Definitive British 3-band EQ
Sporting a trio of dual-concentric potentiometers, and with point-to-point wiring and all-discrete, transformer-coupled, pure Class A circuitry under the bonnet, you might assume the BAE B15 500 Series EQ to be a slavish re-creation of the EQ section from a legendary Neve 80 series console module. And you'd be partially correct. The sonics are unmistakable: this is definitive British 3-band EQ. But there's a bit more going on here (the black faceplate and three API-style buttons perhaps being your first clue). The B15's chrome aluminum outer rings select between five frequency centers in each band; the black inner knobs give you up to 16dB of boost or cut. Two of the white buttons change the high- and low-frequency bands from peaking to shelving; the third switches EQ in and out of circuit.
Related Videos: B15 500 Series Parametric Equalizer
A banquet of frequencies
How does the BAE B15 sound? Well, from our perspective here at Sweetwater, it doesn't sound exactly like a Neve 1073 EQ section — and there are reasons for that. For one, the classic 1073 design has the EQ circuit residing in the module signal path without its own input and output transformers. Another would be that the B15's banquet of selectable frequencies — five per band — dwarfs the 1073's offerings, plus it offers a choice of peaking or shelving for the lows and highs. The B15 does lack the 1073's highpass filter, but trust us — it more than makes up for it.
1073 EQ on steroids
With Jensen input and output transformers interacting with input and output signals, you have a glorious range of sonic possibilities while blending the B15's harmonically enhanced lows; smooth, creamy mids; and clear, nuanced highs. Factor in the weapons-grade build, which includes Avedis 1122 op-amps and Elma mil-spec gold-plated switches, and you have a deadly serious vintage British console-style equalizer with modern enhancements. Bottom line, the B15 is more versatile than a 1073 EQ section and offers sonic coloration advantages to boot. We love it. And you will too.
BAE B15 500 Series EQ Module Features:
- Low noise, high headroom all-discrete design
- 3-band EQ with 5 selectable frequencies per band
- Switchable peaking/shelving for HF and LF
- HF: +16dB of boost/cut, selectable at 6.8kHz, 8.2kHz, 10kHz, 12kHz, and 16kHz
- MF: +16dB of boost/cut, selectable at 560Hz, 750Hz, 1.5kHz, 3.3kHz, and 5.5kHz
- LF: +16dB of boost/cut, selectable at 63Hz, 120Hz, 200Hz, 300Hz, and 430Hz
- Balanced Jensen input and output transformers
- Concentric knobs with custom-machined aluminum outer rings
- Elma gold-plated rotary switches and 15-way connector
- Utilizes Avedis 1122 op-amps
