Heritage Audio Motorcity Equalizer

Heritage Audio is incredibly pleased to offer the Motorcity equalizer -- the world's first reproduction (and a dead-on one at that) of the "Holy Grail" of classic EQs.

Recreated from Motown units owned by eight-time Grammy winning producer, mixdown artist, and innovative engineering genius Michael Brauer, Heritage Audio has left no stone unturned, recreating the unmistakably huge, punchy, and warm signature sound that makes this EQ as classic as the hits it helped create. From the 10-gauge, hand-brushed aluminum face plate to the historically accurate control layout, including custom molded bakelite knobs, the Motorcity equalizer looks the part. More importantly, the unique passive equalization circuit is identical and fully faithful to the original design.

It was no simple task to make a 100% accurate reincarnation. Peter Rodriguez and his team from Heritage Audio worked for weeks with their friends at Black Lion Audio. Seth Berman from Black Lion Audio's NY facility took the lead in getting the info together for Heritage to work their magic. The exceptionally tight mil-spec 1960s tone capacitors and inductors are simply no longer available. Replace with an alternative? Not on your life. Heritage Audio had custom recreations built from scratch. Each with exact materials, values, and tolerances: a perfect interchangeable clone of the very few originals remaining. Just add 60 years of dust, and you've got twins.

The MOTORCITY EQualizer is a completely analog, passive EQ design… read more with seven accessible frequency points across the tonal spectrum. Each frequency has a stepped rotary switch capable of a flat response, or up or down up 8 dB in 1 dB increments. Frequency points graduate from 50, 130, 320, and 800 Hz before jumping to 2000, 5000, peaking at 12,500 Hz. The front panel also features a simple in/out/off toggle switch with top hat knob and jewel light power indicator.


See and hear the Motorcity EQ in this video from Heritage Audio:

All rotary switches have easy to read from a distance "General Radio" bakelite style knobs recreated to look exactly like the originals (remember, this is not a slider-style graphic EQ). Finally, it features a master gain control (-8db/+8db), again in 1dB increments. The incredibly simple 1960s-accurate back panel features a power supply jack, and an XLR input and output. The sound itself is exactly what you'd expect. It packs a punch without sounding harsh or distorted. While something as simple as an analog seven-band EQ might sound more like hype than hyper goodness, hearing is believing.

Why has Heritage Audio gone through the seemingly impossible task of bringing them back to life? Michael Brauer will tell you this: It's simply got that sound!

The Heritage Audio MOTORCITY EQ is not a digital equivalent, not a respectfully close replica and not a more compatible modernized "improvement." The MOTORCITY EQualizer is nothing more or less than the genuine article finally made available for the general public.

For the very first time in history, you can integrate this true spec to spec carbon copy of both form and function into your own studio. read less