The Lake People G118 is a premium, fully balanced headphone amplifier engineered for audio professionals who demand uncompromising precision, clarity, and control. Built on the acclaimed circuitry of the G111 MKII and housed in a rugged 19”, 1-RU stainless steel chassis, the G118 integrates powerful amplification with advanced monitoring features—making it an ideal solution for studio engineers, mastering facilities, and critical listening environments. The unit features two stereo input channels selectable via toggle switch. The active input is displayed by an LED.
True Balanced Headphone Amplification
At the heart of the G118 are four fully discrete output stages—two for each stereo channel—based on the G111 MKII circuitry. This ensures true balanced operation, not just at the connector level but in the amplification path itself. The result is ultraclean signal delivery with exceptionally high channel separation and stereo precision, giving listeners a deeply immersive and spatially accurate experience.
Mode Switch: Stereo / Mono / Phase Reverse
The G118’s Mode switch provides three powerful monitoring functions essential for professional work:
- Stereo (Center Position): The incoming stereo signal is passed through unaltered. This is the default mode for standard monitoring with full left/right imaging.
- Mono (Upper Position): The left and right channels are summed into a single mono signal. This is particularly useful for checking the phase coherence and mono compatibility of a mix. In this mode, the balance knob becomes a channel mix control—turning it left reduces the right channel contribution, and turning it right reduces the left. This allows engineers to isolate and evaluate each channel’s role within the summed mono field.
- Phase Reverse (Lower Position): The right channel is phase-inverted by 180 degrees. This creates an artificially wide and sometimes hollow stereo image, which can be used as a diagnostic tool to detect phase issues or cancellations in a stereo recording or mix. It can also help identify problems in microphone placement or stereo mic technique during tracking sessions.
Each mode is clearly indicated by dedicated LEDs, making it easy to confirm the active setting during use.
Front-Panel Pre-Gain Control
Unlike many headphone amplifiers that rely on a single fixed gain structure, the G118 offers a 6-step gain adjustment switch accessible directly from the front panel. This allows users to optimize headroom and noise floor based on both the source signal and the headphone impedance, ensuring ideal performance across a wide range of headphones from 8 to 600 ohms. The selectable levels are: -18, -12, -6, 0, +6, and +12 dB.
X-Feed Crossfeed Circuit
Designed to mimic the natural crosstalk that occurs when listening to stereo speakers, the X-Feed function blends a portion of each channel into the opposite ear with a small delay and EQ filtering. This reduces the artificial inside-your-head soundstage common with headphones, helping to create a more speaker-like experience. The intensity of the effect is adjustable, allowing listeners to fine-tune the spatial presentation for comfort or critical work.
VU Meter with Adjustable Sensitivity
Two illuminated analog VU meters provide immediate visual feedback of signal levels. They are calibrated for the active input and are especially useful for ensuring consistent levels during tracking or mastering. On the rear panel, the sensitivity of the meters can be adjusted from 0 dBu to +20 dBu, giving you flexibility depending on the source signal or monitoring reference.
Versatile Input and Output Configuration
- Inputs: Dual balanced XLR inputs (Input 1 and Input 2) via Neutrik connectors allow integration into professional studio or broadcast chains.
- Headphone outputs: One 4-pin balanced XLR (ideal for high-end balanced headphones) and two 1/4" unbalanced TRS jacks (for standard stereo headphones).
- Thru output: Balanced XLR output passes the input signal through for daisy-chaining or routing to other devices.
Rugged Construction and Power Design
- Chassis: Black anodized aluminum with a stainless steel 19”, 1 RU form factor; built for durability in rack-based studio setups.
- Controls: Large 25mm milled aluminum volume knob paired with a high-grade Alps RK27 potentiometer ensures smooth and precise adjustments.
- Power: Internal power supply with dual short-circuit-proof transformers delivers ±25V rails for high headroom and dynamic range.
- The G118 is engineered with multiple protection circuits that guard headphones against damage from overvoltage, short circuits, or transient current spikes. This makes it safe for use with delicate high-end headphones in any session context.
EAN: 4262404461559