Inward Connections 500 series STEPEQ.

[ProducerBoy]

Here's the link: Inward Connections StepEQ Fully Discrete 500 Series Program Equalizer | VintageKing.com

[Lindell]

How lovely!
Price?

[tapehiss]

thats the shizzit!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gravity8058]

Stereo I assume?

[oudplayer]

Very interesting...

[matt thomas]

I wonder why it has to be double width? Hopefully not just to fit the knobs..

I'm sure its great though..

matt

[Gravity8058]

Still don't understand why they didn't fit it in a single rackspace like the other three companies making Pultec style 500 series eq's?

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by Gravity8058

Still don't understand why they didn't fit it in a single rackspace like the other three companies making Pultec style 500 series eq's?

Taking a shot in the dark, but maybe because it's stepped?

I know of A-designs and Anamod, but who's the third?

[Perelandra05]

JLM audio is the third.

[tapehiss]

i also think it is great to be double spaced, otherwise it would not be stepped..... and we all know how much people are desiring stepped 500 modules, but it seems it can't be done with single spaced units, given the fact that no one has done it to my knowledge.... i also imagine more room for a more authentic pultec xfmr configuration.

also, inward connections is quickly becoming the best 500 company i know..... their first three modules were nice, but nothing to get moist over...

but their opto with VU meter, and now this pultec module, they are breaking new ground again and again with the format...

not to mention the price lowering on the 24 channel console, with 88 500 series slots....

also their release of the new rack-mounted 500 series console and expander, which comes with inward opamps and xfmr'd outputs.

these guys are quite genius in their additions to the 500 series.

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by tapehiss

i also think it is great to be double spaced, otherwise it would not be stepped..... and we all know how much people are desiring stepped 500 modules, but it seems it can't be done with single spaced units, given the fact that no one has done it to my knowledge.... i also imagine more room for a more authentic pultec xfmr configuration.

also, inward connections is quickly becoming the best 500 company i know..... their first three modules were nice, but nothing to get moist over...

but their opto with VU meter, and now this pultec module, they are breaking new ground again and again with the format...

not to mention the price lowering on the 24 channel console, with 88 500 series slots....

also their release of the new rack-mounted 500 series console and expander, which comes with inward opamps and xfmr'd outputs.

these guys are quite genius in their additions to the 500 series.

Well, API 550 eqs are stepped (which I wish they weren't), but I imagine a pultec format eq with stepped controls requires the two spaces.

I'm really excited about what IC is doing. I think they're on the right track.
Those OPT1A comps are definitely on my list.

[Lindell]

Originally Posted by Lindell

How lovely!
Price?

I'll quote myself.... $832! at Vintage King

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by Lindell

I'll quote myself.... $832! at Vintage King

Whoa!!!! Just saw that. That's waaaay less than I expected.

[riffmachine]

Uh oh, this looks juicy. Mmmmmm. - paul

[Tom H]

Looks tasty indeed.

This puppy being a 2 spacer is actually cool if it sounds good. I mean idealy I would place this thing "console style" underneath or above a Shadow Hills optograph 500 as they would form a great dedicated channel together.

[VintageKingAudio]

Originally Posted by ProducerBoy

Whoa!!!! Just saw that. That's waaaay less than I expected.

FYI...We're running all Inward 500 modules for 10% off in April. May 1st the StepEQ will go back to its regular sell price of $925...

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by VintageKingAudio

FYI...We're running all Inward 500 modules for 10% off in April. May 1st the StepEQ will go back to its regular sell price of $925...

I know! I've got the OPT1A on my hit list... but alas, this isn't the month to pull the trigger. Even without the 10% off, the prices on those IC 500 pieces are great.

[riffmachine]

I just ordered a couple of these. Should be receiving them later next week. I will give my impressions after a few days with them. - paul

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by riffmachine

I just ordered a couple of these. Should be receiving them later next week. I will give my impressions after a few days with them. - paul

Awesome! Thanks in advance. : )

[balanceman]

besides the name of the EQ, no where does it say the knobs are stepped (that I can find).
If they are; from the silkscreening one would assume 1/2DB steps?
I have been selling and saving for the Dangerous BAX EQ + in the process opened up four 500 slots...

If this has stepped controls, it is a good contender to fight it out with the BAX.

Filling the empty slots has a certain appeal.

