CARTEC AUDIO EQP-1A

Product Description

Cartec Audio EQP-1A is a hand wired valve equaliser, recreating the distinctive sound and features of the classic Pultec EQP-1A.

Each Cartec Audio EQP-1A is assembled by hand in England using selected high quality, low tolerance components and carries a 3 year warranty. Matched pairs are shipped as standard. Download the Manual (PDF) for full technical specifications. Audio comparisons are available as downloadable 48k DAW sessions for you to evaluate in a familiar studio environment.

Pultec founders Gene Shenk and Ollie Summerland unveiled the first passive program EQ in 1951. This EQP-1 was based on filter circuits licensed from Western Electric and sounded great, but suffered the gain insertion losses typical of any passive filter, so the duo upgraded their original unit to the EQP-1A, which followed the EQ section with a gain makeup stage using a push-pull design with 12AU7, 12AX7 and 6X4 vacuum tubes. Designed for broad equalization of program material, the EQP-1A had four low boost/cut frequencies, three high-cut frequencies and a choice of seven HF boost points, along with a bandwidth control for shaping the high boost curve.

Like many boutique entrepreneurs, Shenk and Summerland built every unit to order by hand in their true two-man operation. Other Pultec units included the EQ-H2 high-frequency equalizer, the MEQ-5 mid-band EQ and the EQP-1A3 (an EQP-1A in a two-rackspace chassis), as well as solid-state versions, which had silver-face front panels. The company folded decades ago, but its spirit lives on in products such as Manley Lab’s Enhanced Pultec EQP-1A, an updated version with improved sonic performance.

Cartec Audio EQP-1A Features:

- Hand-wired, high quality construction with shortest signal paths
- Uncompromised original circuit, with full transformer complement
- All valve gain stages and power supply rectifier
- Selected for <1% tolerance potentiometers and components for matched pairs
- Dramatic tone shaping capabilities.