TEST: Bettermaker Passive Stereo EQ

 It's not really a question of which system sounds better. Almost all professional sound engineers would choose a high-quality, analogue outgear product in the A/B comparison of 19 inch / DAW plugins when it comes to recording, mixing and mastering. The only problem, in addition to the usually significantly higher price, is the digital workflow, which with Total Recall enables a much faster and more effective way of working. In order to combine the best of both worlds, various companies have started combining analogue sound generation with digital control in order to still integrate the maximum sound into the plugin environment of a typical DAW. One of these companies is the Polish company Bettermaker, which has some interesting details in terms of filtering with the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer.

The construction of the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer

I don't know about you, but I freely admit that until recently I wouldn't have mentioned Poland in the first breath when it came to high-quality outgear equipment. The dominance from the USA and UK was too great, especially since Germany also has several manufacturers in the high-end sector. However, this changed at the latest during the test of the IGS Audio ZEN, which could easily fit into any Russian submarine in terms of appearance, but was convincing across the board in terms of sound. The Bettermaker company also offers high-quality 19-inch equipment in the areas of recording, mixing and mastering, but attaches great importance to the digital integration of their outgear into the digital workflow.

The 2 U high product with an installation depth of only 14 cm and a low weight of only 2.7 kg is connected to the personal DAW using a USB cable and is listed as a regular plugin according to the D/L of the appropriate driver. A 1:1 image of the analogue outgear from the rack appears on the display and can be edited in both directions. Saved settings can be easily reproduced and managed like a regular plugin.

When it comes to connections, the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer is comparatively spartan, although also practical. Left / right inputs / outputs in XLR are offered, so to speak the minimum that needs to be delivered in the studio. Unfortunately, for cost reasons there is only one external power supply, which is designed as a multi-voltage supply from 100 - 240 volts. No offense, but with a retail price of just under €2,400, in my opinion this “board bug” could have been installed internally with a classic cold appliance plug. Unfortunately, external power supplies always seem a bit “cheap” to me, sorry.


The front of the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer

At first glance you can see that the frequency distribution of the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer differs significantly from other filter providers in terms of its processing options. What is striking are the five large, brushed aluminum endless controllers that dominate the front panel. In addition, some people will be a little confused by the fact that the controls contain both a boost and a parallel cut control for the “Lo” and “Hi” areas. As expected, both controllers do not operate at the same frequency, but rather have different corner frequencies, each of which can be selected with two pressure switches.

While the Lo Boost enables a possible increase of up to 15 dB at 100 Hz, a starting frequency in the Lo Cut of up to 16 dB is possible at 20 Hz, 30 Hz, 60 Hz and 100 Hz. The High Boost, on the other hand, allows an increase of up to 18 dB and allows the frequencies 3,000 Hz, 4,000 Hz, 5,000 Hz, 6,000 Hz, 8,000 Hz, 10,000 Hz, 12,000 Hz, 16,000 Hz, 20,000 Hz and 28,000 Hz. About the last two When it comes to frequencies, it's best for everyone to think for themselves to what extent it makes tonal sense to edit these frequencies. Finally, there is the Hi Cut with the frequencies 5,000 Hz, 10,000 Hz and 20,000 Hz. For better sound shaping in the high frequency range, the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer offers a control in the middle of the panel that adjusts the quality of the high frequency range via a variable Q value aligned. All in all, actually an interesting frequency resolution.

In order to be able to adjust the changed output level, a pressure control on the outside right allows the Hi Cut to be converted into a gain control. This is also an unusual, although sensible, orientation of the product, as the symmetrical look of the panel is retained. The final step is provided by two pressure controls on the far left, one of which functions as a power switch and one as an engage switch, which, when deactivated, removes the entire equalizer from the signal path. Once you get used to the layout of the panel, the access options seem very logical and intuitive.

The product in practice

Integrating the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer into the DAW is very easy. After the driver installation, an identical image of the hardware product is generated on the display, which even includes a few additional functions in the form of a high pass filter and a separate gain control. Furthermore, up to 32 snapshots can be saved, which makes access to the recall area much easier. Of course, the parameters can also be integrated into the automation of the DAW, which offers great flexibility in the mastering area for different parts within the songs, for example. And I admit, it's just a simple tool, but running the LEDs in parallel on both the hardware and the software interface is just fun.

When it comes to sound, a passive EQ works completely differently than an active one. According to vintage products from earlier decades, the resolution is significantly finer than a modern active EQ, which in the majority of cases allows for a more “drastic” processing of the frequencies, but in many cases also quickly shoots at sparrows with cannons. The practice of “thinning out” a signal and thereby increasing the remaining frequencies is also far too rare in the repertoire of modern sound engineers, although here in particular a passive EQ enables a much more subtle approach. It's not for nothing that the filter section of the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer consists of 50% cut controls. But how does the EQ sound in practice?

