UREI 527-A 27-Band 1/3-Octave Graphic EQ – Vintage USA-Made Inductor EQ

Description:

A genuine piece of LA studio history. The UREI 527-A is a 27-band, 1/3-octave graphic equalizer from United Recording Electronics Industries, the company behind the 1176 and LA-2A. It was built in Southern California and used in studios, broadcast facilities, and concert venues throughout the ’70s and ’80s.

This isn’t a cheap, flat-sounding graphic EQ. The 527-A uses active LC (inductor-based) filters and an output transformer. Many engineers say that combination makes it sound smoother and less brittle than UREI’s later graphics. It handles room tuning and monitor correction well. It also works as a character EQ when you want to push bass lines, drums, or vocals into gritty, colored territory that plugins don’t quite capture.

Features & specs

• 27 bands at ISO-standard 1/3-octave centers, 40 Hz to 16 kHz
• Up to ±10 dB boost or cut per band, with smooth stepless sliders
• Active inductor/capacitor filter design
• Transformer-coupled output
• Locking front-panel gain control with up to 10 dB of gain
• Handles program levels from −20 to +20 dBm with low noise and distortion
• 2RU rack mount
• Made in USA
• 2 units for sale

Condition
Several Sliders are frozen, and it will need rehabilitation. Has been rack-mounted for most of its lifespan.