CRL Systems Audio Processors

[radiodeviation7]

I recently came across the old processors that CRL Systems produced (Amigo FM/AM, Stereo Preparation Processor, Spectral Energy Processor, etc.) and they sound amazing! Some may find their controls a little bit too restrictive but that is absolutely not a problem for me, they prevent program directors who know nothing about processing from causing a mess and keep the station sounding nice.

CRL Systems was not very popular in Europe, I haven't heard of a single station outside of the U.S and Canada that used these processors, they appear to have been a big hit there. Most stations in my country used AEV processors before switching to Orbans and Omnias.

I found pictures of the SPP and SEP processors and they all had a hardwired power cord (no IEC socket like every other processor), they didn't have a voltage selector switch and they were all rated on 115V 60 Hz. It seems like they were specifically manufactured for the U.S market. The Amigo FM and AM did have a voltage selector, though.

I wonder, were these units ever sold in Europe? I want to buy the SPP and SEP, but I don't want to have to spend money on voltage converters.

 

[Kelly A]

I recently came across the old processors that CRL Systems produced (Amigo FM/AM, Stereo Preparation Processor, Spectral Energy Processor, etc.) and they sound amazing! Some may find their controls a little bit too restrictive but that is absolutely not a problem for me, they prevent program directors who know nothing about processing from causing a mess and keep the station sounding nice.

Oh trust me, history has shown engineers and PD's can trash their radio station sound with CRL gear. Crank everything up with fast attack and release settings and hammer the modulation monitor needle to 105%.

CRL Systems was not very popular in Europe, I haven't heard of a single station outside of the U.S and Canada that used these processors, they appear to have been a big hit there. Most stations in my country used AEV processors before switching to Orbans and Omnias.

I found pictures of the SPP and SEP processors and they all had a hardwired power cord (no IEC socket like every other processor), they didn't have a voltage selector switch and they were all rated on 115V 60 Hz. It seems like they were specifically manufactured for the U.S market. The Amigo FM and AM did have a voltage selector, though.

AM and FM Amigo processors were geared toward smaller markets with smaller budgets.

I wonder, were these units ever sold in Europe? I want to buy the SPP and SEP, but I don't want to have to spend money on voltage converters.

You should just be able to buy some Euro to U.S. Edison-style travel plug adaptors. They're cheap and available via Amazon, or most airport kiosks.

 

[radiodeviation7]

Oh trust me, history has shown engineers and PD's can trash their radio station sound with CRL gear. Crank everything up with fast attack and release settings and hammer the modulation monitor needle to 105%.

Some people really can't comprehend the concept of bad audio, sadly.

AM and FM Amigo processors were geared toward smaller markets with smaller budgets.

Yeah, I know that. They were extremely cheap compared to other processors.

You should just be able to buy some Euro to U.S. Edison-style travel plug adaptors. They're cheap and available via Amazon, or most airport kiosks.

I can do that, but when I plug the processor in 230V, it won't be fun. $1,000 down the drain.

 

[Greg Strickland]

If you are able and willing to open up the CRL and solder, you may be able to change the power transformer to accommodate 230 volts input. Or maybe not. There are probably schematics of the units you are interested on the Internet, and you might be able to research feasibility of changing transformer taps. At the same time you could install a different power plug.