s ‘signature sound’ and delivers a smooth transition from ultra-clean to beautifully saturated tones.

DRC Compressor/Gate & Pivot TC Tilt EQ

In a world now crowded with compressors, most of them emulating vintage designs, with the rest, it seems, dead set on destroying dynamics, the Phoenix Audio N90-DRC/500 stands out as a decidedly musical compressor with a refreshingly unique design. Phoenix Audio developed this circuit decades ago and the thoughtful design reflects the subtler, more tasteful approach to compression from that bygone era. Though the N90 can be pushed to offer up wonderful sonic artefacts, it truly excels at the delicate (and increasingly rare) craft of transparent, musical dynamic control and gating.

While appearing quite elaborate, using the compressor/gate functions of the N90 is a forgiving and intuitive experience, especially given that this is a solid-state. The ease of use is due to the gradual and progressive behaviour of the N90’s unique control circuit. Gain reduction begins well below and continues beyond the threshold, so you’ll never hear a sudden “grabby” change in dynamics. Instead, you’ll easily dial in fluid dynamic control while simultaneously picking up the rich, lush tone of the N90’s discrete Class-A circuit. From the subtlest gain control to lush Class-A artefacts, not to mention the flexible gate circuit, the N90-DRC/500 is one of the most versatile dynamic control units ever produced.

Up to eight N90-DRC/500s can be linked together, allowing the compressor and gate functions to be controlled from just one of the units. This link functionality opens up a whole world of possibilities, from simpler stereo set-ups to far more elaborate scenarios where multiple channels are triggered by external key inputs. Almost anything you can dream up can be done with multiple N90s on hand.

Simple Yet Powerful, the Pivot Tone is one of the easiest and most intuitive EQs ever designed, but don’t let its minimalism overshadow its sophisticated circuit design or its natural musicality. A pivot EQ is like a sonic see-saw; you choose the centre frequency and then simply tilt the entire frequency spectrum back and forth to taste. “Brightening” boosts everything above the chosen centre frequency, while simultaneously attenuating everything below it. “Darkening” of course, boosts bass while attenuating treble.

Utilizing fully discrete Class-A circuits, the Pivot Tone delivers world-class, hi-fi sounds that make any line input or DI’d signal sound lush, full and coherent. The EQ section beautifully brightens or darkens your signals in subtle yet powerful ways that more complex EQs simply cannot. The centre frequencies offer three strategically-placed points for an intuitive and sweet user experience. Whether aiming to beef up a DI’d bass, adding sparkle to an acoustic guitar or to sweeten an entire 2-bus mix, you’ll find yourself reaching for the Pivot Tone again and again, wondering how you lived without such a simple and musical, yet uniquely powerful tool.

Nicerizer Summing Mixers

Many DAW companies brag about their “mixer,” but discerning engineers won’t settle for in-the-box mixing when the dimension, punch and articulation of analog summing can vastly improve their productions. Phoenix’s Nicerizer series summing mixers incorporate features and circuitry that have made them legendary tone machines. The distinction between a stereo mixer and a summing amplifier is important when considering your hybrid analog/digital rig. In essence, a mixer incorporates a fuller range of features. Nicerizer is decidedly a mixer, pulling crucial elements such as circuit overdrive and panning back into the analog realm where they truly outperform their digital emulations.

Nicerizer 16 MkII, is renowned for its precision imaging and robust tone with 16 versatile, Class-A discrete, truly balanced transformer-less input circuits that delivers the full frequency spectrum with unrivalled clarity and punch. Once mixed, the stereo signal hits a pair of custom-wound DB694 output transformer, coupled to Phoenix’s proprietary, fully discrete DSOP-2 output amplifier

The additional width control uses elements of Mid/Side processing to offer your mixes a narrower or wider image simply by turning a knob. Mix engineers who haven’t used a width control often don’t realize what they’re missing: a level of spacial manipulation that can unlock hidden dimensions or tighten up a sprawling production. Add in a Stereo Bus Insert, an Independently Controlled Aux Output, 2T Return, a Monitor Select Switch and LED Meters and you can really spice up your digital workstation with quality Class A characteristics, tone and vibe you just can’t get in the box.

Nicerizer Jr. omits the master section, width and additional outputs and LEDs etc., but you still get all of that essential Class A mix sound in a more affordable package.