Lehle Sunday Driver XLR

Operating instructions

www.lehle.com
Lehle GmbH • Grenzstr. 153 • D-46562 Voerde • Germany • Tel +49 (0) 2855 850070
Dear Musician!

Thank you for purchasing the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR!

I have been building units that switch, split and route signals with
no technical compromises and with maximum musical fidelity since
1999. Your new Lehle Sunday Driver XLR comprises only the very
best components. Every assembly of your Lehle Sunday Driver
XLR has been made and tested in Germany.
Your Lehle Sunday Driver XLR is of extremely robust design and
construction, to make sure that you get absolutely years and years
of enjoyment from it. If you should nonetheless have a problem, or
simply a question, just mail me or a member of the Lehle team at:
support@lehle.com

I wish you the very greatest pleasure and success using your Lehle
Sunday Driver XLR!

Burkhard Georg Lehle

Contents

Introduction................................................................................................................................ 2
Technical data............................................................................................................................ 3
General description.................................................................................................................... 4
Typical uses
- Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as a preamp for mixer inputs................................................... 8
- Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as a recording preamp.......................................................... 10
- Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as a cable driver................................................................... 11

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The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR is a compact- remains powerful and clear, retaining its dynamics
format high-end preamp for all types of electrical and brilliance. Mode S for “Sunday” (switcher not
and acoustic instruments - a preamp that enables pressed) multiplies the input impedance by four,
electric guitars and basses, acoustic guitars, and bringing out previously inaudible details. As gain
also other stringed instruments (such as violins, increases on the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR, the
cellos and double basses) to unfold all of their sound takes on an unmistakable and characteristic
musical potential. warmth. There is no distortion at any stage, and
the signal remains clean at all times, even at the
The XLR variant is equipped with a balanced XLR maximum gain setting of 15 dB. To exploit the
output and a ground-lift switch. On stage, it can dynamics to the full, the input voltage is rectified
be used as a compact DI box and as a line driver from the power supply socket, filtered, stabilized
for long cable distances. In studio use its broad and then doubled to 18V. The Lehle Sunday
output range of 20 to 100,000 Hz makes it ideal Driver XLR is totally free of background noise,
as a recording preamp or as a DI box, whether as thanks to its studio-standard signal-to-noise ratio
a battery-operated stand-alone unit, or integrated of better than -100 dB.
into existing setups.
The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR, with its high-
quality JFET technology, provides two modes,
which are selected by a switch with gold-pla-
ted contacts. In mode D for “Driver” (switcher
pressed), the input signal is amplified with
absolutely no modification. This eliminates the
signal losses that long cable routings and/or
impedance matching errors with high-impedance
signals from passive pickups can cause. The signal
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 Technical data

Weight: 362 g (without battery)

Length: 8.8 cm
Width: 9.2 cm
Overall height: 4.2 cm
Voltage range: 9 - 20 V AC or DC, or 9V PP3 battery
Max. power battery consumption: 19 mA
Frequency response: 20 Hz - 100 kHz (in mode D)
Distortion: 0.001 % at 1kHz, 0 dBU
Impedance, Input D: 1 MOhm
Impedance, Input S: 4 MOhm
Impedance, Output: 110 Ohm
Signal-to-noise ratio: -102 dB at 1 kHz, 0 dBU (A-weighted)
Max. level: 5.1 V RMS (approx. 16 dBU)
Max. gain: 15 dB

