Trinity
Channel Strip


  • 70dB max gain
  • -95dB A-weighted RMS noise floor when in ultra-linear mode.
  • 3 vacuum tubes (all-tube signal path)
  • 6 LBA audio transformers
  • An LBA audio inductor (for the EQ)
  • Multi-band, passive, inductor-based EQ.
    • This EQ also has an active tube driven 15kHz shelving boost (Brilliance)
  • Class A, single-ended, ultra-linear amplifier design
  • Ultra-linear bypass ("Thunder") for a more colored sound with more gain.
  • 70dB max of low noise gain.
  • 300V B+ for massive headroom in a compact design.
  • Single 19" rack space.
  • High efficiency, LBA custom designed onboard multi-voltage converter.  
    • ​Converts 12VDC power input to the clean outputs of 300VDC(B+1), 250VDC (B+2), 48VDC (Phantom Power), and a highly regulated 6VDC tube filament rail.

This concept product has been shelved due to manufacturing limitations.  

Designed from the ground up with intuitive creativity in mind for the audio professional.  Trinity is built to last and engineered to be easily serviced.  Of the many design goals, flexibility was near the top.  It comes as an assortment of rich tone shaping functions.  One example is the "Thunder" feature, which takes the channel strip out of ultra-linear mode, unleashing the EF86 pentode's full, unrestricted tube tone (plus 10dB of added gain).  Trinity can be super clean, ultra mean, or anything in between.  It can do a whopping 70dB of gain while maintaining a super low noise floor.  Her tone comes from a trio of select vacuum tubes, a sextet of sexy LBA audio transformers, an LBA audio inductor, and about 6 years of solid R&D work.

From the gradual automated start-up sequence to the rock bottom noise floor, everything about Trinity is the epitome of excellence.  The channel strip draws just 1.8 Amps from its external (included) 12VDC power adapter.  It converts this voltage inside the Trinity to 300V and 250V for the two B+ power supplies, 6.3V for the tube filament voltage, 48V for phantom power, and runs a variety of other functions at 12V.  It does all this while maintaining a very low operating temperature, which will facilitate longevity.          

Flexing the color or washing it clean?

You know it's going to sound incredible if it's passive EQ with a tube gain stage on the output.  It does this while also using that tube gain stage to power an active EQ control - Brilliance.  This is a 15kHz shelving boost control for some extra "air" when you need it.  The Mid-frequency-band uses a custom designed LBA inductor (LBA-M2L) to provide boost or cut of either 300Hz or 2kHz.  The cut becomes a narrower bandwidth as you turn the knob more counter-clockwise (negative of the 0 mark).  The "LOW CUT" switch is also inductor based.  It however, uses the secondary of whichever input transformer is selected to create a -6dB/octave cutoff at 75Hz.  When the EQ section is engaged, your signal path gets 2 audio transformers and a tube amplifier stage added in.  This definitely adds a layer of depth and velvety smooth color to your sound.  The EQ amplifier stage and associated audio transformers are also utilized when the channel strip is in "RIBBON" mode.  

The channel strip is in it's cleanest sounding state with the EQ bypassed, RIBBON mode off, THUNDER off, the output volume up all the way, and the input volume adjusted to taste.  In this configuration there are just 2 tubes and 2 transformers in the audio path.  With the help of another tube, the little EF86 pentode is forced into ultra-linear operation.  It is here where she truly sings.  This is the lowest gain-state, in which a max of 45dB can be achieved.  This is also the operating point at which the lowest noise floor is achieved, -95dB A-weighted RMS.  The lowest THD can also be measured here and can be found at a tastefully low 0.180% THD+N when fed with a 300mA 1kHz sine wave.  Conversely, with "THUNDER" and "RIBBON" engaged the max color and gain can be achieved.  This combination yields a THD+N of 0.680% with 70dB of gain and a noise floor of -75dB A-weighted RMS.      
Click here for a Q&A with Sean McVay on recording King Buffalo's "The Burdon of Relentless" with a pair of Trinity channel strips.
The official price has not yet been determined.  A rough estimate at this time is $1999 USD.  
For more information, email sales@lightningboyaudio.com
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