I have always liked the way API EQ's have sounded except for the 2 decibel stepped pots which can sometimes be too much or too little. Behold, the 5500 with decibel divider from .5 db, 1.0 db, and 2 db steps, allowing it to be used on a bus as well as for "mastering", if you consider .5 db steps "mastering". After I have gotten more into "mastering" I can hear competing frequencies with digital eq's and find the necessary adjustments in the .2 - .3 db's range, which is unfortunately less than what the 5500 is capable of due to the fixed frequencies and stepped gain.

That being said, the OP Amps impart weight to the signal that makes everything better just by turning it on and it covers the main problem frequencies, so at the very least, it's great for tracking and a mix bus, and sometimes good for mastering if the fixed frequencies are the "right" frequencies and +/- .5 db's is what was needed. It's also great for eliminating 1's and 0's from the digital chain just by being on, if nothing else.

Lastly, the 5500 can be turned on from the front and bypassed as well, which in todays hybrid studios, would seem like a no-brainer (I just got another unit and the power switch is on the back, in the middle...dude.) The unit is quiet enough to master with, and if you like API but 2 db's steps are a bit much, the 5500 covers the bases.

I have recently moved into working with a hybrid mixing system after being in the box for the last ten years or so. The API 5500 is my favorite piece of analog gear at the moment. When it works for the source, it works amazingly well. It seems to add dimension and a little character besides just eq. I love that. I compared it to a few plugins that are supposed to mimic what it does. They do not do the same thing as the real unit. I will never part with this. It's great for tracking, mixing, and mastering, in most situations I have tried.

I wanted an eq with an edge for my mastering rig, this box does this in spades and then some.I thought that a very famous unit costing over 2x more would give the vibe I wanted, but I found it made my tone cloudy in the mids. Money doesn't always dictate the right piece of gear, and I think this is a relative bargain for sure. I instantly fell in love with the 5500's punch and clarity…I'm an API convert now, and most likely will buy the 2500 soon. I guarantee if you want an eq with punch and clarity you won't be disappointed

I first tried this with an online analog gear robotic system that lets you use analog gear in your DAW. It struck me right away how musical the eq was compared to any plugin I have ever used. In person the unit it is even better and super east to use. You can push the dials anywhere you want and it never sounds bad. I am in my early thirties and grew up using plugins in Logic Pro. Only recently diving into analog gear. I bought and sold lots of different items during my experimentation time. I came to the conclusion that many plugins are as good as analog gear, BUT some really high end analog gear has a special sonic quality that justifies the price and inconvenience using versus the a plugin. I cannot use a plugin the way this works in how musical it carves out frequencies. With that said I use many plugin eqs too and live them. I can see where it would be a pain to use tons of analog gear so I am highly selective. I use this in tracking or mastering. I also own a Rupert Neve Bus compressor and together with a couple API 500 module preamps, and UAD interface. You don't need this really, but If you are an audio fanatic and want that extra 5% in your mixes and masters then adding this to your collection should be on the list. It is one of the best

I use this on my analog console mix buss and it is usually on. It is quiet, and adds clarity and transparency to the mix buss output. It works well on dialog with its selectable frequency and level controls. I will never sell this as it has found a home on my mix buss. I chose it for its' detail advantage say over a typical mix buss EQ where you might just want to use a bell curve kind of EQ. You can pin point with this EQ as well which comes in handy for tracking. Highly recommend this EQ.

One of the best investments that I have made ever.
This EQ sounds really good and musical.
Can be used for tracking, mixing and mastering and easy to use.

The API 5500 is a total beast. I mainly use it for recording and mastering. The tone is compared to none other on planet earth. I have recorded and mastered several projects with the 5500 and my customers have had nothing but positive remarks about the end product. If you want that classic analog tone to your mixes, or just want to record clean sounding audios, get this big brother. Thank you Mike Picotte for always being open to explore options with your customers. This is absolutely a great buy.

So I had initially purchased the Kush Audio's Electra in hopes that my mixes would translates better as it is a transient equalizer. And it did, but not enough for me to justify the price, it was a constant battle of "ok, Ive got it"--"ok now Ive lost it". The filters are actually quite nice but felt like there was still something missing. I might have settled with it if it wasn't for a scratchy pot on the high frequency gain knob.