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General description

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1. Input socket (switcher not pressed), the input impedance is
 Connect your instrument to this socket. multiplied by four, to 4 MOhm, making previously
The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR processes signals unheard details suddenly audible and imparting
from electric and acoustic stringed instruments, an unmistakable and characteristic warmth to the
such as electric guitars and basses, western sound when the gain knob is turned up.
guitars, classical guitars and all kinds of stringed
instruments. This compact preamp has no trouble 3. XLR output socket
matching low signal levels and eliminating sound  Connect your target device here.
losses caused by long cables and treble pickups. For instance, an amplifier with a balanced XLR
Note: In battery mode, the battery circuit is input, a mixing console, a stage box or a sound-
automatically activated when a cable is connected card.
to the input socket so always pull the plug when
you’ve finished your session or you want to take a Pin assignment of the XLR socket:
longer break!
Pin 1: Shield
2. S/D-selector switch Pin 2: Signal in Phase
 Use this switch to select the sound mode you want. Pin 3: Signal out of Phase
This gold-plated-contact switch enables you to
change between the two sound modes. Mode D for
“Driver” (switcher pressed) selects neutral amplifica-
tion with an input impedance of 1MOhm, identical 4. Groundlift switch
to a guitar amp´s input stage, efficiently eliminating  When it comes to hum noises, engage this switch.
sound losses caused by long cables and/or effects With this switch you can disconnect the shield from
cascades. The signal remains strong and clear, pin 1 of the XLR socket and signal ground of the
and retains its dynamics. In mode S for “Sunday” Lehle Sunday Driver XLR.
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5. External power supply operate trouble-free even if the power supply fails.
 Connect a power-pack for a voltage of 9 to 20 V
here, when needed. 6. Gain controller
The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR can be operated  Use the gain controller to adjust the intensity of
optionally with a 9 V PP3 (block) battery or from an the preamp from a slightly refreshed sound level
external power supply, which should provide not up to a powerful boost.
less than 9 and not more than 20 Volts. Polarity is The gain control knob consists of black anodized
not important here, and both AC and DC sources aluminium and is recessed into the housing. It can
can be used. The supply voltage is internally be easily turned by placing your fingertip in the
rectified, filtered, stabilized and then doubled to top depression. Thanks to the recessed design,
18 V. A suitable connector for the Lehle Sunday the setting cannot be inadvertently disturbed on
Driver XLR’s power-supply socket is included in stage or during transportation, which is a great
the pack; if desired, this connector can also be advantage. The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR with
soldered to your power-pack mains cable. its JFET-based circuitry performs two functions
The cover must be removed to permit installation simultaneously, reducing signal impedance, on the
of a 9V (PP3) block battery. To do this, simply un- one hand, and boosting the signal, on the other.
screw the four screws holding the cover, and draw
the cover and take it off. The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as an impedance
Note: The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR automati- converter:
cally switches via a gold-plated-contact relay to When the gain controller is at the left-hand stop
battery operation if power supply voltage drops (in the 0 or seven o’clock position), it operates
below 9 Volt. purely as an impedance converter. With the knob
Please always make sure that the Lehle Sunday in this position, the sound is refreshed, in order to
Driver XLR has a charged battery if you want the equalize sound losses that can occur when long
extra security of knowing that it will continue to cables or effects cascades are used.
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The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as a booster: serial number of the pedal before covering it for
A buffer starts to amplify the signal when the gain eventual support matters.
controller is turned in the clockwise direction.
Tube amplifiers, preamps and distortion pedals Thanks to its ready-to-go fixing system, the Lehle
can thus be driven slightly beyond the limit. In S Lehle Sunday Driver XLR can be mounted
mode the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR amplifies without difficulty on a base plate.
less treble with increasing Boost settings to make To do this, undo the four housing screws and de-
sure that the resultant overdrive distortion sounds tach the cover. Then fix the device to a base plate
harmonious. The result can range from a pleasant using the two screws, the washers and the spacers
sound, with no shrillness, up to a silky and warm supplied. Replace the cover and tighten the four
overdrive distortion on tube amplifiers. housing screws - done!

7. Base and fixing

 You can use the fixing screws supplied with the
Lehle Sunday Driver XLR to fix it to a base
plate (or to a pedal board, for example).

Tip: in case you prefer a velcro solution for your

pedalboard we recommend to write down the
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Typical uses The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as a preamp
The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR’s universal for mixer inputs
properties make it equally suitable for live use on
stage and in the concert hall as well as for studio
recording sessions. The following few pages show
a number of typical applications in which the
Lehle Sunday Driver XLR can be a useful
addition to your gear!

