Pope Audio Bax 2020R Baxandall EQ

The BAX2020R might be incredibly simple in both principle and operation, but strap it across your master bus or run a stem through it and you’ll quickly understand why it received such a positive response upon its initial release. Easily add natural top-end sparkle to a mix or stem, low-end impact to drums and synths, gently roll off unwanted ‘muddiness’ on complex acoustic instruments or drive the input harder for subtle harmonic colouration.

The Bax2020R is a rack-mountable 19” stereo/dual mono version of the “Beast” BAX2020 500 series model. It combines an Avedis 1122 input DOA with an Avedis 1122 output DOA also driving the transformer balanced output. Varying degrees for the desired level of subtle analogue colour can be achieved depending on how hard you drive the input.

Furthermore, an additional 20k/40k switch adjusts the “HI” frequency point up to 40KHz from the original 20KHz. This results in a more subtle, ‘airy’ top-end – well-suited (but not limited) to mastering purposes.

The external power supply is +/-18vdc, giving the unit another +6db of headroom over a standard 500 series unit.

What is a Baxandall EQ?

Originally developed by Peter Baxandall in the 1950s, The Baxandall equaliser is a simple high and low shelving EQ, with a broad response curve – much like you would find on most Hi-fi systems. Unlike traditional EQs, a Baxandall exhibits a gently rising slope for a more natural sound and lower phase distortion than other types of equalizers.