Today I let 2 special stereo equalizers compete against each other. The Bax from Dangerous Music and the Clariphonic from UBK Kush Audio. Both EQs have 2 bands for the left and right channel that operate in shelf mode. In a shelf filter (also known as a cow tail filter), everything below (low-shelf) or above (high-shelf) an adjustable frequency is raised or lowered evenly.
High Shelf Filter (Kuhschwanz)__
Low Shelf Filter (Kuhschwanz)__
The two equalizers differ in their functionality, which is why I only tested the settings that are more or less identically reproducible on both equalizers. For this, I used the Q-Clone plug-in from Wave to also visually align the two equalizer settings. Let's take a look at the characteristics of both equalizers.
Dangerous Music – Bax Equalizer
The Bax EQ uses an equalizer technique developed in the 1950s by Peter J. Baxandall and is used in hundreds of thousands of hi-fi systems. Each channel has a low-shelf and a high-shelf filter, where different frequencies can be adjusted. It also has an adjustable low and hi-cut, a filter that can cut off highs or lows. The EQ features stepped pots in 0.5dB increments, which has the advantage of perfectly reproducing a previously used setting. Furthermore, you can be 100 percent sure that both channels are processed equally, making it suitable for mastering as well. In short: With the Bax EQ, you can boost or cut lows or highs from a selectable frequency and/or completely cut them off.
Dangerous Music Bax
Kush Audio -Clariphonic
The Clariphonic also has two filters for each of the two channels, but both are high-shelf filters, with one of the two filters being switchable between bell filter "Tight" and hi-shelf filter "Diffuse".
Bell Filter (Glockenfilter)__
The very special feature of the Clariphonic is that frequencies can only be boosted. A reduction is not possible. The Clariphonic is a parallel equalizer. The input signal is divided so that three identical signals are created. The first signal is forwarded directly to the output without processing. The second and third signals are processed in parallel through one of the two high-shelf filters each.
The first filter can be used either as a Shelf or as a Bell filter and covers two frequencies. The second filter is a Hi-Shelf filter and covers four frequencies. The Clariphonic has no stepped pots, which makes an exact reproduction of a setting impossible. You also cannot link the left and right channels. That would be a great feature that Kush Audio could incorporate in a revision. The frequencies of the Clariphonic have strange names like "Lift" (800Hz) and "Open" (3kHz) in the lower filter and "Presence" (5kHz), "Sheen" (9kHz), "Shimmer" (19kHz), and "Silk" (39kHz) in the higher filter. But maybe that's a good thing, because the Clariphonic is not an analytical equalizer. It is very intuitive and musical.
Kush Audio Clariphonic
As a sound example, I used a mix by the band P-Jay. The song is not mastered, so I still have enough headroom to work with the equalizers.
Conclusion
The Bax Equalizer has a harder sound compared to the Clariphonic. It colors the signal less and is, in my opinion, more suitable for mixdown than for tracking. The feel of the knobs and switches is very good, and you can quickly reach your goal due to the limited adjustment options. A plus point is also that the Bax can attenuate frequencies and has stepped pots to reproduce precise settings. All in all, the Bax is a clean-sounding equalizer for making final frequency changes and polishing the signal.
The Clariphonic is primarily a musical equalizer. It is not needed to correct errors in the frequency response. It is merely there to refresh the signal. The Clariphonic adds the certain shine and air that we know from great productions. The pots and switches feel good in the hand and the operation is very intuitive. Unfortunately, the Clariphonic has no bass band and the pots are not stepped, but it can be adjusted very well and therefore it is also suitable for mix processing. In my opinion, the bass range can be processed with a third equalizer, for which I mainly use the VOG (Voice of god) from Little Labs or the Helios Type69 EQ.