New Undertone Audio UTEQ500 500 Series EQ!

Told myself I was done buying hardware , BUT I do have two open slots in the lunchbox …..?…….

I am going to need another rack!

The video was really cool, EQ looks super flexible and worth it.. well done! I love to hear kid voices. Awesome:)

I have a couple questions of course.

First, am I correct in seeing dual concentric knobs?
Can you explain how many knobs and switches you fit on this thing? I have (and dig) the Link SSL EQ’s which were able to fit 10 rotary knob controls and 5 x on/off switches. Since then I’ve been counting number of knobs, and realizing access to more rotary control is probably the main way SSL has an edge. Very few 500 series can match the Link count. So I’m curious.

Second, I’m assuming Transformerless and high quality ICs. Am I wrong? This is just to understand what it might replace. I use Heritage 73EQjr mostly for the transformer and inductor tone. I assume this is more in the Transformerless IC style?

Looks awesome, Eric. It seems like the 500-series eq to beat!

I’m really curious about the vari-phase mode…is this an allpass filter?

Hello Christopher!

Yes the knobs are concentric, so that is a total of 12 potentiometer controls and 6 toggle switches.  It is a lot to pack in there.  We had to create custom knobs for this thing so even my fat fingers could easily get to everything haha!  And yes, this is in the IC/transformerless catagory for topology.  

The original console and MPEQ-1 are Class A, discrete with bypassable transformers.  It is a big open sound.  I was very curious to see how the ICs would sound.  I did a bunch of listening tests with the UTEQ500 and was very pleased with how it performed.  I put it up against an array of vintage EQs (Neve, Pultec, API, Langevin etc).  I was surprised how difficult or impossible it became to distinguish between the two once the curves were really perfectly matched.  I always use blind listening tests for this sort of thing and there were many comparisons where neither myself or the other engineer in the room could distinguish them.  

I am going to be putting up a "Deep Dive" demo video in a week or two that does exactly that.  I recorded 4 elements and EQ'd them all with vintage EQs and then replace them with UTEQ500s.  One of them maybe could be picked in a blind listening test.  The other 3 I believe are impossible to distinguish.  I'll make the files available when I put out the video

Hey!

Yes it is an allpass filter!  This EQ has a unique way of doing the cutting that allowed us to incorporate both a notch filter mode and an allpass filter mode.  The all pass thing really is pretty handy every one in a while.  I have a cool demonstration of it coming in the next video

I won't be spending much on equipment in the near future as I just did, but at the heart of the new stuff is a Cranborne 500 rack. When it comes time to look at more EQs I will likely look at these first. Love the flexibility.

Do they impart much of a tone? I know the curves are a bit part a piece's character but so are it's transformers/ op-amps/ inductors.
Just curious. I'm sure they sound great.

Hey!  These are definitely in the transformerless/Op-amp catagory for topology.  it was the only way to fit everything in. 

I am finding more and more that our ears are by far most sensitive to frequency response and that people can mistake a difference in the curve as a difference in "tone". I am going to be releasing a "deep dive" video next where i recreate EQ settings of vintage EQs (Neve, API, Pultec, Siemens).  They are all inductor based circuits with transformers.  When the curves are matched precisely, it has been impossible to identify them in a blind listening test.  I am curious to see how people react to that aspect of this.  I know folks are really attached to the sound of transformers and inductors.  I suppose i am too.  i have tons of gear in my room that have both but then when i do blind listening tests and isolate for those variables, they seem to not audibly matter.  I look forward to getting everyone's input on that

Very interesting! Awesome video. So - the real answer to this is “use your ears” - but are there certain settings (switches) that allow you to have a Helios shape for all the bands…then flip this and it changes to a 1081 shape, etc? Or is it variable and basically use your ears and just twist until it’s what you love?

That is clever, never heard of it. Thank you, great tips!

Nice work and a great entertaining video