Tube-Tech PE 1C Program Equaliser

The Tube-Tech PE 1C is a passive, all-tube equaliser inspired by the iconic Pultec EQP-1A design, featuring a passive EQ section complemented by a high-quality op-amp. With original Pultec units out of production for decades and vintage models fetching steep prices, the PE 1C offers an accessible way to achieve this highly sought-after sound.

The Tube-Tech PE 1C’s low-end section incorporates two distinct passive EQ filters, each with unique cut and boost frequencies. When used together, they create unique EQ curves known as the “Low End Trick,” which is ideal for refining low to midrange frequencies. The high and midrange bands deliver exceptional transparency and clarity, establishing the PE 1C as one of the most respected passive tube equalisers in the world.

In 1985, Tube-Tech’s promotional message for their first equaliser, the Tube-Tech PE 1A, was simple: “The Tube-Tech program EQ PE1A is exactly the same as the Pultec program EQ!” The Tube-Tech PE 1A was designed as a European replica of the US Pultec EQP-1A, which had gained significant popularity in recording studios across New York and LA during the 1980s due to its smooth and appealing sound.

John Petersen, founder and designer of Tube-Tech, was driven by the challenge of recreating the distinctive Pultec sound, ensuring that all component specifications matched precisely. The ultimate test involved using a Pultec EQP-1A on one stereo channel and a Tube-Tech PE 1A on the other; the stereo image had to remain flawless at all settings.

The Tube-Tech PE 1A was the first product to bear the Tube-Tech name, introduced nearly three decades ago. The PE 1C is an evolution of this legacy, featuring a passive EQ section, a tube-based push-pull amplifier to restore gain, and top-quality components throughout.

The Tube-Tech PE 1C offers a low-frequency boost and attenuation section (shelving) along with a high-frequency boost section (peaking), with variable bandwidth and attenuation (shelving). The filter section is entirely passive, followed by a tube-driven push-pull amplifier. The unit’s input and output are transformer balanced and fully floating, with transformers that include a static screen between the primary and secondary windings for added clarity and isolation.

The Tube-TechPE1C is one of the few program equalisers that faithfully replicates the original sound and performance of new Pultecs. Modern Pultecs often have a “grainy” quality due to their age and old components, but the Tube-Tech PE 1C’s high-end boost stands unmatched in clarity.

When used on darker sources, such as a Coles ribbon microphone, the PE1C opens up the top end beautifully without introducing harshness. Its unique sound is difficult to replicate with standard active equalisers due to its filter design, tube gain stages, and transformer-based circuitry.

The Tube-Tech PE 1C also holds creative potential within its deceptively simple design. The low-end section consists of two separate passive EQ filters with slightly different cut and boost frequencies, even though the panel displays them as the same. This design mirrors the original Pultecs, where the boost frequencies are slightly lower than the attenuation frequencies, allowing for the renowned “Low End Trick” and producing distinct EQ curves when both sections are used together.