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The Klanghabitat Lyra is a mono saturation module in the API 500 format, designed to impart natural-sounding vacuum tube distortion with precision control over harmonic content and output gain.
At the core of the Klanghabitat Lyra lies its high-voltage vacuum tube circuit, purpose-built to deliver smooth, musically rich harmonic saturation. The design exploits the inherent non-linearities of vacuum tubes, particularly when driven beyond their standard operating range. By pushing the tube outside its linear region, Lyra creates a distinctive soft-clipping effect, renowned for its warmth and pleasant harmonic overtones. Unlike digital distortion, the tube saturation in Lyra maintains a smooth, curved clipping response, resulting in a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) profile that is harmonically complex yet sonically pleasing.
The SATURATION potentiometer dictates how much the input signal drives the tube beyond its clean headroom. As this control is increased, the signal moves further into the tube’s saturation range, limiting its headroom and inducing progressive harmonic distortion. This ranges from subtle harmonic enhancement to full-on overdrive, making it an effective tool both for tonal shaping and experimental sound design. At low levels, the tube remains within its linear response zone; as the control is turned clockwise, it enters a non-linear state, adding harmonic complexity without introducing harshness.
Following the saturation stage, the INTENSITY control governs the mix between the dry input and the saturated signal. This wet/dry blend allows for precise parallel processing, enabling users to integrate subtle harmonic coloration or aggressive tube drive into the mix without overwhelming the original signal. The control operates continuously from 0% (dry) to 100% (wet), facilitating nuanced adjustments across a range of musical applications. The OUTPUT control then adjusts the final gain of the signal, allowing the user to match levels across the signal chain and avoid overdriving subsequent devices. With ±12 dB of gain adjustment, this ensures seamless integration into any studio or live processing environment.
The MKII revision retains the original circuitry, preserving its sonic character, while introducing a key functional improvement: a true bypass switch. This allows the module to be removed entirely from the signal path without affecting the overall gain structure, providing a transparent comparison between processed and unprocessed signals.
The Klanghabitat Lyra operates within the 500 series format and consumes 150 mA of power. The unit supports a maximum input and output level of +20 dBu, ensuring compatibility with professional-level signal chains. It delivers a frequency response spanning from 20 Hz to 22 kHz, maintaining full-range integrity even under heavy saturation. At 0 dBu input with saturation set to 0%, the unit produces a low THD+N of 0.024%, while maximum saturation increases harmonic content dramatically, reaching 26.3% THD+N. These specifications make the Lyra not only a powerful sonic sculpting tool but also a technically robust solution for demanding audio applications.
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