Heritage Audio Motorcity

A "Motor City" Piece: The Motown Spirit Updated

With the MOTORCITY EQualizer, Heritage Audio does not offer just another "vintage EQ": the goal is to recreate the feel of legendary gear, directly stemming from Detroit's studio culture. Everything, from the brushed aluminum front panel design to the historically accurate control layout, has been designed to recapture the original's aesthetics and ergonomics. The molded bakelite knobs contribute to this "classic console" sensation, where each detent ensures a confident musical gesture.

But the true value of this recreation lies inside: the unique passive equalization circuit is modeled on the original design to recover the grain, impact, and roundness that marked so many recordings. Heritage Audio claims a level of fidelity that places the MOTORCITY EQualizer among the rare equalizers capable of rivaling the "Pultec" reference in the minds of sound engineers.

Studio Uses: Mixing, Tracking, and Analog Color

The Heritage Audio MOTORCITY EQualizer targets producers, mixers, and demanding home studio users who want simple, fast, and musically oriented equalization with genuine analog personality. Its philosophy is not that of a surgical EQ: here, the focus is on weight in the lows, presence in the mids, and brightness in the highs, with a "broad" and organic character that adds depth to tracks.

It naturally fits sources where character is desired: vocals, bass, guitars, keyboards, overheads, drum buses, and even gentle treatment on a stereo bus depending on the aesthetic sought. Thanks to its stepped controls, it is also suitable for session recall workflows: you note the positions and quickly find the balance point.

Passive Equalization with 1 dB Steps: Precision, Musicality, and Instant A/B

7 Carefully Selected Frequencies Across the Spectrum

The MOTORCITY EQualizer offers seven frequency points spread across the entire tonal spectrum. Rather than multiplying options, Heritage Audio focuses on effective and proven choices: you quickly target the useful zone and sculpt without getting lost. Each band is controlled by a stepped rotary switch allowing a flat response, then boosting or cutting with an amplitude of up to 8 dB, in 1 dB increments. This approach delivers an EQ that is both intuitive and precise, ideal for moving fast while maintaining control over nuance.

Premium Input and Output Stages for True Analog "Presence"

The color of a passive equalizer does not depend solely on its curves: the quality of the surrounding stages is crucial. Here, you find a UTC-type input transformer designed exclusively for Heritage Audio, along with a Carnhill line output amplifier, two components renowned for providing a sense of density, stability, and depth. The result: even small corrections translate into improved clarity and punch, without any harshness.

Gain Control and Input/Output/Off Switching

The gain control allows output level adjustment over a range of -8 dB to +8 dB, always in 1 dB steps, facilitating equalization at a perceived constant level. And to quickly validate your decisions, the toggle switch input/output/off offers direct treatment comparison: you immediately hear if the EQ brings the desired benefit in the mix context.

Technical specifications

Category	equalizer	Rack unit	2
Number of channels	1	Analog outputs	XLR
EQ	7-band	Color	Grey
Valve	No

7 frequency points across the tonal spectrum	50 Hz, 130 Hz, 320 Hz, 800 Hz, 2000 Hz, 5000 Hz, 12,500 Hz	Toggle switch	input/output/off for A/B comparison
Adjustment increments	1 dB	Input transformer	UTC replica designed exclusively for Heritage Audio
Gain control	-8 dB to +8 dB	Line output amplifier	Carnhill
Gain increments	1 dB