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by balanceman

besides the name of the EQ, no where does it say the knobs are stepped (that I can find).
If they are; from the silkscreening one would assume 1/2DB steps?
I have been selling and saving for the Dangerous BAX EQ + in the process opened up four 500 slots...

If this has stepped controls, it is a good contender to fight it out with the BAX.

Filling the empty slots has a certain appeal.

From VK's site:
With controls reminiscent of the classic Pultec EQP-1A, the Inward Connections StepEQ is a fully discrete stepped equalizer with an extremely smooth and musical tone. Perfect for any source demanding smooth top end and big powerful bottom end response.

[balanceman]

wow! I must've read that five times and missed it every time!
double espresso and bubble berry first thing in the morning can really mess you up!
Thanks P_boy!

[balanceman]

riddle me this:
how do you get -16 DB on a knob labeled 1-10?
or +14 on a knob from 1-10?

My Great River MAQ2NV has 1/2 deep steps up to about 5 DB and then jumps to 1 DB steps..

could be something similar, but then the math is a little different on each knob- no?
the turnover would be at #5 and 6 for each knob?

[ProducerBoy]

Originally Posted by balanceman

wow! I must've read that five times and missed it every time!
double espresso and bubble berry first thing in the morning can really mess you up!
Thanks P_boy!

Haha. No worries!

[balanceman]

Two on the way! Inquiring minds need to know. Maybe it'll work well for stereo stuff, maybe I'll like it for certain mono things- would then swap for a complementary mono compressor instead of the second channel of EQ..

[riffmachine]

Originally Posted by balanceman

Two on the way! Inquiring minds need to know. Maybe it'll work well for stereo stuff, maybe I'll like it for certain mono things- would then swap for a complementary mono compressor instead of the second channel of EQ..

Cool, glad someone else got a pair. Please post your thoughts about them when you receive them. I'll hopefully be getting mine on Wednesday of next week. It would be interesting to hear your observations, and to see if there are consistencies between our opinions/findings. - paul

[balanceman]

I'm gonna leave the browser open for a bit and "blog"

Just received ser. nos. 15 and 16!!

Out of the box, they're weighty and nicely constructed.

1st thing: only the frequency knobs are stepped. The cut, boost and BW knobs are all sweepable. Bummer.

On the plus side: the knobs feel real nice and smooth and the silkscreen is very clear. You can easily return to markings and the knobs don't feel sketchy.

If not stepped- probably easy to recall. Might want to change the name of the EQs to rEQalls instead. . .

Props to Inward for including a printed recall sheet: that's a great plus.

Imma go install these..

[balanceman]

drum buss: ++ good tone to the mid boost! hi cut feels good too.
didn't do much lo band stuff.

electric bass: good interplay between cut/boost in the low band.

==========
I had a pair of other pultec style EQs for the 500 series and sold them. I didn't like the fact that when they were engaged, the signal dropped a bit. Like 1.5 DB - I can't remember it was more than a year ago...

It sucked that you would pop in the EQ and it would START OUT droopy and lame sounding...
I even called the company and asked what's up. They kinda shrugged me off.
I even noticed it happen in a promo video for their gear w/ a room full of people in the video - switch it on: bam! signal's lower + then dude starts boosting on the EQ...
=============
These things don't exhibit any sort of loss at all. in/out same same no problem.
Solid so far... SOLD so far!

OK more solo instruments...

[balanceman]

male rock vocals: mud clearing went well. presence boost sounds good on a bunch of different frequencies.

female VO: I ended up with the low band on 30hz turn effectively clean up the lows. It's strange that 60hz feels like it takes a big bite out of a woman talking about circuit construction.
The shelf probably has longish slope to it... works well.

I have had a few different solid state and tube pultec type EQs + used a couple pultecs in other facilities. 1 complaint with a couple of the remakes is the feel of the band width control.

The STEPs have a great narrow peak and there is a consistent, noticeable graduation between that and the other extreme. It's nice that it's not a nebulous mush of widening...

I am really happy with the feel of these.

I'm still a bit bummed that ALL of the knobs aren't on clicks. I guess it's not a deal breaker, but a bit of a surprise.

Maybe a more detailed description in the product lit.

I've yet to try them on program material + will have to stop this goofiness for the day as musicians will be here in 15 minutes..
blog off...

[riffmachine]

Thanks for posting your impressions balanceman I'm scheduled to get mine tomorrow(thursday). Looking forward to testing them out. - paul