Bettermaker Vacuum Stereo Passive Equalizer (VSPE)

- STEREO/DUAL MONO passive equalizer using vacuum tubes and a transformer
- New HEAT audio circuitry provides warmth and rich harmonics
- High-quality handmade audio transformer with original Bettermaker design
- New intuitive DAW plug-in including mastering HPF, LPF and band-specific audition engines

The VSPE is a breakthrough in audio engineering, combining the timeless warmth of vacuum tube technology with the precision of digital recall.
Years of rigorous development and testing have resulted in a product that promises to revolutionize your sound.

Utilizing the know-how cultivated through the development of Grammy Award-winning studio processors, we have created an original, fully analog passive equalizer using vacuum tube and transformer circuits.
Built-in Bettermaker handmade audio transformers ensure unparalleled quality and performance.

Passive equalizers are known for their ability to provide a mellow, warm bottom end and airy high frequencies.
Imagine that richness and unmistakable character of a tube- and transformer-enhanced sound.
That's the essence of what we call HEAT, our signature sound.

The innovative design makes it easy to balance the clarity of old-school tubes with the rich saturation of tubes and transformers at the touch of a button.
Plus, seamless integration with plug-ins and DAWs means you can easily recall and automate your settings.

The new VSPE plug-in takes versatility to new heights.
Not only can you recall and automate all parameters within your DAW, but you can also audition the high and low frequencies independently.
Plus, with stereo and dual mono modes at your fingertips, the possibilities are endless.
And it doesn't stop there - the plugin also features mastering-grade digital high-pass and low-pass filters, making them the perfect option for precise sculpting of the low and high ends.

Whether you're recording, tracking, producing, mixing, or mastering, the VSPE offers unparalleled flexibility and sonic character in one elegant package.
Experience the best of both worlds with VSPE, where vintage warmth meets cutting edge technology.


Tubes
The vacuum tubes used in our equipment were produced exclusively for military use in the Soviet Union in the 70s and 80s, and were intended for use in ballistic missiles and military jet fighter electronics.
It is designed to meet extremely strict demands in terms of durability and electrical parameters, minimizing microphonics and ensuring very high parameters even over long periods of use.
This tube is one of the few that has been specially designed to produce extremely low noise and distortion levels.
Each tube that leaves the factory is selected during rigorous testing of all parameters and is stamped with an individual military approval stamp.
This type of vacuum tube is a double triode with a screen between the two triodes, which maximizes the convergence of the parameters of the two triodes and also reduces the capacitance between the triodes to an extremely low level of less than 0.1pf.
Precious metal alloys and special gases are also used to eliminate lamp vibration noise.


Transformer
The decision to build our own transformer specifically for the VPSE wasn't due to a lack of options on the parts market.
Many of these transformers were advertised as having top-class performance and were sufficient for professional use, but when compared to well-known classic transformers, the difference was clear.
With extensive experience working with over 100 vintage transformers from renowned manufacturers such as Siemens (WSW, Telefunken, Military), Collins, Marine Air, UTC, Marodski, and Soviet Military, the differences can not only be heard, but measured.
One of the most noticeable problems occurs in the low frequency range, where distortion levels can rise significantly above 1kHz.
Even if the frequency response appears adequate, the coherence of the low frequencies often falls short of musical expectations.
To make a long story short, after years of rigorous research and collaboration with core manufacturers, we have finally succeeded in developing an original transformer that satisfies us on all levels: as musicians, sound engineers, and electronics developers.

DAW Integration
The Bettermaker / Valve Stereo Passive Equalizer comes with a dedicated hybrid DAW plug-in that allows you to control and recall all hardware settings.
Additionally, it offers many useful features such as high-quality digital HPF and LPF, spectrum analyzer, session snapshots, dual mono control, audio level meters, and quantize (step) modes for all hardware knobs.
In addition to using the normal knobs to adjust the EQ, you can also adjust the VSPE filters by dragging the handles on the EQ curve graph.
The selected band will be soloed and you will be able to hear the change.

Some hardware features are only available when a DAW plug-in is connected and active.
In standalone mode, the VSPE links both channels and disables Quantize mode.
The HEAT function is always linked, regardless of the link mode or selected channel.

Technical Specification
- Maximum input level: +24 dBu (balanced, input impedance 48 kΩ)
- Maximum output level +22 dBu
Output Impedance: 120 ohms (30 ohms with HEAT active, transformer balanced)
- Nominal Audio Level +4 dBu
- Maximum LF Boost: 15 dB (set at 100 Hz)
- Maximum LF cut 16 dB (set at 100 Hz)
- Maximum HF boost: 18 dB (all frequencies) Low boost/cut frequencies: 20, 30, 60, 100 Hz
- High Boost Frequencies 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 28 kHz
- High cut frequencies 5, 10, 20 kHz
- Control Resolution: 101 steps (Lo Boost, Lo Cut, Hi Boost, Bandwidth) & 34 steps (Hi Cut)
- Control resolution in Quantize mode: 17 steps for all controls
- Output Gain +/- Output Gain: ±8 dB (0.1 dB resolution, 1 dB in Quantize mode)
- Unit height: 2U
- Unit depth: 140 mm
- Unit weight (excluding cables and PSU): 2.7kg
- AC power consumption: 18W (2W in standby mode, when using the included 100-240VAC power adapter)