Due to their input impedance of approx. 10

KOhm, the balanced inputs on mixers are not
suitable for level-matched recording of high-im-
pedance signals from magnetic pickups (e.g. the
single coil and humbucker pickups on guitars and
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electric basses). The signals from piezo pickups, What to do:
like those used on acoustic instruments, are also 1. Connect your instrument to the Input socket (1)
too weak for the balanced inputs of a mixer. In a of the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR.
recording situation, the Lehle Sunday Driver 2. Connect your recording preamp to the Output
XLR is again the ideal tool to turn a high-imped- socket (3) of the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR.
ance instrument signal into a low-impedance 3. Switch the S/D selector (2) in the D position for
instrument signal and matching it to the balanced “Driver“.
input of a mixer. The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR, 4. Adjust the Gain controller (5) so that the signal
with its input impedance of 1 MOhm (or 4 MOhm is optimal for your recording equipment.
in S mode) delivers the instrument´s sensitive 5. Done!
signal to the mixer totally genuine and complete
with all its details. Tip: In S mode and with a gain setting of 11 - 12
o’clock or higher, instruments with piezo pickups,
Device connection which can sometimes sound very harsh and shrill,
Input (1)  Instrument take on a pleasantly warm and silky tone.
Output (3)  Mixer input, PC,
Stagebox etc.

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 The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as a record- balanced input of such devices generally fails,
ing preamp because the instrument’s signal level is too low.
The result is a significant sound discoloration, due
to the incorrect input impedance of the balanced
input. The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR can be
used to change your instrument’s sensitive high-
impedance signal into a balanced low-impedance
signal and thus compatible with your sound card
or DAW, while at all times retaining your instru-
ment’s original sound.

Device connection
Input (1)  Instrument
Output (3)  Mixer input, PC,
Stagebox etc.

What to do:
1. Connect your instrument to the Input socket (1)
of the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR.
PCs featuring either integrated or external sound 2. Connect your recording preamp to the Output
cards, and even Digital Audio Workstations socket (3) of the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR.
(DAWs), often lack the high-impedance instrument 3. Switch the S/D selector (2) in the D position for
input needed for direct recording from an instru- “Driver“.
ment. Connecting the instrument to the standard 4. Adjust the Gain controller (5) so that the signal
10
 is optimal for your recording equipment. The Lehle Sunday Driver XLR as a cable
5. Done! driver

Tip: If you want to re-amp a signal recorded dry, The use of long cable runs on stage or in a
connect the Lehle P-Split II to your sound card recording studio involves the danger of signifi-
or DAW for the mix, reduce the volume on the cant and audible loss of sound quality. You can
sound card or DAW a little, and connect the ISO eliminate this tone loss by positioning the Lehle
output of the Lehle P-Split II to an amplifier. Sunday Driver XLR as a cable driver in the

11
 signal path directly after your instrument in combi- What to do:
nation with a Lehle P-Split II directly before the 1. Connect your instrument to the Input socket (1)
amp. The output of the Lehle Sunday Driver of the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR.
XLR must be connected to the input of the Lehle 2. Connect the Output socket (3) of the Lehle
P-Split II by using a balanced cable. Sunday Driver XLR with the Input socket of
The Lehle P-Split II transforms the balanced the Lehle P-Split II.
signal of the Lehle Sunday Driver XLR into an 3. Connect your amplifier to the ISO socket of the
unbalanced signal, which is identical to that signal Lehle P-Split II.
coming from the instrument. The signal sustains 4. Switch the S/D selector (2) of the Lehle Sun-
the full sound quality even at cable runs of 100 day Driver XLR in the D position for “Driver“.
meters (approx. 300 ft). 5. Turn the Gain controller (5) to the left (7 o’clock
position).
Lehle P-Split II: 5. Done!
Input  Output (3) of the
Lehle Sunday Driver Pin assignment of the balanced signal path
XLR between Lehle Sunday Driver XLR and Lehle
ISO socket  Mixer input, PC, P-Split II:
Stagebox etc. Signal out of Phase

Shield
Lehle Sunday Driver XLR:
Input (1)  Instrument
Output (3)  Input of the
Lehle P-Split II Signal in Phase

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