Outboard EQ

[Golden]

Any suggestions? I’m looking for a 2 channel box, and I’m recording to tape. Was thinking about the dbx models. Not so sure on this one. Thought I’d put it past you guys.

 

[chessrock]

Unfortunately, you never see the dbx 242 on ebay anymore, and when you do, it's usually going for around the $200 range.

I'm not talking any more about good, cheap used stuff, unless I'm selling something. As soon as you open your mouth, it gets all over the boards and before long everyone starts clamboring over them, driving their price up.

In answer to your question, though, Orban is always a pretty safe bet. As are the Symetrix or Rane parametrics. Soundcraft mixers tend to have decent EQ, also. On the sluttier end of the "budget" scale, the Speck stuff is supposed to be really good.
.

 

[SonicAlbert]

How much do you want to spend? I think one of the best used deals out there is the Klark-Teknik DN-410. Five band parametric and excellent quality sound.

 

[dementedchord]

$.02

well i'm glad someone has tried to stop you alread ( kinda) from getting a graphic.... as these guys have said check into parametric types... they seem alittle harder initially to use... but are WAY more useful in the long run.... go look at a BIG board ever seen a graphic in the channel strip??? there's a reason and not just beacause of space limitations... ( though if memory serves API did have a 5 band that could be speced in in the old days)

 

[Golden]

How much do you want to spend?

around $500, max.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'm going to search those up right now.

 

[SonicAlbert]

You can get a used Klark-Teknik DN-410 for $500 or a little under that. So be sure to check it out along with whatever else your looking into.

 

[Dumby]

What about outboard EQ for monitoring mixing and mastering?

 

[Warhead]

Harvey Gerst turned me onto those dbx242 EQ's a few years back and man seriously...! They rock.

I found my pair on eBay for $250 in mint condition. In that price range, you'll be hard pressed to find a pair of anything that good to beat them...

Chess, it's OK for ME to talk about them since I gotz minez!!!

War

 

[pohaku]

The API graphic is the 560 which is a great and useful EQ, but we are talking @$600 for one channel and that doesn't include a rack or lunchbox. If you can find a pair of DBX 242s for a decent price, they are great (like War, I got mine already -- paid about $225 for them in total). Beside Klark-Teknik the little Symetrix SX-201 isn't bad (and is usually pretty cheap) -- The Klark-Teknik is better though. If you can live with one channel for a while, see if you can find a used Speck ASC-T. Really nice and useful EQ for @$425 a channel used with an optional transformer.

 

[Golden]

new dbx

what about the new dbx boxes? The 215 for example.

 

[SonicAlbert]

That's a graphic eq. The suggestions you've been getting are for parametric eq's. If you are using the eq in your studio for recording and mixing, get a parametric. If you are using the eq to fine tune a PA system for live performance, get a graphic.

 

[someguy]

I honestly kind of like the old Ashly sc-66 parametric eq's and the sc-66a. Their newer stuff is ok but not that great and I wouldn't buy it, although I've used them in live house rigs. The sc-66 sereies are actually pretty good soundng eq's although they have a peculiar "sound" to them. Definitely better sounding than a lot of budget eq's and sometimes I'll use them over more expensive outboard eq's that i have. Also a definite improvement over budget mixer eq's. I'm not quite sure what they go for used but I would imagine $300-$400. I found mine in a second hand store for $40 a piece and took a chance and was pleasantly surprised.

 

[Golden]

shopping list

Alright, here's my shopping list according to you guys:

dbx 242
Klark-Teknik DN-410
Rane

these seem to be the ones to look for, right?

what about the aphex 109? any experiences? I've got my eye on one at a local used store for $395 CAN.

Anyway, thanks very much for your help, guys.

 

[SonicAlbert]

I think $395 CAN is way too much for the Aphex 109. I'd put that at the bottom of your list anyway, the others are better choices in my opinion.

 

[Golden]

I think $395 CAN is way too much for the Aphex 109. I'd put that at the bottom of your list anyway, the others are better choices in my opinion.

I agree.

At this point I have the option of picking up a dbx 242 for $225 US or a Rane PE15, don't know the price on the Rane yet. It looks like it will be one of those two.

Albert, may I ask what you are currently using? Just curious!

 

[SonicAlbert]

My hardware eq's are:

Klark-Teknik DN-410, Urei 546 modded by Jim Williams, Joe Meek VC5, Orban 642B, and a couple DBX 905 modules. I also have a Speck 316, which is 16 channels of 3 band semi-parametric eq's in a three rack space unit.

 

[Golden]

Looks like it's going to be a used Rane PE15. Thanks guys!

 

[Ford Van]

The TL Audio Indigo eq is freaky killer sounding!

http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/tlaudio/docs/archive/archive_1.htm

Not sure how much they go for now, but a pro audio place cleared one out a while back for about $500 for the two channel unit.

Amazingly sweet high shelf filter! The midrange bands were very smooth and accurate. Bass filters were decent.

 

[Ford Van]

Looks like it's going to be a used Rane PE15. Thanks guys!

While I have never used the PE15, I have used many of their graphics. Solid units, but fairly plain jane as far as sound. Not much better than your average console eq.

 

[sdelsolray]

Looks like it's going to be a used Rane PE15. Thanks guys!

Pay a bit more and consider a used Rane PE17. The main advantage is that it has less noise than the PE15, plus a few other features.