Pulse Techniques Pultec MEQ-5 Solid State

Pultec MEQ-5-SS

Midrange Equalizer with API Gain Stage

In the early 1970s, Pulse Techniques introduced a solid-state line amp version of the EQP-1A3. They followed the release of the EQP-1A3-SS with a similar version of the MEQ-5 (the Pultec MEQ-5-SS). These units have exactly the same front end (input transformer and passive EQ section) but utilize a solid-state opamp (API 2520) gain stage driving a Triad output transformer. 

Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, etc.) once told us that the MEQ-5 was his go-to EQ for guitars of any type. Just like the tube version, the MEQ-5-SS provides exacting control of the “power region” in program material, that frequency range from about 300 Hz to 5000 Hz in which most of the sound energy is concentrated. The ear is especially sensitive to sounds in this region. In this region, even small resonances in studio acoustics and microphone and speaker responses are very evident in their effect on the listenability of the sound. Three independent sets of controls make it possible to boost on a peak curve at 200 – 1000 Hz while simultaneously boosting on a peak curve at 1.5 – 5 kHz, while simultaneously dipping at 200 – 7000 Hz. Guitars, vocals, horns, strings, keyboards, snares, toms, anything with significant midrange that requires complex contouring is a candidate for the MEQ-5-SS.