The U17 is known for its unique hybrid circuit design that combines vintage and early solid-state technologies:
Uses ECC81 double triodes for both the audio amplifier and sidechain driver. NEOLD U17 [WiN-OSX]
Employs six DS62 germanium crystal diodes for floating gain reduction. The U17 is known for its unique hybrid
Provides automated settings for Attack and Release times. A soft-clipping stage that precedes the compressor
A soft-clipping stage that precedes the compressor. Density controls the clipping intensity, while Emphasis targets specific frequency ranges for saturation.
The original hardware was custom-built by in Hamburg for the post-war NWDR (Northwest German Broadcasting) network. Only a few dozen units were ever produced, primarily used to boost signal-to-noise ratios in AM radio transmissions. It is famously documented in the "Braunbuch" , an anthology of technical descriptions for German broadcasting hardware. Technical Architecture
A proprietary knob that simultaneously adjusts the compression ratio and knee, ranging from transparent to aggressive.