D.W. Fearn VT-5 Tube Equaliser

Creative use of the low boost and cut will create a powerful bass that has to be heard to be believed. The high boost adds just the right brightness to vocals, guitars — any sound, or even an entire mix. Even with extreme settings, a D.W. Fearn VT-5 will never sound harsh.

This equaliser uses passive LC circuitry with class-A triode vacuum tube stages for the input and output. The tube circuitry is largely derived from the VT-1/VT-2 mic preamp design, so the equaliser has much the same sonic character as the preamps.

The LC-style passive equalisation circuitry is based on the classic designs that are still the best-sounding way to achieve high-quality tonal control.

The input is line-level, transformer balanced-bridging. An active vacuum tube input section has adjustable gain to accommodate input signals as low as -10 dBm. The input transformer is made by Jensen. The output stage utilises the same custom Jensen transformer used on the VT-1/VT-2 mic preamps.

All controls are stepped for precise repeatability and uniform matching between units. High-quality rotary switches are used with 1% metal-film resistors. All of the audio capacitors are polystyrene or polypropylene. The inductors are custom-made for us by Jensen Transformers Inc.

The equaliser is constructed of heavy-gauge aluminium, with a 3RU (5.25 inch), 1/4-inch-thick front panel, finished in D.W. Fearn red. It matches the VT-1/VT-2 series of mic preamps in appearance and construction.

New D.W. Fearn VT-5 units have been optimized to eliminate the need for an internal fan. While the fans in D.W. Fearn equipment has always been extraordinarily quiet, research has shown that no fan is even quieter.

Like the VT-1/VT-2 preamps, the Equaliser has been designed to provide an exceptional tool for audio professionals. The design frequencies and curves were determined by ear, after extensive listening to a variety of program material, both individual tracks and overall mixes. The result is a highly musical equaliser with plenty of range for enhancing any track or mix.