Recording - April 2017 - 60

Avedis Audio Electronics
E27 500 Series Equalizer and

PSP Audioware PSP E27 and PSP E27 SE
Classic hardware, powerful software, and the inspirations behind them both
REVIEWS BY PAUL VNUK JR.

A

vedis Audio Electronics is
based in California and
run by namesake Avedis
Kifedjian. Avedis is a well-respected
gear designer who worked as lead tech
for Brent Averill and learned from audio
expert Geoff Tanner. Before and after starting his own company, Avedis was responsible for many
of the design innovations at Brent Averill Electronics, most
significantly his custom-designed Avedis 1122 op amp.
Today we're reviewing the Avedis E27 EQ module, as well
as a plug-in version made with Avedis' assistance by Poland's
PSP Audioware.

The E27

The E27 is a 3-band equalizer with 9 frequency choices per
band. It was first released in 2005 as an update of the earlier
E15, which had 5 choices per band. Despite its popularity, it
went on hiatus around 2010, but now it's back.
The E27 is a 500 Series format equalizer laid out similarly
to a classic API 550A with three dual-concentric controls for
frequency selection down the front. That is where any similarities end.
The inner volume knobs are continuously-variable pots with
a representation of the signature Avedis triangle logo in beautiful red aluminum. The outer knurled silver aluminum stepped
switches (by Grayhill) are Neve-like and classy, with a hearty
click when selecting the frequencies. These are laid out on a
sea of black with red and white lettering, rounded out by a series of three gray buttons, one for power and two to switch the
high and low bands from peaking to shelving EQ.
Each band offers ±16 dB of boost and cut with a
self-adjusting proportional Q of about 0.85−1.1 on the bell
frequencies. The high band offers a choice of 6k8, 8k2, 10k,
12k, 14k, 17k5, 20k, 24k and 28k. It's more common now,
but back in 2005 the 28k band was seen as unique and quite
the conversation piece. Prior to this, only NTI (now Mäag)
offered anything similar in their Air Band®.
The mid section offers choices of 680, 800, 1k2, 1k8, 2k5,
3k, 3k8, 4k8, 5k6, and the low band is 33, 63, 82, 120, 200,
300, 370, 430 and 550 Hz. None of the three EQ bands overlap;
this is intentional and explained by Avedis on his website.
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RECORDING April 2017

In the interview below, Avedis takes us through the details
of what is inside the E27. For now, know that it is an all-discrete
design built with high-end components, coupled with Jensen
transformers on the input and output. It has extremely high
headroom and a wide bandwidth-from 3 Hz up to 75 kHz,
according to Avedis. It can handle a 600Ω input load and
works well with both balanced and unbalanced signals; you
could use it on a guitar amp's send/return with zero issues.

Sound and use

The E27 is clear and clean with a touch of silkiness on the
top end, especially the extreme top. It's not an overly colored
piece, but it does have a sound. Just running signal through it
gives you the dimensional lift of the transformers. It's also very
forgiving; 1-2 dB of boost or cut can nicely shape your sound,
but you will also be surprised at how sweet the low and high
bands are when pushed farther.
There is no reason to highlight certain applications-it works
great on all of them. However, I will note how brilliant it is on stereo
sources and bus work. For me, this is one of very few 500 Series
EQs that I have ever truly liked and trusted on my master bus; it's
an awesome final polish EQ and adds a beautiful silky air. Another
element unique to the E27 is that when you boost a frequency, the
peak is clear as a bell (pun intended) while the area around it,
there's subtle harmonic distortion, as explained in the interview.

Conclusion

The E27 is simply great; in some ways, you could say it
has already achieved "modern classic" status. It's equal parts
functional, dimensional, and smooth. The 28k band is magical
for opening up the sound in a way that's not obvious or shrill.
The hardware streets for $1295 which is on the high end of
500 Series EQs, but it is built impeccably and no other 500
series EQ sounds like this-not that I've found, anyway!

PRICE: $1295
MORE FROM: Avedis Audio, www.avedisaudio.com

The PSP E27
The PSP E27 is a 1:1 model of the Avedis hardware. This is
one of only a very few spot-on models of existing hardware in the
PSP Audioware line. PSP Audioware is better known for creating
http://www.avedisaudio.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - April 2017
