Hand crafted by our small team in Chile, the Stam SA-2A+ is the most accurate sounding replica of a vintage Teletronix LA-2A available on the market today.
The LA-2A has been the most sought-after vocal compressor in history and for good reasons. With its stunning transformers and tube circuit most things sound better by just running them through it. The Opto Element even outs any take with a smooth compression and a slow release that makes any vocal sit perfectly in a mix.
At Stam Audio we have been building LA-2A’s replicas for almost a decade and decided and have gone all in on our final revision with customer US made transformers, a new and improved Kenetek Pro Audio T4B cell, a much requested dry-wet mix blend control and built in a beautiful three U faceplate with rack ears and yes, we outsourced the elusive original VU meter as well.
Without cutting any corners and making sure that it sounds exactly like an old unit from the 60’s we are confident that the SA-2A plus will be the last LA-2A you’ll ever need.
The T4B
The T4B optical cell is the single most important part of the circuit and heart of any LA-A. Its light dependent function and peculiar time constants are what make an LA compress and sound the way it does. We have tested every T4B out in the market and always end up going back to Bill Jone’s Kenetek T4B made in the USA. Bill Jones has been building T4B’s for over a decade and thanks to his painstaking methodology, dedication and craft he is the only person in the world that can faithfully reproduce the attack and release times of an old UREI T4B. Without this part it is impossible to obtain the original sound.
Each T4B is handmade in the US, checked to be in specs and shipped to our lab in Chile with a virtual zero rejection rate and has lasted years without ever failing.
The Iron
We outsourced these transformers to several manufacturers and ended up settling with two US manufacturers that painstakingly recreated the timbre of the original UTC A and A-24 transformers. Thanks to their meticulous craftsmanship we can confidently say the SA-2A recreates every drop of character of the original UREI LA-2A both in the top and low end and can be used indistinguishably with an original unit.
The Tubes
Tubes played a big role in the original character of an LA. For the past decade and as long as they are available, we will continue to use NOS 12AX7, 12BH7 and 6AQ5 tubes on our Stam SA-2A+ that simply surpass the audio quality of modern tubes. These tubes are present on both the audio path and side chain of the unit.
The board and components. Vishay Sprague output capacitor, ohmite carbon resistors on the audio path, precision metal film resistors on the side chain and a state-of-the-art power supply with Vishay capacitors all ensure that the unit runs as quietly as possible and is reliable for decades to come.
The Circuit and controls
The Stam SA-2A+ is an exact replica of the original schematic from the late sixties with a added Dry-Wet blend control that can be disengaged, an emphasis control that allows you to control the frequencies that get compressed, a peak reduction knob to push gai reductio as far as you like, a gain knob and a limit/compress switch that changes the ratio on the unit.
The Aesthetics
Finally, but not least important is the looks. We went the extra mile to source the original LA-2 VU meter, knobs and screws in a beautiful raw brushed aluminium finish including the rack ears famously known as the “silver face”.
Manufacturing
We have made no compromise in parts which ensures you get the best sounding LA-2A money can buy. Every unit is handmade and calibrated in our workshop in Chile where they get a full health check and are burned for 72 hours to ensure your Stam SA-2A+ will last for decades to come.
Stunning vocals. Amazing on bass. In fact, most things will sound better by just running them through the Stam SA-2A+ circuitry without even compressing.
Stam Audio Engineering products are about sound quality first and foremost. Every component of every unit is premium quality and carefully selected to ensure our units match or even surpass the quality of high-end boutique gear.
