The Manley EQP-1A Stereo Pultec EQ is Manley’s interpretation of the historic Pultec Equaliser as originally produced by Pulse Techniques, Inc. Manley have been building these Manley Pultec EQs since 1990 after they bothered to hunt down Eugene Shenk in New Jersey to ask for his permission and blessings to produce their own version of his classic piece. These Manley EQP-1A Stereo Pultec EQ units employ their own simple and clean all-tube make-up gain block to reamplify the signal after the passive EQ circuit.
EQ may be set to ‘flat’ positions or BYPASSED entirely. All BOOST and CUT controls are continuously variable conductive plastic potentiometers for absolutely silent operation and long life. Their single rack unit monoblocks occupy one-third of the space of the ‘antique Pultecs’, an important consideration for allocation of outboard rack space. And if you notice, they’ve added a couple of extra frequencies too. The rear mounted input switch selects 0 degrees or 180 degrees PHASE INVERT for the balanced gold pin XLR input or the transformerless unbalanced bridging input (1/4″ jack) may be selected in that switch’s middle position.
People often ask us if Manley’s Pultec EQ’s sound like the old ones to which they reply, “Yes! But better!” The originals had three transformers in the signal path whereas Manley’s can be used completely transformerless. Manley EQP-1A Stereo Pultec EQ has a vastly superior B+ power supply, with regulated and balanced heater supply. Manley’s line amp is known to be killer-sounding. The components they use today just weren’t available in the 1960’s. So, if you want a project with crackling carbon pots, dirty open frame wafer switches, 5% and 10% tolerance noisy carbon resistors, exposed tubes sticking out the back of the 3U chassis, etc., go pay top dollar for an antique Pultec!
The Manley EQP-1A Stereo Pultec EQ, available in both single and 2-channel versions, uses 1 x 12AX7WA and 1 x 6414 (or 5965) in our ALL-TUBE single-ended line amplifier for the gain make-up and extra-beefy sound; gain is factory set for unity, but additional gain is available by a rear mounted feedback adjustment trimpot. Like Manley’s 40dB Mic Preamps, the Manley Pultecs offer both transformers coupled balanced and direct capacitor coupled unbalanced outputs for easy interface and sonic variety.
Kick drum? Bring on the Pultecs and all the iron you can muster! You’ll soon discover the power and magic of having those individual Low Frequency BOOST and CUT controls in that LF shelf circuit. . . Need a little clarity or extension? Try that middle bell-shaped Boost dialling in the sharpness of the boost on the BANDWIDTH control. Something bugging you? Ease it off with the HF shelf cut. You’ll see. There’s no substitute for a what a Manley EQP-1A Stereo Pultec EQ can do!
