Manley Stereo Pultec EQP-1A is a two channel passive equaliser in a 2U chassis, in practice a pair of matched Enhanced Pultec EQP-1A channels in one unit. The equalisation is entirely passive, with gain recovered by a differential valve stage.
Boosting and cutting the same band at once
The original trick of the Pultec design is that low boost and low cut work at slightly offset frequencies. Set both at the same time and you get a curve with the very bottom lifted and a gentle dip just above it, which is exactly what a kick drum or a bass guitar needs to have weight without mud. The Manley version extends the original with a 20 Hz boost at the bottom and a 25 kHz shelf at the top, so you open the air above the audible band instead of sharpening presence.
Two matched channels for mixing and mastering
Both channels are fully differential and valve based, with a nickel core input transformer and Manley 9611 output transformers. Frequency selection runs on sealed Grayhill switches, while boost and cut sit on continuous conductive plastic pots that never crackle in use. An alternative unbalanced 5 kOhm jack input bypasses the transformer when you want to hear the path without its character.
KEY FEATURES
- Two matched channels of passive equalisation in 2U
- Fully differential valve path with no op-amps
- Simultaneous boost and cut on the low band
- A 20 Hz boost added to the original design
- A 25 kHz shelf added to the original design
- Bandwidth control in the high section
- Valves: 12AX7 x2 plus 12BH7, 6414 or 5965 x2
- Manley input transformer with nickel laminations
- Manley 9611 output transformers on XLR
- Alternative transformerless 5 kOhm unbalanced input
- Sealed Grayhill frequency select switches
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Channels: 2, fully differential
- Frequency response: 10 Hz to 70 kHz
- THD: below 0.01% at 1 kHz
- Signal to noise ratio: 116 dB
- Maximum output: +30 dBv
- Gain valves: 12AX7 x2
- White Follower valves: 12BH7 x2
- Alternative input: unbalanced 5 kOhm jack
- Dimensions: 19 x 3.5 x 10 inches, 2U
- Weight: 12 lbs; power consumption 25 W
