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moosers
Published on 04/05/10 at 13:56
The Urei/JBL 535 is a stereo set of outboard graphic equalizers. It is made up of analog parts and is generally very simple in make up. It has XLR inputs and outputs for each of the two channels, as well has speaker cable connections, as keep in mind that it is an older piece of gear. It is indeed rackable and will take up two spaces in your standard rack case.
UTILIZATION
Using the Urei/JBL 535 is just about as simple as it gets for an equalizer in general. Even if you don't know too much about how equalization works, graphic EQs are very simple and easy to understand. Each of the two channels on the 535 has ten bands to work with, each with the same frequencies on both channels. It would definitely be hard to find a manual, but most users won't need one anyway.
SOUND QUALITY
In general, the Urei/JBL 535 does a great job for basic graphic equalization. It has a good amount of precision available, although in general I do think that it could be a bit cleaner sounding as you do get some noise with it. However, this is to be expected when using older pieces of equipment, and the noise isn't all that distracting anyway. The 535 is suitable for use on all sorts of different instruments, as I wouldn't say that it is better for one application over another. While you don't get as much versatility as you would with a parametric EQ, for a ten band graphic equalizer it does the job very well.
OVERALL OPINION
Getting your hands on a Urei/JBL 535 would probably be a pretty tough task as they definitely aren't all that readily available. It isn't the type of gear that I looked for in anyway, as I happened to have it on hand at a professional studio that I was at and decided to give it a try. Generally I will use parametric EQs, but being that this has the Urei label on it, I decided to try it out. I'm glad that It did, as I found it to be up there with the best graphic equalizers I've used. While I can't say I'd recommend going out and getting one of these if you're a home studio owner or a smaller professional studio owner, but if you're a larger studio looking for a vintage graphic EQ, the 535 is at least doing some research for to see if it is something that you might be interested in.
UTILIZATION
Using the Urei/JBL 535 is just about as simple as it gets for an equalizer in general. Even if you don't know too much about how equalization works, graphic EQs are very simple and easy to understand. Each of the two channels on the 535 has ten bands to work with, each with the same frequencies on both channels. It would definitely be hard to find a manual, but most users won't need one anyway.
SOUND QUALITY
In general, the Urei/JBL 535 does a great job for basic graphic equalization. It has a good amount of precision available, although in general I do think that it could be a bit cleaner sounding as you do get some noise with it. However, this is to be expected when using older pieces of equipment, and the noise isn't all that distracting anyway. The 535 is suitable for use on all sorts of different instruments, as I wouldn't say that it is better for one application over another. While you don't get as much versatility as you would with a parametric EQ, for a ten band graphic equalizer it does the job very well.
OVERALL OPINION
Getting your hands on a Urei/JBL 535 would probably be a pretty tough task as they definitely aren't all that readily available. It isn't the type of gear that I looked for in anyway, as I happened to have it on hand at a professional studio that I was at and decided to give it a try. Generally I will use parametric EQs, but being that this has the Urei label on it, I decided to try it out. I'm glad that It did, as I found it to be up there with the best graphic equalizers I've used. While I can't say I'd recommend going out and getting one of these if you're a home studio owner or a smaller professional studio owner, but if you're a larger studio looking for a vintage graphic EQ, the 535 is at least doing some research for to see if it is something that you might be interested in.