If you're new to the idea of transformers in your instruments signal path, the 23Fe is a great place to start. It focuses on providing obvious sonic coloration and an interactive response that fits on your pedalboard with no power supply and at an affordable price. |
The 23Fe is a passive, 1:1 ratio high-impedance audio transformer, designed for use with electric guitar, bass, synth, pedal steel, or whatever you fancy. If you want a tone that sticks out of the mix a bit more, the 23Fe's mid-forward voicing might be just what you're after. It provides a subtle amount of compression, which increases with greater signals feeding into it. There's also a different tone from both our original 2020 Instrument Transformer and the 2020S, while offering roughly twice the sonic coloration as the 2020S. Furthermore, the 23Fe exhibits a non-linear frequency response that you can read about in the technical information section below. The 23Fe is wound with a completely different geometry than the 2020S in order to maximize the performance of its low quality core. There is a little more signal insertion loss than the 2020S, at about 2dB. It is highly recommended to experiment with driving it with a boost pedal to achieve more color and compression. One 23Fe in your signal path is enough for anyone to notice it's a colorful little box, where a pair can offer an obviously snappy, compressed sound, with a dark and gritty tone. The 23Fe pairs very well with the 2020S. In comparison, we here at LBA like to think of the 2020S as sounding creamy and pretty, whereas the 23Fe sounds more edgy, mid-forward, and old-school-ish (It has a vibe).
The 23Fe was developed in 2023 in an effort to create a really bad transformer, while retaining somewhat of a decent frequency response, minimal insertion loss, and a robust enough build to handle getting tossed around without breakage. All this could be had for an astonishingly low price if the sound didn't suck. Eight production prototypes were produced for 3rd party trials. The feedback we received has been significantly positive. It seems to suggest humans prefer things that sound less perfect. From a transformer design standpoint, the most perfect transformer doesn't exist, but if it did, it would have no sound of it's own (tone) and no insertion loss. The original 2020 Instrument transformer was a subtle effect because it was too good of a transformer. The 2020S was a less perfect transformer than the 2020, and thus had more color and insertion loss. However, the 2020S is still a fairly good performing transformer in that it has low insertion loss, a fairly balanced frequency response, and a reasonably low amount of THD. The 23Fe continues this trend of reducing the quality of audio performance in order to maximize the attributes that make a bad transformer desirable as an FX device. We were very surprised to find some pleasing attributes that are often avoided, such as compression and an interesting EQ curve.
The 23Fe was developed in 2023 in an effort to create a really bad transformer, while retaining somewhat of a decent frequency response, minimal insertion loss, and a robust enough build to handle getting tossed around without breakage. All this could be had for an astonishingly low price if the sound didn't suck. Eight production prototypes were produced for 3rd party trials. The feedback we received has been significantly positive. It seems to suggest humans prefer things that sound less perfect. From a transformer design standpoint, the most perfect transformer doesn't exist, but if it did, it would have no sound of it's own (tone) and no insertion loss. The original 2020 Instrument transformer was a subtle effect because it was too good of a transformer. The 2020S was a less perfect transformer than the 2020, and thus had more color and insertion loss. However, the 2020S is still a fairly good performing transformer in that it has low insertion loss, a fairly balanced frequency response, and a reasonably low amount of THD. The 23Fe continues this trend of reducing the quality of audio performance in order to maximize the attributes that make a bad transformer desirable as an FX device. We were very surprised to find some pleasing attributes that are often avoided, such as compression and an interesting EQ curve.
Iron as the primary core component in a transformer for this application is probably the worst choice from a normal transformer design perspective. With a high impedance signal that's too strong for the wimpy core of the 23Fe, it's going to be all sorts of wonky in all the ways we want for a simple, yet effective color box. The 23Fe features two 1/4" jacks that work as either input or output... it works both directions. Inside is a wire loop on the circuit board, that if snipped, will turn the 23Fe into an isolation transformer. The 23Fe ships direct from Lightning Boy Audio in the USA with a 1-year warranty. |
Technical Specifications:
Enclosure size: 3.64 x 1.52 x 1.06" (92.5 x 38.6 x 26.924mm)
Weight: 5.2oz. (147g.)
I/O: 1/4" (6.35mm) jacks. Interchangeable input/output.
Power supply requirements: None. Passive device = no power supply.
Transformer: LBA Little Tony, AKA "Lil' T"
Ratio: 1:1
Impedance: High
Ground: grounded I/O by default. Internal PCB wire loop can be cut to create an isolation transformer.
Insertion loss: ~2dB on average.
THD+N: Measured with a 100mV 1kHz sine wave with an impedance of 1.5k Ohms = 0.018%
Frequency Response (buckle up... this one is complicated): The range of flat response is +/- 2dB from 1.4kHz-21.15kHz. Backwards from 1.4kHz there is low-shelf attenuation, with a slope that drops it down -2dB by the time we get to 576Hz. It's relatively flat (+/- 1dB) from 52Hz-576Hz. What happens below 52Hz is a monster +4dB bass boost at 28Hz. That puts 28Hz at +2dB over the flat range of 1.4kHz-21.15kHz.
Compression: 0.5dB with a 100mV signal
Compression Attack Time: 0.5μs
Magnetic Shielding Can: No
Enclosure size: 3.64 x 1.52 x 1.06" (92.5 x 38.6 x 26.924mm)
Weight: 5.2oz. (147g.)
I/O: 1/4" (6.35mm) jacks. Interchangeable input/output.
Power supply requirements: None. Passive device = no power supply.
Transformer: LBA Little Tony, AKA "Lil' T"
Ratio: 1:1
Impedance: High
Ground: grounded I/O by default. Internal PCB wire loop can be cut to create an isolation transformer.
Insertion loss: ~2dB on average.
THD+N: Measured with a 100mV 1kHz sine wave with an impedance of 1.5k Ohms = 0.018%
Frequency Response (buckle up... this one is complicated): The range of flat response is +/- 2dB from 1.4kHz-21.15kHz. Backwards from 1.4kHz there is low-shelf attenuation, with a slope that drops it down -2dB by the time we get to 576Hz. It's relatively flat (+/- 1dB) from 52Hz-576Hz. What happens below 52Hz is a monster +4dB bass boost at 28Hz. That puts 28Hz at +2dB over the flat range of 1.4kHz-21.15kHz.
Compression: 0.5dB with a 100mV signal
Compression Attack Time: 0.5μs
Magnetic Shielding Can: No