EQ Shootout + Opinion (Api, Chandler, Elysia, Great River, Tonelux, Kush Audio)

API 550a vs. Chandler Little Devil vs. Elysia XFilter 500 vs. Great River Harrison 32EQ vs. Tonelux EQ5P vs. Kush Electra 500
Enjoy!

[@greganikin7003]

I love kush audio on drums and api on guitar, just perfect!

[@geoffreymerrifield5666]

You have done us a great service Mike! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this video! I'm liking the Kush Audio a lot. Would the Kush work as my only Mix Buss EQ?

[@Calicolive]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@darty58]

EQ5P is my pref on kick, it's so musical

[@MrBass89]

man all so beautiful sounding!!

[@MadebyMiike]

Timeline: 00:00 - Test how good the bypasses of these EQs work (interferences?, changes in sound? etc.) 01:33 - Test on Snare Drum 04:11 - Test on Kick Drum 10:10 - Test on Distorted guitar 18:16 - My Opinion

[@dan_abrusci]

Man this video was amazing!!! thank you very much!! Is there any chance you can do one like this with 500 series compressors?

[@wuliwong]

Is the HF section of the Kush working? When he swept through the frequencies it made no change that I could hear.

[@attardan1807]

Great review The kush suprised me, On drums the api and then the kush On guitars the great river and then kush

[@bubz75]

I like your honest assessment of the Elysia Stereo EQ. It was under my consideration to buy but after your test and review I will not buy it. As I need an EQ to add vibe to my digital productions. Thx

[@antiHUMANDesigns]

I couldn't agree more with pretty much everything you just said. I would probably rank them exactly the same way, and the API is the best, imo.

[@MadebyMiike]

Yes it really is!

[@DMT353]

Harrison and Kush on the electric guitar. Harrison barely nudged out the Kush for me but both sounded awesome.

[@mattymel75]

Nice job. Bus stuff all sounded a little funny to me on the bass. I liked the Kush and API on the snare. Tonelux on the kick (again needed bass pulled out and not added). Kush sounded kind of freaking awesome on guitar...like schooled every other module IMO. Just sounded alive but would like to have heard some clean guitar. Honorable mention for API as well. I think all of these would be nice EQs to have. If I only had one, I’d prob go with the API as well. Though I didn’t like it best on everything. I think the Tonelux seemed the next most surgical AFTER the Elysia, which kind of lacked the most character to me, but seemed the best candidate to fix any problem. Not so sexy, but a smart friend to have around when you need it. Great River seemed decent across the board, but never shined in anything specifically to me. Kush has a lot of warmth to me that I liked. And again, I thought it rocked for that guitar sound. But I’m intrigued to hear if it can do clean just as well. Thought Chandler had good umph to it as well, but always seemed a bit tubby or a bit bright. API...hmm. Also thought the Heritage 1073 mic pre (I assume that’s what was used, sounded pretty good throughout as well). Wish there was similar video for compressors. Good job!

[@nikolaosunikgiannulidis8800]

does the api 550b do the same "makes its more expensive" like the 550a?

[@dan_abrusci]

That API on electric guitar tho

[@wafflestoast5228]

Xfilter is so crisp and clean in upper and low mids. Not a lot of eq’s get that crispness I so crave

[@mikewhiteman23]

I have a question when you have one of each unit you cant do stereo?> Is this for mono work bass vocals drum ect or do you copy past to your daw for stereo ? thanks

[@boothbuster]

Yeah worst case tweak a mono sum version to adjust, then when ready to print, simply record the left and right tracks separately, one pass each. Just takes more time and then you won’t hear any stereo effects of your changes until afterwards.

[@ebenezeroswald7048]

I like the crisp of xfilter 500 the thump of eq5p the mids of kush

[@3star2nr]

I really liked the elysia and API

[@alieustiansamateh6401]

Thank you!

[@martingallo2372]

Great Video!

[@MadebyMiike]

Thanks!

[@felixdorn21]

good video! thx man

[@roland1313]

GREAT REVIEW !!

[@MadebyMiike]

Thanks mate!

[@roland1313]

@@MadebyMiike Honest reviews are always needed and appreciated

[@piotr803]

Have you tried SSL 611 ? Wonder what your thoughs might be about that one.

