The Tube-Tech PE 1C Program Equalizer is the design that started it all for John Petersen and Tube-Tech. It's an all tube version of the legendary Pultec EQP 1A, an equalizer that was, and still is, known for its uncanny ability to make things sound better by just running signal through it. Has Tube-Tech captured that magic? Just do a Google search for Tube-Tech PE 1C. Page after page of world class and mid- to upper-level recording studios come up. That alone tells the whole story.


Tube-Tech PE 1C Program Equalizer, First Take:
Passive Pultec-style EQ
Tube-based gain-makeup amplifer
Balanced I/O and Floating Transformers

Passive EQ

The PE 1C contains a passive filter and a tube-based amplifier to restore the loss from the filter. The filter has a low frequency boost/attenuate section with 4 selective frequencies, a high frequency boost section with a variable bandwidth and 10 selective frequencies and a high-frequency attenuation section with 3 selective frequencies. The filter is placed directly after the input transformer therefore eliminating noise from the amplifier when boosting either low or high frequencies.

The amplifier consists of two tubes (valves) in push-pull configuration (one ECC 83 as the pre-amp and phase splitter, and one ECC 82 as the output stage), and an output transformer. Both input and output are balanced and fully floating. The in/out key switches the filter in and out without clicks and changes in level, while the amplifier remain in the signal path.

Balanced I/O and Floating Transformers

Input and output are balanced as well as fully floating. This provides maximum electronic isolation for superior noise rejection. The power supply for the pre-amp and phase splitter are stabilized and the heaters of both tubes (valves) are fed with a stabilized DC voltage. This prevents any variation in the DC energy when combined with the musical signal, which would otherwise cause certain types of distortion. Put simply, the PE 1C's DC-stabilized circuits keep the EQ bands free of any unwanted artifacts. EQ is smooth and distortion-free.


About Tube-Tech

For over twenty years, Tube Tech has been one of the most prominent names in all-tube signal processing equipment. You'll find their gear in the best recording and mastering studios around the world. The company's founder, John Petersen is an electrical engineer who was factory trained at Solid State Logic, EMT, Studer, Sony, Neumann, and NTP Electonik (digital audio routers). He also designed tape recorder playback/recording amps for Lyrec tape recorders (found in the studios of the legendary Joe Meek and Vangelis). His first design under the name of Tube-Tech was an all-tube equalizer based on the legendary Pultec EQP 1A. Petersen continued to design and manufacture a number of innovative all-tube outboard processors including preamps, multiband compressors and summing amps. Thanks to John's dedication to high-quality analog sound you'll see Tube-Tech gear in the racks of pro audio legends such as multi Grammy Award winner Al Schmitt, (Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, Toto, Quincy Jones, Natalie Cole, Diana Krall), Grammy winner Joe Chiccarelli, (Elton John, Beck, U2, Tori Amos, Counting Crows, Offspring), engineer Russ Long (Sixpence None The Richer, Wilco, Dolly Parton, Allison Moorer), producer-engineer Tony Shepperd (Elton John, Madonna, Kenny Loggins, Barbra Streisand, Lionel Richie, and Whitney Houston), and many more.