T4BLA Opto Element

High-end optocell upgrade for optical compressors

The ultimate opto upgrade.

The T4BLA is a replacement opto element suitable for use in third-party opto-compressors. Replacing the stock opto element with a T4BLA yields compression behavior that sounds very even and natural with minimal pumping artifacts. With T4BLA, you’ll get improved performance from your existing compressor and will employ heavier compression without sacrificing natural, musical feel.

The T4BLA At the heart of almost every optical compressor lies a T4b-style optocell. When designing the B172a compressor, we tested every single readily available and boutique T4b we could find… the options were sorely lacking. We found that no available optocells were holding up to our rigorous testing, nor did any deliver the feel and quality that one should expect from a Black Lion product.

So in the Black Lion modding tradition… we designed one ourselves: the T4BLA!

The heart of all optical compressors.

At the center of any T4b lies an electroluminescent (EL) panel and a pair of photocells. Extensive testing revealed that the EL panel acts similar to a capacitor; the size of the panel affects the function of the optocell itself. We spent a great deal of time experimenting, tuning the electrical characteristics to achieve the absolute best optocell performance.

We found that typical opto elements employ stock rectangular EL panels direct from their supplier. Our EL panels are trimmed by hand to a custom shape of our design so that the specs, shape and capacitance match our exacting specifications.

We even designed our own optocell tester, ensuring that all optocells used in BLA products conform to our QC standard. This makes for an incredible consistency, which is perfect for matching the response between multiple optical compressors.

Black Lion Audio designs, engineers, assembles, and tests each unit by hand in the USA.

Compatibility.

  • Anthony DeMaria Labs – ADL1000

  • Anthony DeMaria Labs – ADL1500

  • Audioscape Opto Compressor

  • IGS One leveling Amplifier

  • Golden Age Project Comp2A

  • Golden Age Project Comp3A

  • Klark Teknik KT2A

  • Shadow Hills Industries Mastering Compressor

  • Stam Audio SA2A

  • Stam Audio SA23+

  • Universal Audio LA2A

  • Universal Audio LA3A

  • Warm Audio WA2A

<strong>Compatibility.</strong>

Technical

Product Images

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