The Elysia Xfilter unlocks an unprecedented level of sonic brilliance with the power of the four-band equaliser as a class-A Stereo Equaliser for recording, mixing and mastering. Using an analogue equaliser on a stereo buss can be challenging, as very few units allow their two mono channels to be linked for true stereo processing. Although many compressors on the market offer stereo linking, almost no equalisers provide the same functionality. One of the main reasons is component tolerances.
To behave identically, the two linked channels must use components that match perfectly, yet natural tolerances in potentiometers and capacitors make this difficult to achieve. Elysia Xfilter solves this problem by using computer-selected dual- and quad-layer potentiometers together with specially chosen low-tolerance capacitors.
Resonance High- and Low-Pass – The outer bands of Elysia Xfilter are highly flexible. In standard mode, they function as sweet-sounding high and low shelf filters that let you shape airiness and fundamentals quickly and efficiently. As a special feature, you can switch each outer band to act as a high- or low-cut filter with twelve decibels per octave slope and an additional resonance peak at the knee frequency. Bass frequencies benefit from a low-cut with resonance, yielding a clean and punchy character. In the high frequencies, the resonance filter lets you accent a selected frequency without boosting the entire upper spectrum.
Switchable Q-Factor – The two parametric mid bands offer a choice of filter quality: wide (Q 0.5) or narrow (Q 1.0), based on the proportional Q principle. After extensive listening tests, these two Q settings were selected for their musical character. Very narrow Q factors are not provided, as digital filters are better suited to notching problematic frequencies.
Additional Passive High-Band – Beyond its four active bands, Elysia Xfilter includes a switchable fixed LC filter for polishing the high end. This passive filter has a slight resonance peak at twelve kilohertz and begins to roll off at seventeen kilohertz. The inductors are individually shielded to reduce hum and unwanted noise. This “Passive Massage” opens up the top end of your signal with a single button press.
Selected Potentiometers – In a linked stereo equaliser, each potentiometer must contain multiple layers. Elysia Xfilter uses two-layer pots for gain controls and four-layer pots for frequency controls. Each layer’s tolerance can vary, so to ensure left and right channels behave identically, every potentiometer is measured and selected using an Audio Precision rig with custom computer routines.
Ground Shield Layer – Elysia Xfilter’s printed circuit boards have four layers: two for audio circuitry, one for power traces and one dedicated to ground shielding. Low-frequency filter networks have higher resistance when set to low frequencies, making them vulnerable to hum from electric fields. The extra ground layer sits directly beneath audio traces, providing an efficient shield against unwanted noise.
Features
- Class-A Stereo Equalizer: for recording, mixing and mastering
- Number of bands: four
- Passive Massage: sound option
- True Stereo link: precision-linked dual channels
- Sound character: clean fundamentals due to Class-A circuitry
- High-/Low-Cut filters: with variable resonance
- Q characteristic: switchable wide or narrow in the mid bands
- Potentiometers: stepped and computer-matched
- Workflow: quick and intuitive results