TUBE-TECH PE 1 C

PE 1C PROGRAM EQUALIZER

The PE 1C is a passive, all-tube EQ, based on the classic PULTEC EQP 1A design and featuring a passive EQ section and a high quality op amp. With the original Pultec out of production for decades and used examples demanding sky-high prices, the PE 1C is by far the easiest way to achieve this unique and coveted sound.

The PE 1C low end section combines two separate passive EQ filters with slightly different cut/boost frequencies. When the two sections are combined, this results in truly unique EQ curves, often named the “Low End Trick” and very useful for cleaning up low/mid frequencies.

The high frequency and midrange bands really stand out in terms of transparency and clarity, and the PE 1C is broadly regarded as one of the world’s finest passive tube based equalizers.

History and Details

“The Tube-Tech program EQ PE1A is exactly the same as Pultec program EQ!”

This was our message when promoting the very first Tube-Tech equalizer back in 1985.
The Tube-Tech PE1A program equalizer was originally made as a European exact equivalent of the US Pultec program eq EQP1A, that became very popular in the US during the eighties in recording studios in New York and LA. The smooth sound of the Pultecs made these eq”s very different and attractive.

The challenge of this illusive sound motivated Tube Tech founder and designer John Petersen to design and manufacture something that sounded just excately the same, featuring equal specs for all components .

The magic test was mixing with Pultec EQ1PA on the left channel and Tube Tech PE1A on the right channel and check the stereo image: It had to remain perfect on all settings!

The PE1A was the first product carrying the TUBE-TECH name 28 years ago.

Features and Technical Specifications

The TUBE-TECH PE1C is a passive tube based program equalizer based on the design of the old PULTEC EQP1A, featuring an all passive eq section and a high quality op amp. All components used are of the highest standard.

The TUBE-TECH PE 1C Program Equalizer contains a low frequency boost and attenuation section (shelving), and a high frequency boost section (peaking). The high frequency section has variable bandwidth as well as attenuation (shelving). The filter section is of the passive type followed by a tube based push-pull amplifier to restore the gain.

Input and output are transformer balanced as well as fully floating. Input and output transformers come with a static screen between the primary and secondary wirings.

• Tube based push-pull amplifier
• Freq. resp. @ -3 dB: 5 Hz – 40 kHz
•  Low noise: < -85 dBU @ 0 dB gain
•  CMRR: > 60 dB @ 10 kHz
• All-tube passive EQ
• 4 LF frequencies: 20, 30, 60 and 100 Hz  (Boost: 0 to +14 dB, attenuation: 0 to -18 dB)
• 10 HF boosts with variable bandwidth: 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12 and 16 kHz (0 to +18 dB w/ sharp Q, 0 to 10 dB w/ broad Q)
• 3 HF attenuations: 5, 10 and 20 kHz (0 to -18 dB)
• Input impedance: 600Ω
• No insertion loss
• Clickless In/Out switch
• Conductive plastic potentiometers
• In- and output are transformer balanced and fully floating

FAQ: Program EQ PE1A, PE1B and PE1C Differences

The amplifier section in the PE 1A and PE 1B is hardwired.

In the PE 1C the transformers and the tubes are placed inside the unit on a printed circuit board.

The filter section for the low BOOST/ATTEN and the high ATTEN is the same for all three units.

The high boost in the PE 1B and PE 1C has three additional frequencies: 1, 1.5 and 2 KHz

Today the Tube-Tech PE1C is still in production, with little changes in sound from its original design.