Best 500 series EQs: Outboard sound sculpting

The 500 standard is one of the best things to happen in professional audio technology. With it users can design and customize their own signal chain based on individual workflow needs. When it comes to tone shaping, 500 series EQs are some of the best processors available. 

We’ve gone over 500 series preamps and compressors, so now we’ll run down our favorite equalizer modules. Convenient, ergonomic, and versatile these are some of the best.

Best 500 series EQ overall: Solid State Logic UltraViolet

Taken from the Fusion processor, the UltraViolet provides four flexible bands of minimum-phase EQ. The dual mid bands are fully parametric with a Focus control for each, and there are two shelving filters.

The high and low bands each have four selectable frequency centers and the two midbands are selectable through a range of their respective frequencies. Each midband has continuously variable Q, and the bandwidth can be further tailored through the Focus controls. 

It’s a robust 500 series EQ but it’s not without its downsides though. As a stereo equalizer, it doesn’t work on mono sources. So it’s best to save it for groups or the stereo bus. But what you get are four EQ bands, with two fully parametric in the midrange, as well as high and low-pass filtering.

Make sure you have enough space in your 500 series lunchbox too, as it takes up two slots. But as far as equalizers go, there aren’t many that can stand up to how musical and tuneable the UltraViolet is.

Best Neve-style 500 series EQ: BAE 1084

It seems like Neve’s 1073 EQ is equally loved and shunned. But there’s no denying the weight and color it imparts on a signal. Few companies have been able to reimagine Rupert Neve’s original vision like BAE.

This is a take on the popular 1084 EQ, with all of the 70s flair anyone would want. All parts of the circuit are kept as close to the original design as possible, including the transformers. Everything is wired by hand with discrete components and never housed on a PCB.

What’s more, the layout is identical to the vintage originals. This means it fits just as easily into your 500 series rack as into a classic Neve 80 series console. Same chassis and connections.

Three bands provide selectable frequencies with 16dB of cut or boost. The all important midrange band has 12dB, which goes all the way up to 18dB when set to peak. You can also select the center frequency.

What’s even better is this is also a 500 series preamp, so every part of your signal can have the Neve sonic stamp on it if you’d like.

Best API-style 500 series EQ: API 550A 3-Band EQ

There are two main reasons why API should be on this list. They created the 500 series standard back in the 70s, and their EQs are some of the most musical and useful. Even if they’re not as robust as other options.

Since the late 60s, the fully-discrete design of the 550A has been one of the premier API equalizers. It only offers three bands, but each band’s seven frequency centers were chosen by API because of how beneficial they are to a mix.

Reciprocal EQ at 21 points over five steps lets you boost to a maximum of 12dB. Each of the EQ points overlap, and the high and low points can be set to peak of shelf filtering. The potentiometers for each band are dual-concentric

Proportional Q narrows the bandwidth at extreme settings, which somewhat makes up for the lack of a Q control at each frequency point.

It’s a fairly simple EQ, but there’s a reason it’s been a professional favorite since its 1960s inception. Often imitated but never truly replicated.

Most versatile 500 series EQ: Drawmer MQ-1

You might not find a 500 series EQ with more bands than the MQ-1. It’s an all-analog circuit and each band has a fixed bell curve. The design is inspired by an equalizer built in-house at Motown Studios in the 1960s. 

Each band has up to 10dB of cut and boost. But the real magic is in the Crush button. Once engaged it adds even-order harmonic saturation with a distinctly vintage flavor. Low end swells, low mids get beefier, the midrange has more presence, and the highs sing.

The more you drive the EQ bands the more of the effect you get, so you can fine tune the balance with a Gain control.

It would be great if there was a way to control the amount of bandwidth or gain for each frequency band, but most equalizers don’t offer this amount of bands overall so it’s a decent compromise.

Best budget 500 series EQ: dbx 530

Dbx makes great budget-level gear that doesn’t skimp on sound or build quality. The 530 is based on their classic 905 unit, but formatted to the 500 series standard.

Over three frequency bands you get true parametric EQ. The bands overlap, with a bandwidth (Q) control with up to 15dB of reciprocal cut and boost. Central frequency can be selected through a rotary pot for each band. That in tandem with the overlapping frequencies can lead  to some unique equalization curves.

Each band can be switched to “infinite notch”, which is great for cutting out problem frequencies. In this setting each band acts independently of the others. The high and low bands can independently switch into shelving filters from the standard bell setting.

It’s a great do-it-all three-band EQ at a budget price point.

FAQ

Why choose a 500 series EQ over a rackmount or plugin?

500 series EQs offer analog warmth and the hands-on control of traditional hardware but take up less space and often cost less than full rack mount effects. Compared to plugins, they provide real analog coloration, which many prefer for different phases of the production process.

Can I mix and match brands in a 500 series chassis?

Yes! The 500 series format is standardized, so you can mix modules from different manufacturers in the same chassis, as long as they conform to the API 500 series spec.

How do I choose the best 500 series EQ for my needs?

It depends on your workflow. If you want versatility, go with a parametric EQ. For vintage vibe and smooth tone, look for Pultec-style or Neve-inspired units. For surgical moves, consider something with precise controls that let you customize how the equalizer behaves.