D.W. Fearn VT-5M Mastering Equalizer

D.W. Fearn VT-5M Mastering Equalizer is a stereo tube equalizer built around a passive LC network and impedance-matched tube amplification, designed without compromise for shaping a full mix or an individual track.

Passive LC where it actually matters

Every control on the VT-5M works independently and stacks in any combination: low-end cut and boost, a mid cut, a high boost with adjustable bandwidth (Q), plus a dedicated high-frequency cut. The passive LC topology paired with tube gain gives the correction a musical, rounded character that parametric digital EQs don't reproduce.

Mastering needs repeatability, not approximation

Every frequency and every cut/boost amount switches in 1 dB steps at fixed frequency points — not on a continuous sweep. The same setting comes back exactly a week later on a different piece of material, which matters as much at the mastering stage as the sound itself. True hardwire bypass gives a clean A/B with no extra stage in the path.

KEY FEATURES

• Low Cut: 30/40/100/400 Hz, 0 to -10 dB in 1 dB steps
• Low Boost: 20/40/60/140 Hz, 0 to +10 dB in 1 dB steps
• Mid Cut: 200/300/400/500/600/700 Hz, 0 to -10 dB in 1 dB steps
• High Boost: 1.5/3/4/5/8/10/12/16 kHz, 0 to +10 dB in 1 dB steps
• Adjustable high-band bandwidth (Q): 0.6/0.8/1.0/1.4/1.7
• High Frequency Cut: 1.5/3.5/8/28 kHz, 0 to -10 dB in 1 dB steps
• Output gain: -5 to +5 dB in 1 dB steps
• True hardwire bypass

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Input: 600 Ω
• Input load impedance: 40k Ω
• Minimum input level: -20 dBm (nominal)
• Frequency response: ±0.5 dB 20 Hz – 20 kHz, -3 dB @ 0.5 Hz and 80 kHz
• THD: <0.10% (20 Hz – 20 kHz)
• Intermodulation distortion (SMPTE): <0.80%
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 82 dB minimum
• Output: low-Z, transformer balanced, +22 dBm unterminated
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 48.5 × 13.5 × 23 cm
• Weight: 9.1 kg
• Power: 120/220 VAC 50/60 Hz, 85 W