The Stam SA-4000 MK3+ is a faithful replica of legendary stereo bus compressors from the G and E Series Oxford Consoles, combining four vintage console tones in one unit. It offers the sought-after “glue” and character that have shaped countless hit records over the past three decades. This version includes both British and American mods, making it a six-in-one compressor.
To achieve this level of authenticity, we reverse-engineered the original DBX 202C VCA “gold” cans from the 1980s consoles, creating the SA-202C, an identical, fully discrete reproduction. These cans are hand-matched to ensure the unique harmonic richness and character of the original. The Stam SA-4000 MK3+ uses four SA-202C cans—two in the gain reduction circuit and two on the sidechain—enhancing the response and making it an exceptional drum bus compressor.
Capacitors were carefully selected to ensure the best sound quality, with Elna Silmic chosen for their superior frequency response and stereo imaging. The unit also features true stereo sidechain, a mix blend knob, a high-pass filter with five settings, new ratio options, and triple output stages: British, American, and clean.
The British mod adds Carnhill transformers and BA283 output cards for warmth and low-end enhancement. The American mod incorporates SA-2520 opamps and Steel 2503 transformers for punch and power, ideal for drum buses. A solid-state clean output provides a transparent signal option.
The Stam SA-4000 MK3+ faithfully replicates the original SSL console circuitry, with hand-made and fully discrete components, ensuring it behaves and sounds identical to the vintage units. Every unit is built and calibrated by hand in Chile, including a 24-hour burn-in process.
Strapping the Stam SA-4000 MK3+ onto your master bus instantly adds cohesion, punch, and size to your mix while retaining clarity, making it a perfect solution for mixing “in the box.” Whether on the mix bus or drum bus, it enhances any musical style, delivering that polished, record-ready sound.
