SPL Venos

Adding size, depth and impact to a stereo signal has never been easier.

The Venos stereo bus compressor is based on the same design as many legendary vintage tube compressors. Venos expands this impressive sonic signature with two revolutionary hyper-compression modes, opening up new dimensions of sound.

With SPL 120V technology this sound is crowned to king of dynamics.

The Venos stereo bus compressor is basically a variable bias tube compressor. Venos works on the principle of a bias-controlled remote cutoff tube, but expands the sonic versatility of this concept with the new hyper-compression modes "Focus" and "Punch".

Once the ideal input level is dialed in, comparing different parameter settings works like a charm. The parameters have been fine-tuned in countless listening sessions to make the compressor intuitive to use. All parameters are set using switches or detented potentiometers. A single control element manages both, the left and right channel, allowing for easy recall!

The input level is adjusted via a detented potentiometer in 41 steps, within a control range of +/- 10 dB. Increasing the input level results in more intense compression.

Threshold determines the level beyond which the compressor starts with processing. The compressor begins to compress the signal once the set threshold value has been exceeded. The Threshold parameter of the Venos can be adjusted in 41 steps with the detent potentiometer.

The tube bias can also be adjusted in 41 steps using a detented potentiometer. The bias of a tube is the voltage present on the tube's grid. The higher the voltage, the less signal makes it from the cathode to the anode of the tube, which means the compression is stronger. The modulation of the bias is the sum of the Input, Threshold, Rectifier, Mode, Attack, and Release parameters.

Attack determines the response time of the compressor. The Attack time can be adjusted in six steps, from Fast to Slow. 

The counterpart of the Attack is Release. The Release parameter determines how fast the compressor eases processing the signal. Similarly to the Attack time, the Release time can also be set in six steps from Fast to Slow.

The tube stage in the Venos is controlled by a rectifier circuit. Venos offers three different diode control characteristics, generated by germanium, silicon, and LED diodes. The rectifier circuits influence the attack and release times.

The output level can be adjusted in 41 steps within a control range of +/- 10 dB using a detented potentiometer. This allows the audio level to be increased again after compression or the output level to be adjusted to subsequent devices.

The modes change the behavior of the compressor in regard to the input signal. The first three offer various analog filters (side-chain filters) in the signal path (not in the audio signal), enabling frequency-selective compression. Focus and Punch are innovative hyper-compression modes. The last mode activates an insert in the signal path, allowing the control signal to be influenced by external devices or signals.

Venos features the popular analog passive SPL equalizer presets AirBass and Tape. The three-position switch allows you to choose between the two EQ settings or to turn this function off. These filters are located in the audio signal path and are connected behind the compression stage, but still before the output level control.