In two words, absolutely outstanding! The Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer impresses with its extremely fine resolution and a very “musical” sound. Yes, I know, the term “musical” is so worn out in this context that it hurts, but it sums up the sonic effect very well. In particular, the treble range and mid-range can be regulated very well and, even with a strong control range, impresses with a transparent and subtle sound that never slips into harshness. In the bass range, I would have wished for several operating frequencies similar to the Hi Boost, but the interaction between Lo Boost and Lo Cut is even more convincing.

Furthermore, I recommend that the values given in the Lo Cut area are not viewed as absolute values, but rather as a guide. Even at the lowest setting of 20 Hertz, something above this frequency is still picked up, so you should rely more on your hearing than on the printed values. In general, personal hearing is given special importance with this product. Due to the subtle way it works, you can sometimes achieve very good, if not outstanding, results just by trying it out, provided you have above-average listening skills. But once you get used to the passive sound of the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer with its classic vintage orientation, almost all of the signal sources that I tested experience a significant improvement in their basic sound.

The Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer is one of those products that, although it doesn't necessarily put its own sonic stamp on the signal, still adds a very subtle color to the signal flow with its way of working. Although some people might expect a little more “glamour” at the retail price mentioned above, the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer impresses me with its outstanding basic sound, which not only works very well in all areas of recording, but despite its almost rudimentary appearance Intervention options harmonize with almost all instruments. For me personally, a very fine device!

Conclusion

With the Bettermaker Stereo Passive Equalizer, a Polish company is once again moving into the spotlight of high-quality sound processing. The passive EQ with digital DAW connection impresses across the board with an outstanding basic sound, great flexibility and a subtle resolution of the applied signal.

Something very fine if you want to give your productions a special flair, definitely recommended!

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Additional Informations:

**Bettermaker: The story of a mastering legend**

**Introduction**

Bettermaker is a manufacturer of high-end audio mastering hardware and software. The company was founded in 1999 by Vlad Bettermaker, a mastering engineer with over 30 years of experience. Bettermaker products are used by some of the world's top mastering engineers, and have been used on countless Grammy-winning albums.

**The early years**

Vlad Bettermaker was born in Ukraine in 1966. He began his career as a recording engineer in the early 1990s, and quickly established himself as one of the leading mastering engineers in the country. In 1999, he founded Bettermaker Audio with the goal of creating high-quality mastering tools that would be accessible to engineers of all levels.

**The Bettermaker sound**

Bettermaker products are known for their warm, natural sound. They are designed to add clarity, punch, and depth to audio recordings, without sacrificing the original character of the music. Bettermaker's mastering processors are also known for their versatility, and can be used on a wide variety of musical genres.

**Popular products**

Some of Bettermaker's most popular products include the Mastering Compressor, the Mastering Equalizer, and the Bus Compressor. These processors have been used by some of the world's top mastering engineers, including Bob Ludwig, Ted Jensen, and Bernie Grundman.

**The future of Bettermaker**

Bettermaker is a company that is constantly innovating. In recent years, the company has released several new products, including the Mastering Limiter and the EQ232D plug-in. Bettermaker is also committed to education, and offers a variety of online tutorials and workshops.

**Conclusion**

Bettermaker is a leading manufacturer of high-end audio mastering hardware and software. The company's products are used by some of the world's top mastering engineers, and have been used on countless Grammy-winning albums. Bettermaker is a company that is constantly innovating, and is committed to providing engineers with the tools they need to create great-sounding masters.

**Here are some additional details about Bettermaker:**

* The company is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.
* Bettermaker products are sold in over 50 countries around the world.
* The company has a team of over 50 employees.
* Bettermaker is a privately held company.

**Here are some of the awards that Bettermaker has won:**

* The 2019 NAMM TEC Award for Best New Hardware Processor for the Mastering Limiter.
* The 2018 Mix Magazine Top 50 Tools for the Mastering Compressor.
* The 2017 Electronic Musician Editor's Choice Award for the EQ232D plug-in.

**Here are some of the artists who have used Bettermaker products:**

* Adele
* Beyoncé
* Coldplay
* Daft Punk
* Drake
* Ed Sheeran
* Jay-Z
* Kendrick Lamar
* Lady Gaga
* Taylor Swift

**Bettermaker is a company that is dedicated to providing engineers with the tools they need to create great-sounding masters. The company's products are known for their warm, natural sound, and their versatility. Bettermaker is a company that is constantly innovating, and is committed to education. If you are a mastering engineer, or if you are interested in learning more about mastering, then Bettermaker is a company that you should definitely check out.**