SPL Hermes – Mastering Router with Dual Parallel Mix (All Black) SPL

Hermes revolutionizes mastering. Now it is possible to have an audio signal processed by up to eight 2-channel processors in any order that can be stored. At the push of a button you can compare up to four complex processing chains.

Connect, route, store, compare
Hermes accelerates mastering workflows in an unprecedented achievable way. The time-consuming replugging of the patchbay alone had made true comparison almost impossible. Now you can change, store and compare processing chains in seconds. All with real buttons, relays and without additional software.

Simply push the processor buttons A to H in the order in which the audio signal should pass through the processors and store it. All processors can be named for a better overview. The name always appears briefly in the display when an insert button is pressed.

Free routing of two parallel mix stages
Hermes has two parallel mix stages that can be freely assigned to each of the eight processors and stored with a processing chain. This means that even two compressors with different parallel mix settings can be compared quickly and easily.

The routing is completely passive with gas-encapsulated and gold-plated high-end relays. All active stages, such as the input/output stages and the parallel mix stages work in 120V technology.

Sends / Returns
The stereo channels are strictly separated on two boards to achieve the highest possible channel separation. The inserts are connected with XLRs for the first four stereo processors and with DB25 for the second four stereo processors.

The 120V technology
The 120V technology is our reference technology. The 120V technology is unique in the world. It operates at a DC voltage of 120 volts. This is four times that of IC-based semiconductor op-amps.

The highest possible audio quality requires the highest possible audio operating voltage. The 120V technology works with +/-60 V. To be able to handle such a high voltage, we have developed special proprietary operational amplifiers that can operate with a DC voltage of +/-60 V: the SPL 120V SUPRA operational amplifiers. This high voltage would destroy conventional components and operational amplifiers.

The 120V technology achieves exceptional technical specifications and sonic benefits. Technically, in terms of dynamic range, signal-to-noise ratio and headroom. Sonically, in terms of richness of detail and an absolutely relaxed listening experience.

By the way, the “120V” in the name of the technology has nothing to do with the local mains voltage from the mains power socket. This is about the operating voltage inside the device with which the audio signals are processed.

The mains voltage from the mains power socket is transformed to the required secondary voltage in the device’s internal linear power supply with toroidal transformer. Rectifiers convert this AC voltage into DC voltage required in the audio device.