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Even in the digital age, nothing beats the character of a well-made analog EQ. And unlike plug-ins, analog EQs are a great investment, because the money you spend translates directly into high-quality components, build quality, and resale value. It’s worth spending some money on a great EQ, but you certainly don’t need to spend a fortune on every channel. Here are our picks for the best EQs under $1,500.
Price: $399
Type: 500 Series Semi-Parametric EQ
Harrison consoles don’t get as much recognition as the “big three,” but they enjoyed a heyday in the 1970s and ‘80s and still have a cult following today. The 1981 Harrison MR3 console was lauded for its punchy and musical EQs, and the MR3eq brings that legendary sound to your 500 Series rack. The fully parametric midrange band features a continuously variable Q control, switchable Q on the high and low bands, and a high-pass filter with the same 3 dB resonant peak as the iconic Harrison 32C console.
Price: $499
Type: 500 Series Harmonic EQ
The Carnaby 500 is a unique three-band EQ that uses harmonic saturation to boost and cut in a way that enhances any signal. Each of the three overlapping EQ bands features a +/- 10 dB range and an LED saturation indicator to let you know how hard you’re pushing your tone. The OPTOSYNC switch allows you to link two Carnaby 500 modules for stereo processing—a great option for pumping up drum and mix busses.
Price: $699.99
Type: 500 Series Parametric EQ
This four-band parametric EQ is based on the original “brown knob” SSL E-Series circuit, which uses bandwidths based on musical intervals for effortless tone-shaping. However, the “BLK” switch emulates the more aggressive tone and tighter low-end control of the mid-1980s “Black Knob” EQs. If you can’t get enough SSL, be sure to check out the SSL UVEQ as well!
Price: $799
Type: 2U Tube Inductor EQ
Warm Audio excels at producing affordable recreations of classic gear, and the EQP-WA is a great alternative to the Pultec EQP-1A. While it doesn’t go so far as to use all-original components, it does feature beefy CineMag transformers and Tung-Sol brand tubes (which are easily swapped out if you want to choose your own tubes). The controls are laid out similarly to the original, but Warm has added additional frequency options for the low and high bands.
Type: 500 Series Passive EQ
Only a handful of Trident’s original A-Range consoles were ever made, but their sound has nonetheless become legendary. This double-wide 500 Series module delivers four bands of authentic A-Range EQ with the original fader-style gain controls, four-position frequency knobs, and three-position high- and low-pass filters. If you love hands-on tweaking, this unique EQ is a joy to use. And if you prefer the sound of the B-Range, check out its cousin, the Trident 80B 500 Series EQ.
Price: $899
Type: 2U Passive Inductor EQ
Heritage Audio’s PEQ-2 is an authentic reissue of the obscure LANG program equalizer, which shares a patent with the famous Pultec EQP-1. This versatile EQ delivers Pultec-style richness with nearly twice as many frequency options (including separate boost/cut frequencies in the low-end and an additional 20 kHz high-frequency setting). Many engineers prefer LANGs over Pultecs for mix bus processing due to their increased control and “sharper” tone.
Type: 500 Series Inductor EQ
The only EQ designed by Rupert Neve himself for the 500 Series format, this module combines several iconic EQs into one versatile unit. The low band delivers the resonant bass response of the 1064 with togglable peak and shelf modes and an 80 Hz high-pass filter. The mid band is based on the 1073 circuit and features a “HI Q” switch for sharper boosts and cuts. The high band blends vintage and modern topologies and adds a peak/shelf switch for enhanced control.
Price: $945.25 to $1,295
Type: 500 Series Parametric & Graphic EQs
All 500 Series EQs owe their existence to the original API console modules, and the modern incarnations of those modules are just as amazing. The API 550A gives you three overlapping EQ bands with peak/shelf options on two, plus a togglable bandpass filter. The 550B eschews the filter in favor of a fourth EQ band, and the API 560 is a straightforward ten-band graphic EQ with a vertical layout and linear potentiometers.
Price: $999
Type: 500 Series Solid-State EQ
Helios consoles were essential to the magic of rock music recorded in the late '60s, '70s, and '80s. Think Helios, and you think of legends like the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles—icons who helped define the sound of an era. So, when H2 Audio revived the brand's iconic 0011 "Type 69" preamp and EQ circuit, it was no surprise that the world took notice. For those seeking a taste of that classic EQ magic, H2 Audio introduced the 5011: a dedicated 500 Series module featuring the same 3-band EQ circuit as the 0011, complete with an electronically balanced input and transformer-balanced output with amp circuit.
Price: $1,095
The Neve 1073LBEQ packages the EQ section of the iconic Neve 1073 preamp into a compact 500 Series module. This three-band EQ features a fixed 12 kHz high shelf, a broad midrange band spanning 360 - 7,200 Hz, a low band covering 35 - 220 Hz, and a four-position high-pass filter that’s perfect for tidying up the low-end. Best of all, Neve’s proprietary Audio Processing Insert allows you to pair the 1073LBEQ with the 1073LB Mic Preamp to recreate the signal path of the original unit within a 500 Series chassis.
Price: $1,195
The UTEQ500 is like no other EQ on this list, yet it can do almost everything the others can (and more). Each band features a Shape control that morphs seamlessly between peak and shelf curves, a wide-range bandwidth control, and a Boost/Cut/Notch switch. Additionally, the mid-band can be set to high or low-frequency ranges, allowing it to cover any area from 90 Hz to 6 kHz. Together, these options make it possible to recreate the unique curves of Pultecs, SSLs, APIs, or any strange tone you can dream up.
Type: 500 Series Mastering EQ
The Mäag EQ4M is a popular mastering EQ with a linear-phase design, highly musical frequency options, and Mäag’s signature “Air Band” high-frequency boost circuit. The Mäag EQ4 500 Series module follows that same design philosophy, offering a generous six bands of EQ in a compact format. The lowest four bands all offer bell curves with a +/- 5 dB range for gentle tone-shaping, while the 2.5 kHz shelf and selectable-frequency Air Band provide instant brightness control.
Type: 500 Series Stereo Mastering EQ
You don’t see a lot of mastering-grade stereo EQs under $1,500, but this module delivers on tone and versatility at a great price. Like the LANG PEQ-2 and the Warm Audio EQP-WA, this is a Pultec-style passive EQ with expanded frequency options, including separate low-end boost and attenuation frequencies for greater control. One set of stepped controls governs both channels, making it easy to dial in and recall settings.
Price: $ 1,345.50
Type: 500 Series Passive Inductor EQ
Pultec’s EQP Series EQs are famous for their bold tone and ability to boost and cut at the same frequencies, but their main drawback is their size. In the 1970s, Pultec issued the EQP-1A3-SS, a more compact solid-state model with an API 2520 op-amp and Triad output transformer that provided punchier sound and tighter low-end. The EQP-500X gives you that same iconic tone and versatility in about a quarter of the space, so you can fit more Pultec in your rack.
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