Decided to shell out the extra funds and dive right into the API5500 and I honestly feel that it was the wisest choice Ive made for my rig. This is a totally different beast in many ways, the range control is simply genius, making subtle boosts and cuts serves a critical purpose while being an absolute delight to have and use when required. I tend to cut more than boost and when I do boost, its done with delicacy and the beauty of the EQ is the way I am able to retain transparency. You can obviously color but I feel this EQ is more about bringing sheer dynamics to your work.

The punch on this thing is just...glorious...Mids are hefty without being muddy, everything seems to be placed in their own space grabbing your attention, I could go on for days about the sonic qualities you can achieve with this EQ. Its a piece of gear you've really got to have in-house for a full audition, be cautious though, once in your possession you will not be able to let it go. Worth every penny in my opinion and I am very happy with my purchase.

The customer service provided by sweetwater and my rep. Anthony Jenkins was priceless. I am sold to sweetwater, quite unfortunate for my wallet.

When I first purchased my 5500 it was under the pretense that I'd test it out for a few days and return it if I didn't like it. I was on the fence deciding what mastering EQ to run with. Well, its been 2 weeks now and this piece isn't going anywhere.

The first thing I did was a shootout: 5500 vs the Waves 550B. Ran all types of sounds through both the unit and plug-in and it blew my mind! The 5500 blows the plug-in out of the water and it was most prevalent in the top and bottom end. Just passing a source through the unit with absolutely no settings dialed in is arguably worth the price alone. Its that analogue mojo! Love how it warms and brings everything forward. The range controls is by far the best, and most used, feature on the unit.

Use it in a mastering session at the subtle .5db setting, run a stereo track through it and print back into your session at the 1db setting, or use it in dual mono mode to track vocals, for example, using the standard 2db settings. I think this unit really shines and sounds excellent on Hip-Hop/Rap and Rock material. I also tried to make different source material sound bad by pushing it to the extreme's but I couldn't, it just works. My only wish is that the unit had HP/LP filters on board, otherwise and great piece of gear!

this was my first hardware equalizer purchase and i must say i made a great choice. no matter what else i get, i will never sell this piece. it sounds just awesome. for bass, it may be the best eq out there. adding punch or weight to drums or a bass is a breeze. i also have the api 2500 and the combination is unreal. for drum buss its incredibly powerful, but i also use it on the mix buss, for guitars and synths, bass lines, and even vocals. i love api.. their stuff always sounds amazing

GREAT EQ SMOOTH AS BUTTER SOUND IS WARM TRANSFORMER BASE OLD SCHOOL THICKNESS. ANYTHING YOU RUN THROUGH SOUND BETTER. SOUNDS AS GOOD OR BETTER THEN ANY EQ ON THE MARKET. NOT SURGICAL LIKE OUR MANLEY MASSIVE PASSIVE BUT IT TONE IS AS GOOD. HAS IT'S OWN UNIQUE SMOOTHNESS & TONE NOT BRITTLE AT ALL. HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT WE USE IT AS A STEREO BUSS, BUT WE HAVE FINALIZED AND MASTERED WITH IT HAS THAT GREAT TONALITY. SUPERB NOT SURGICAL FOR DIALING IN OR OUT NAT HAIRS. WE US THE LIL FREQ AND MASSIVE PASSIVE THOUGH NOT SURGICAL SOUNDS BETTER THEN THE LIL FREQ EMPIRICAL LABS, BUT THE LIL FREQ IS VERY VERY SURGICAL IF THIS HELPS.
FOR TONE GO API 5500 ITS THE BOSS.

What it does is great. Hard to beat, serious. Just running audio through it brings a crispness, but not harsh. The 22hz slight bass boost is pure joy. The only thing that I'm knocking it for is that it has no HPF or LPF. But, that leaves me to drool for the BAX, so no hard feelings.

I had purchased the Bax EQ some time ago and all though I appreciated the high and low pass filters, It was just way to subtle and way to limited in what it does for me. This API 5500 fits my needs much better!
It's very clean and punchy and it opens up my mixes and brings them to life. If you need it to be more subtle (for mastering applications), the range control allows you to do that by cutting the amplitude by 1/2 or 1/4 increments. In addition, the controls are stepped which is also very useful for mastering apps. I also appreciate the power button being on the face of the unit as opposed to the back like the BAX EQ. You have every frequency you can think of available to work with and I think it's brilliant that the Q adjusts proportionally. In other words, With mild boost or cut you get a wide bandwith, as you increase the boost or cut the bandwith narrows.

All I can say is wow! This is the best piece of gear I have ever bought. It sounds amazing on the 2 bus. Exactly what I was looking for. Don't think just buy it!