[@AudioReplica2023]

let me check the comments section cuz never fails those haters who cant afford a hardware unit but love disliking and making no sense criticism on something they cant experience.

[@onlygknows7793]

Come experience my UAD SSL channel strip and see how accurate you are on the blind test. Good computer, UAD Apollo + plug-ins and spend your $$$ on great monitors/acoustic treatment instead.

[@dobrocat1]

You lost me on the conversion alone, let alone flat sounding plugins versus real analog.

[@preciseaudioblog]

Such a great vid! I can’t find any vid with the 1073lbeq. Anyone?

[@user-x969]

Great River!!! great!!! api!!! great!!!

[@Mike2NightBeatz]

Thanks!!!

[@dashmastering8811]

Elysia gear sounds much better than any plugin including their own! They come from a mastering background their gear is killer and it does have a color but not for the blind ;)

[@intimatelyrearranged]

the song featured in the first section is sweet

[@christopher-yw5lh]

All that $$$ in EQs and can't afford bottom screws? ;) Kidding, this was helpful.

[@suriyadunya9994]

newbie question, in 500 series rack, if you go from one mic pre (hypothetically clean pre) into the next adjacent pre (color) engaging its line input. would that add coloration from the transformers in the circuit it may have or its not supposed to work that way?

[@futurebeats898]

i think so yeah it would ad the color

[@suriyadunya9994]

@@futurebeats898 is it bad to stack preamps like that even though its using the input engaged? or is that pretty normal?

[@MadebyMiike]

I wouldn't do that if I where you. Every piece of equimpent (unless maybe we are talking about 10.000USD Neve stuff) raises the noise floor, steals tone etc. In your case I would stick to the mic pre that I like more, OR use them for different purposes. But I would not stack them!

[@Nullllus]

API for days.

[@mikewhiteman23]

nice thanks

[@dennislaplant4572]

SSL forever !

[@epg2501]

API all the way!:)

[@overbe]

Cool shootout! Maybe you could compare your hardware 550 to Sly-Fi Axis, Overloud Gem550 and Waves 550? I'm pretty sure many would be interested in such comparison. Thanks in advance!

[@MrWilgates9]

No need to get surgical with the API, just add it to vocals to add some sheen to the vocals. All you really need it 2 dbs to get the job done. 👍🏾💪🏾

[@darrelmasc]

Hey, Just a quick question.. Considering he is running stereo channel on drums, and some of these EQs are single channel, How does it work? How can you EQ a stereo track on a single channel 500 series? Just wondering. Thank you :)

[@MadebyMiike]

You can't, except you run it through the 500 twice, once left side, once right side. Here I didn't run the whole stereo drums through it, just (mono) snare and (mono) kick. Thanks for watching!

[@musicgalaxy8832]

Hey man, I liked your review but I feel like saying that the Elysia Xfilter is one of the greatest eq out there. I own various eqs and I can say the Xfilter wins every time in shaping the DNA of the frequencies like a plugin will never be able to do (especially on hi freq). It takes time to appreciate such tool and if I had to keep one piece of gear in my studio would be it. Every taste is different but is for sure not the worse out there.

[@lexluthor9705]

I totally agree with you. On a bus, the xfilter has the effect of evening the relative dynamic of the instruments (without any compression of course). It's magic. And the support from Elysia is top notch if you have any problem

[@3star2nr]

I agree its designed to be a MASTERING EQ. And in that application you WANT it to sound transparent. I think he doesnt understand its purpose and just makong a blanket statement. But i sure as hell wouldn't sell it... The xfilter and xpressor are probably the best bang for buck products you can buy right now

[@3star2nr]

The problem is how you're using the eq... The elysia is designed for MASTERING in mastering you WANT a transparent EQ that doesnt color the sound... In mixing you WANT color on some instruments but you wouldnt want to run a mastering EQ on individual tracks same way you don't want to color an entire track... It's not about brand names its about choosing the right tools for the job.

[@gpr4eva]

Viagra was originally designed to treat high blood pressure but we all know how that turned out lol. If it gets the job done, it gets the job done.

[@randallwallace4068]

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[@maximusdeshawn4409]

@Randall Wallace instablaster =)

[@randallwallace4068]

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[@randallwallace4068]

@Maximus Deshawn It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much you saved my account!

