Sweetwater Welcomes Turtle AV

Retro Instruments 2A3 Dual-channel Tube Program Equalizer

2-channel, 2-band Tube Equalizer with Classic-style Boost and Attenuation Controls
Share
Item ID: Retro2A3
Retro Instruments 2A3 Dual-channel Tube Program Equalizer
Price:$4,795 and 00 cents
$800.00 suggested monthly payment§ with 6 month special financing‡

Special Order

Special-ordered from Retro Instruments and usually ships to you within 1-2 weeks. Please note: special orders cannot be canceled or returned. Estimated by May 8.

Note: While most of the items we sell ship for free, this item does not qualify for free shipping due to special circumstances.
Add to Cart
Sales engineer photo
Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

What is a Sales Engineer?
Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Retro Instruments 2A3 Dual-channel Tube Program Equalizer
Special Order
Price:$4,795 and 00 cents
Add to Cart
Add to list
Skip to Description
Most Popular Accessories & Related Items
Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

This Classic-style EQ Will Be Your Studio's Magic Bullet!

Every pro studio needs a secret weapon; that magic bullet that takes its sound over the top. Well, the Retro 2A3 dual-program EQ is your bullet. The Retro 2A3 provides you with true passive equalization for unbelievably massive bass, silky highs, and addictive warmth. Accurate to industry-standard vintage EQ designs, the Retro 2A3 takes things a step further, providing you with HF boost frequencies in several new sweet spots, in addition to its classic attenuation curves. At Sweetwater, we've found all kinds of uses for the Retro 2A3: making vocals shine while tracking, adding presence during mixing, and adding a sublime sweetness to stereo program material while mastering. Simply put, the Retro 2A3 is a phenomenal dual-channel tube program equalizer!

Retro 2A3 Dual-channel Tube Program Equalizer at a Glance:
  • Classic-style controls deliver captivating presence and low-end punch
  • Subsonic filter tames excessive lows and adds divine smoothness
  • Passive circuits provide you with natural, organic tone
Classic-style controls deliver captivating presence and low-end punch

The Retro 2A3 dual-program EQ remains accurate to industry-standard vintage EQ designs, while still providing you with HF boost frequencies in several new sweet spots - words like "musical," "airy," and "smooth" fail to describe the captivating presence that this phenomenal equalizer adds to whatever you run through it. On top of that, the Retro 2A3's classic-style bass boost/bass cut method will inject your bass and kick drum with an enormous amount of low-end punch by scooping out low mid mud while simultaneously boosting your lows. Quite simply, the Retro 2A3 is pure magic.

Subsonic filter tames excessive lows and adds divine smoothness

Although classic-style equalizers sound amazing, they do tend to create excessive subsonic energy. That's why Retro Instruments included a subsonic filter when they designed the 2A3 dual-program EQ. By utilizing an interstage transformer, this filter not only reduces subsonic energy, it also gives you distinct transformer tonal characteristics that are ideal for tracking and mixing. The subsonic filter has settings of 40 and 90Hz with a peaking response and sharp cutoff. While the 90Hz setting gives you a fairly predictable result, the 40Hz setting is almost magic - it actually adds excitement to the 35-40Hz region without sucking out all of your low end, resulting in remarkably smooth, almost euphoric, mid frequencies.

Passive circuits provide you with natural, organic tone

The Retro 2A3 dual-program EQ doesn't rely on amplifier feedback, which can cause a harsh and clinical sound in typical active equalizer designs. Instead, this amazing-sounding EQ incorporates pure passive capacitor-inductor equalization, providing you with natural, organic tone - even with extreme boosts and cuts. In fact, just running a signal through this EQ sounds incredible, even without equalizing anything, thanks to the mind-blowing musicality of the Retro 2A3's tube amplification.

Retro 2A3 Dual-channel Tube Program Equalizer Features:
  • Classic-style passive EQ design provides authentic feel, controls, and equalization curves
  • Additional HF boost frequencies for more precise control
  • Easily recallable 100-position knob scales on boost and cut controls
  • Subsonic highpass filter tames excessive lows and adds divine smoothness
  • Passive circuits provide you with natural, organic tone
  • Transformer-balanced and fully-floating 600-ohm input and output eliminate hum and noise
  • Vintage Class AB tube amplification for unity-gain make-up
  • Housed in a durable steel chassis
The Retro 2A3 is a phenomenal-sounding dual-channel tube program equalizer!
What Does "Special Order" Mean?

A special-order product is one that we don't normally keep in stock. We order it from the manufacturer as soon as you order from us. We have great relationships with all the manufacturers we carry, so we can get your special order to you as fast as or faster than anyone else. Remember that special orders are non-returnable and non-cancelable, so make sure the item is right for you. A Sweetwater Sales Engineer can help you decide — call (800) 222-4700 for assistance!

Resources

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Type: Tube
  • Number of Channels: 2
  • Tube: Yes
  • Bypass: Yes
  • Number of Bands: 2
  • High Pass Filter: Yes
  • Freq Range High: 1.5kHz-16kHz
  • Freq Range Low: 20Hz-100Hz
  • Inputs: 2 x XLR
  • Outputs: 2 x XLR
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
  • Rack Spaces: 2U
  • Height: 3.5"
  • Depth: 9"
  • Width: 19"
  • Manufacturer Part Number: Retro 2A3

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

Be the first to review this product.
Write your review