Lindell Audio PEX-500

Lindell Audio PEX-500: The Classic Passive EQ at Your Fingertips

For many producers, the search for that particular “analog sheen” is an endless journey. The Lindell Audio PEX-500 puts an end to that search by making accessible one of the most sought-after equalizer circuits in history. Based on the classic Pultec EQP-1A, this module uses a passive filter design followed by a discrete gain stage with transformers. The result is an EQ that not only adjusts frequencies, but enriches the sound with musical texture and harmonic depth that make your tracks jump right out of the speakers.

Most important features

• Passive Pultec-Style Design: Use the famous curves that have been the gold standard for decades for vocals, drums and full mixes.

• Transformer-Coupled: Features input and output transformers that provide that sought-after analog “punch” and coloration.

• The Famous “Low-End Trick”: The PEX-500 allows you to both boost and cut at the same low frequency at the same time, resulting in a tight, powerful low without “mud.”

• Silky High Boost: Add sparkle and “air” to your signal without sounding sharp or tired.

• Fully Discrete Path: No ICs in the signal path; only high-quality components for superior audio quality.

• Hardware Bypass: Easily compare between the dry and processed signal with a real physical switch.

Why choose the Lindell Audio PEX-500?

Choosing the Lindell Audio PEX-500 is a choice for musicality. Where modern parametric EQs are often used surgically to correct errors, the PEX-500 is used to add beauty. For the professional engineer, this is the module that gives “character” to a dull snare or a lead vocal that needs that extra bit of authority.

At i4studio, we recommend the PEX-500 to anyone looking to build a hybrid workflow. Lindell Audio’s value for money is second to none; you get the sound of an expensive vintage unit in a fraction of the space and for a fraction of the price. It is the perfect partner for the Lindell 7X-500 compressor to form a complete analog channel strip.

Technical specifications

1. What is the difference between the PEX-500 and a standard EQ plugin? Although plugins are getting better and better, the digital world lacks the physical interaction of transformers and inductors. The PEX-500 adds a physical “vibe” and harmonic saturation that makes a mix sound more 3D.

2. Can I use the PEX-500 for mastering? Sure. Many users put a stereo pair of PEX-500s on their mix bus to give the whole track more body and a polished high.

3. Is the PEX-500 difficult to operate? No, the interface is very intuitive. It’s all about listening to the tone. Because the curves are so broad and musical, it almost always sounds right, even at extreme settings.

4. Will this module fit in a 19-inch rack? Yes, provided you have a 500-series chassis (such as the Lindell 506 Power). The module itself is compact and slides directly into a free slot.

5. Does the PEX-500 work well with the Lindell 6X-500 preamp? Absolutely. The combination of the 6X-500 (preamp), PEX-500 (EQ) and 7X-500 (compressor) is a classic “Holy Trinity” for any recording chain.