[@AlistairMaxwell77]

the kush was great on guitars . the tonelux was really phasey

[@mrddcass6540]

Api sounds best to me.

[@dennisbarrington6556]

I'm impressed with API's using Rotary Encoders so you can always go back and click exactly on the EQ you selected with no guesswork. Why this isn't standard, IDK.

[@BR_READDY225]

Because everyone doesn’t want to be stuck with fixed frequencies

[@jamescassidy4045]

Ever had a chance to compare the 550A and 550B directly?

[@MadebyMiike]

No unfortunately. Apparently the Bs sound a little bit harsher? That seems to be the concesus anyway...

[@jamescassidy4045]

@@MadebyMiike Okay thanks so much man!!

[@amazonpoodles]

Tonelux sounds good for the price except that they just went up $200. Goodbye Tonelux. Take the Great River or Kush at that price point. You should try the Trident 80b, best for the buck in my opinion.

[@thedude9824]

Kush Audio !

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

I preferred the API overall.

[@chrisvantassel8867]

They are all good but it is hard to compare EQ's unless they are all set the same. Personally I am an API fan but they are all good

[@lightafluident.9950]

Tonelux Eq5P!!!!!! Boss!!!!

[@trinhphanthiviet9703]

how did you do it can you share with me , thank you

[@Darksagan]

The API ended up being the least one I liked. They are all very good though ..but the Kush and Harrison won me over.

[@danielmiller5521]

API is great stuff, just not worth the money, especially against Electra at half the price. I have the 19" Electra and love it.

[@SeabornProductions]

can we all agree that elysia products are on another level with literally everything... API was nice too, but uhh my money goes to the Elysia

[@KNUX_Austin]

I thought Little devil sounded great on guitars

[@videomusic1381]

Lol Elysia is used by some of the most famous mastering engineers or SImon Phillips . ... yes it has less color but that's why a lot of people like it it's not meant to color like crazy. And there are some tests done between plugins and Elysia hardware gear you can tell (like for any other plugins) that the hardware is much better.

[@ericpeters0n]

This is not the same Elysia EQ that is used in mastering situations, fyi. :)

[@videomusic1381]

@@ericpeters0n functiuns are different sound is similar I own 6 Elysia boxes. 500 is always lower quality than rack so my recommendation would be to go for the rack version next time ;)

[@danielaros9138]

Harrison the best.

[@ndavies8]

API for days...

[@fgfgfgfgt]

kush is so non-transparent I really don't like the weird Q shape. if you need to boost that much. might as well use Little Labs VOG. To me EQ5P is the most natural-sounding one.

[@thesearethesuns]

This is why you save up for good gear. API all the way…

[@nicefish10]

Dang bro… I must’ve watched 30 ads during this video. I can’t subscribe wish I could sorry.

[@saren6538]

Oh no he didn’t subscribe … oh my god let’s all go top ourselves now

[@soundknight]

Not the best drummer.

[@philperry6564]

So this guy can afford all these EQs but can't afford a proper Rack, The Bento 6 is garbage, or a decent mic? But the actual question is does guy even know what he is doing? Hint: the answer is no.

[@paulpaul00]

I do not agree. I did test and compare some of the EQ's here too at my studio and came up with more or less the same conclusions as @AllaboutafriendONLINE. The Bento is not a Hi End frame but does its job actually quite well.

[@bullydully7428]

paulpaul00 I have a Bento 10 and works perfectly.

[@carljohnson9096]

Agree 100%! With a huge studio here we use the elysia gear all the time for billboard records and what he says is just BS! No color? WTF want coloring in a EQ? Thats done later on and saying elysia is last and kush aswell is total shit? And a Bento box hahaha PS Only a noob would ay that this is warm and rhis doesn't color haha Who uses an EQ to add color? Yes an idiot! And also The Elysia and Kush "color alot" and API is one of the CLEANEST Eq ever made. So just stop your BS and go riff off in your boyroom.

[@carljohnson9096]

We have a API 16 channel desk so I do know what I am talking about. Amnd the way you just turn knobs right and left is just amatuerish.

[@user-cq9my5ju6k]

@@carljohnson9096 👍