Retro 2A3 Dual Program Equaliser

The Retro 2A3 is a dual-channel tube program equaliser that captures the character and musicality of classic Pultec designs while adding new capabilities for today’s studios. Built around vintage tube amplification and custom-designed transformers, it delivers rich, natural tone and effortless equalisation curves. Staying true to the industry-standard Pultec performance, the Retro 2A3 introduces additional high-frequency boost points, carefully voiced to provide extra presence and sheen for vocals, instruments, or the stereo mix buss. These HF circuits retain the signature sweetness of the originals while expanding tonal options.

A newly designed subsonic filter refines the low end, addressing excessive energy common in the original design. Using the interstage transformer, the filter imparts its own tonal character, with selectable 40 Hz and 90 Hz peaking settings. The 40 Hz mode enhances excitement in the 35–40 Hz region without sacrificing weight, while the 90 Hz option delivers tighter, controlled bass. The filter can also be bypassed for applications requiring full-range accuracy.

Housed in a compact 2U chassis, the Retro 2A3 offers two independent EQ channels that can be used for stereo, individual tracks, or cascaded for extended shaping. With channel separation exceeding 70 dB, it maintains precise stereo integrity. The passive capacitor–inductor topology avoids the feedback circuits of active EQs, preventing the harshness often associated with modern designs. This makes the 2A3 sound smooth and musical, even with extreme boosts and cuts.

The Pultec-inspired bass boost and cut method is carefully recreated, allowing simultaneous low-frequency boosts and lower-mid cuts to add punch and clarity to bass and kick drums while reducing muddiness. Beyond EQ, the Retro 2A3 imparts its own sonic colour thanks to its valve amplification, making it beneficial simply being in the signal chain. Built for tracking, mixing, and mastering, it provides engineers with a wide palette of tonal textures in one powerful, compact unit.

Features

• Vintage tube amplification and custom-designed transformers
• True passive capacitor–inductor equalisation topology
• HF boost options include original and new ‘sweet spot’ frequencies
• New subsonic filter with 40 Hz and 90 Hz peaking settings
• Transformer-based filter design adds tonal character
• Smooth, musical midrange and natural sound even with extreme settings
• Pultec-style simultaneous bass boost and cut for punchy lows
• Dual EQ channels in 2U rackmount design
• Use in stereo, on individual tracks or cascaded for complex EQ chains
• Channel separation exceeds 70 dB
• No feedback in EQ circuitry avoids harshness of active designs
• Adds warmth and musicality even when EQ is bypassed
• Designed for tracking, mixing and mastering applications