Golden Age Audio EQ-73 MKII

The Spirit of Classic Vintage Equalizers, Optimized for the Pre-73 Family

The EQ-73 adopts the "old school" approach of legendary Class-A electronic equalizers, in the spirit of the famous 1073 module: a signal path without integrated circuits, immediate musicality, and a very natural way of shaping the tone rather than coldly "correcting" it. This type of equalization has marked countless productions because it flatters a voice, adds weight to a snare drum, rounds out an acoustic guitar, or brings presence to a bass without altering the original intent.

This version differs from a traditional 1073 on one key point: no high-pass filter. In return, the EQ-73 offers more frequency options and a midrange band design based on 2 inductors, one of which is dedicated to the lowest mid frequencies (160 Hz and 240 Hz). The result: a particularly relevant tool for working on the foundation, body, and "punch" of a track, with a characteristic, broad, and very studio-like response.

A Studio Equalizer for Recording, Reamping, and Hybrid Mixing

The EQ-73 is aimed at demanding home studio users as well as studios seeking a usable analog color on a daily basis. Its behavior is ideal for enriching source recordings (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, overheads, room, snare), but also for sculpting an already recorded track through a hardware chain. Thanks to its grain and musical curves, it excels when you want to work quickly: turn the knobs, find the "spot," and the source sits more easily in the mix.

It is also designed as the natural partner of a Pre-73 preamplifier: using the insert input allows creating a coherent, characterful, and efficient recording chain. And if your gear has a low-level insert (from -18 dB to -10 dB), the EQ-73 can integrate into other configurations to build a custom console channel strip without unnecessary complexity.

Features: Musicality, Detents, Band Bypass, and True Analog Identity

Three Calibrated Bands to Get Straight to the Point

The EQ-73's 3-band design emphasizes simple and impactful gestures. The bass and treble use shelving filters to thicken or brighten without harshness, while the mid band works in bell mode to precisely target attack, presence, body, or the "nose" of an instrument. The detented potentiometers provide stable and quick frequency selection, very practical for comparing settings or recalling a session.

Boost, Cut, and Immediate Control

In production, the appeal of a "vintage" style EQ lies as much in the choice of frequencies as in how the device reacts when pushing the gain. Here, you can boost or cut up to +/-15 dB on bass and mids, and up to +/-18 dB on treble, allowing both subtle tweaks and genuine artistic decisions. Another essential workflow feature: each band has its own bypass, ideal for quickly validating a setting band by band without losing track.

A Discrete Architecture Designed for Color

The EQ-73 relies on vintage-style electronics with no integrated circuits in the signal path, and tantalum capacitors in the audio path, a choice known to contribute to a dense texture and a tactile sensation. It also features a ground lift switch, useful in studio environments to reduce ground loop issues during multiple interconnections. The unit is powered by a supplied external power supply to ensure simple and reliable integration into an existing setup.

Finally, if your goal is to build a complete 1073-inspired channel strip in rack format, the Pre-73 + EQ-73 combination is designed to work naturally together, with the option of 19-inch rack mounting via an optional "UNITE" kit. A relevant approach for those seeking a classic, accessible studio sound that's ready to work, without compromising sonic identity.

Technical specifications

Category	equalizer	Rack unit	1
EQ	3 channels

Number of channels	1	Bypass	per frequency band
Electronics style	vintage	Capacitors in the signal path	tantalum
Integrated circuits in the signal path	none	Ground switch	Ground Lift
Number of bands	3	Line input	1x XLR / 6.3 mm jack combo
Frequency selection	via stepped potentiometers	Line output	XLR and 6.3 mm jack
Frequency range	20 Hz to 24 kHz	Insert	6.3 mm jack
Level control range	+/-18 dB	Power supply	external, included