Hi

We're thinking of buying a 10 unit frame for API modules. This way we'd be able to upgrade our studio monthly

We had now a discussion about the two different eqs 550a and 550b. Of course we will have a listen to them.

Neverhteless before we do that, I'd like to hear your comments, experiences etc. with these beasts. How are the differences: technicallywise and soundwise?

Thanks a lot in advance.

550 Equalizer - 3 Bands 11 freqs. Proportional Q w Hi and Lo Pass Fltrs - two 2520's
550A Equalizer - 3 Bands 15 freqs. Proportional Q w Hi and Lo Pass Fltrs - two 2520's
550A-1 Equalizer - 3 Bands 15 freqs. Constant Q w Hi and Lo Pass Fltrs - IC's and 2520
550B Equalizer - 4 Bands 28 freqs. Proportional Q - two 2520's
550L Equalizer - 4 Bands 28 freqs. Proportional Q - two 2510's for API Legacy console
550S Equalizer - 4 Bands 28 freqs. Proportional Q - two 2510's for Sony MXP-3000 console
553 Program Equalizer - 3 Band - 3 Freqs. - 2520
554 Parametric Equalizer - 3 Band - Unstepped
559 Graphic Equalizer - 9 Bands - Stepped Lever type Boost/Cut switches
560 Graphic Equalizer - 10 Bands - Proportional Q w 2520 and IC op amps as L's
560A Graphic Equalizer - 10 Bands - Proportional Q w IC op amps throughout
560AT Graphic Equalizer - 10 Bands - Proportional Q w IC op amps throughout - xfmr out
560B Graphic Equalizer - 10 Bands - w 2520 and IC op amps as L's - no transformer - special order
560BT Graphic Equalizer - 10 Bands - w 2520 and IC op amps as L's - Output xfmr - standard version
562 two 560 EQ's in 1U Rack Mount
565-AT Personality Equalizer

If you do a search you found something to do for at least an hour...

i was too lazy heh

for the music you do I will recommend API 560

why is this? i've never liked these graphic eq. they always seemed a little bit odd to me. don't they be too unflexible?

560's rock for some stuff; kick, snare, elec. bass. I don't prefer them on vocals, acoustic guitars, pianos, ondes martenots, etc...

as soon as i have the frame i should try them out, if they are flexible enough for me. it's hard to say like this. but it sounds tempting if you say it's good for kick, snare and el. bass

it's AMAZING on kick and bass !!!!
I use them all the time in addition to my pultecs and then with a DBX 165A on kick or bass....
yes your are right...I would never use them on vocal ,guitars....maybe some keyboards but even....but It works well on samples...to extract one sound out of a loop...

Yeah, and the fact that the 560 is a bit less expensive will save you a bit. I think any rack can use at least two.

they're pricey, i could afford 2 modules in once. but the frame holding 10 modules incl. psu is very expensive.

are there any alternatives?

About 6 months to a year ago I found a 1 RU rack mount from API on EBay and asked one too many questions and the dood sold it before I pulled the trigger...I see you listed the 562, but I could have sworn it was the 550 eqs....am I right? I want to find out what the model number is so I can add it to my mythical want list. Thanks in advance!
daniel

There was a 5502 that was the first issue of the 550B... Had two in one space, with the knobs centered at 12:00. Pretty bad ass! On my wish list too...

Ryan Hewitt

Get a pair of 550a's and a pair of 560's and you will be in heaven. 550b can pretty much be replicated with the URS software (we a/b'd between the hardware and software and couldn't tell much of a difference (w/i reasonable gain settings)).

That was it!!!!thumbsup
Ahhhh man, now the race is on!!!
thanks
daniel

Why don't you buy the lunchbox? It's actually FREE if you buy 4 units, two pres and the two Eq's, and that'll be even slutier!heh

Pupo

550b is a rolls, 550a is a bentley.


gregoire
del ubik

I'd go for a pair of 550A, 550b, 560 and Avedis E15s. the Avedis are great for cleaning and polishing, but still with some ass (punchy transformer).

Mate,

OSA makes a great 11-slot 19" alternative for the API racks, for half the price... I have one with a bunch of OSA pre's and two API 550b's. Works just fine. Check Atlasproaudio.com and click Old School Audio.

Louis

http://www.mbrauer.com/soundtowers.asp

this guy has one of those 2550, and a few even more interesting things, this guy is the gearslut of the month

That's the thing. I'm regularly in the 9-12 dB range of boost/attenuation on these things. Love 'em. I tried the URS. Not the same. I don't hear too much of a difference between the 550a and the 550b. There's something in the top end but it's very subtle.

I have a loaded (10) space API rack. Added on over the years. Actually, I now have (11) 500 series modules. I swap stuff out as needed. Guess it's time for another rack.
(2) 512
(2 550a)
(4) 550b
(2) 560
(1) 525

I originally picked up 4 older 550a around 16 years ago. Sigma Sound was using them to eq their plates. I picked these vintage units up for $500. a piece. Around the same time I bought 2 API 550b. Initially, I liked the 550b better because they were cleaner and had 4 bands instead of the 550a 3 band. At some point I traded 2 of the 550a for 2 more 550b. I think I should have kept all of the 550a.
The older 550a are "meatier", "warmer", "bigger". The newer 550b are cleaner and more flexible. They just don't seem to have as much grab as the 550a.
I do like the API stuff very much. The graphics work well on kick and snare.

Totally! +1

my favorite api 500 module.

great eq! who cares it's graphic?

I am looking for a schematic of an API 550. The 11 frequency type. The API company address is Farmingdale NY and the serial number is 1501.
Specifically, I need a drawing of the non-2520 amps. This type seems to have 3 transistor pairs made up of 2n5087 and 5088. The documents I have show 4 non-2520 amps with 3 transistors each. This would be 12 transistors so the drawing I have is not for this unit. Let me know if anyone has these and are willing to share.
Thanks

Quite a few years ago when Hank Sanicolla was building the behemoth API for OHenry's, he asked me if I wanted to buy some 550A's. He was swapping them out for 550B's. He brought out a huge cardboard box filled with at least 40 modules. I bought a couple for $325 each. What an idiot I was!!! I should have bought the whole box. Funny how hindsight is 20/20.

Up...

The 550a's have a little bit sweeter of a top end than the 550b's, and are much more sought after. Like everyone else said, the 560 is great on kick, snare, bass, toms, and I have had good experiences with it on acoustic guitar.

hi all there

just an upgrade for all slutz here: intead of choosing, we now have ALL 3 versions of the 550

2x 550
2x 550a
2x 550b


why choosing if you can hav'em all heh

pix shown soon here

i can tell that the 550 have e very soft tops and tight lows, as the 550a. the 550b just came yesterday.
it's time for us to upgrade from 6 slots to 10 slots

I always thought the graphics were more flexible than the 550's.

Just get them all. Really. I got the Avedis e27 (not mentioned in the website but a revised 550a in my eyes), API 550b and 560, all in pairs. They all do things that each others can't.

That said, for me my 560s do best on kick and bass. On sanre it's 50/50, ie half of the time I just can't get it right. On vocal, piano and guitars they're just not right.

Also, in my ears, the Avedis e27 has a cleaner and more polished sound than the APIs. Irreplacable when you need a punchy but also elegant snare.