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Thread: Just picked up one of these.

  1. #1
    RIP 2014 Ken Pachkowsky's Avatar
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    Just picked up one of these.

    Has anyone used one? Here is some info from BSS's site.

    The FCS-930/960 Graphic equaliser is the result of a detailed study of sound engineers and contractors requirements plus many hours of voice and music program listening tests to carefully optimise the benefits of controlling equalisation in this ergonomically efficient and familiar manner.

    The filter sets chosen are arranged in the alternate summing mode to reduce interaction, and utilise a multiple-feedback band- pass topology rather than the more generally used gyrator topology. This assures excellent high frequency fidelity by placing less demands on the associated electronics. The resulting filter shape is ‘constant Q’ giving a constant bandwidth regardless of the amount of boost or cut selected.

    This produces consistent selectivity over the whole range of fader movement. The extra long 45mm faders are centre detented for accurate zero setting, as well as being centre tapped. This electrical centre tap, which is grounded, ensures each filter set is properly removed from the circuit at the faders central position. This will give you added confidence during use, as well as reassurance that, if a filter is not being used, it is absent from the signal path.

    Analysis has shown that the filter shape requirements depend to a large extent on the final application for the equaliser and for this reason the FCS-930/960 is provided with a MODE selector which re configures the filter sets.

    Here the Q value of the filter is set to allow groups of faders to be set in a pattern which represents fairly closely the actual amplitude response obtained. The combining effect is smooth whilst still retaining a degree of selectivity normally associated with a graphic equaliser. The constant Q design allows predictable and precise control over the whole range of fader movement.

    This Normal mode would be used for all sweetening type of work where boosts and cuts are combined to provide an overall smooth contouring response. Here the filters are reconfigured to offer a higher Q value, and hence produce less adjacent filter interaction. This requirement is consistent with applications where high selectivity is required such as for correcting room resonances and where a number of notches are required to be inserted to avoid feedback. Again the filters produce a constant Q shape which allows high selectivity for small amounts of cut or boost. A feature hard to realise on many other graphic equalisers.

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  2. #2
    RIP 2014 Ken Pachkowsky's Avatar
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    960

    This is their top of the line thats why I grabbed it. They list out around 1500.00 bucks. I have heard they are comparable to Klark Teknik. They are made in England as well.

    Ken

  3. #3
    Senior Señor boputnam's Avatar
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    Hey, man...

    Yea, that is a great comp to the KT DN360. I see them often in the outboard racks of bands that bring their own BE. The DN360 is common on built-in systems in the proper houses, but either is great.

    That switchable Constant Q is a great feature. KT went one step further in their DN370 which has Proportional Q - the Q increases by the magnitude of the adjustment on each filter. Pretty smart. It also has two overlapping notch filters Q=32 - very handy...

    For your home application, you should be plenty, plenty happy. That is serious gear, my friend.

    However, you are Ken Pachkowsky and you seek the ever-in-the-near-distance Holy Grail - so let us know what YOU think! You are our testing team!
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

  4. #4
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    Hello
    The BSS FCS 960 is the top of line in analog EQ's. Variable high pass filter, wide and narrow filter selector and they sound great or I should say they don't really add a sound of there own.
    I use one on for my main system EQ for my live audio productions.
    If you think you can detect the slightest amount of hum on either channel output you can remove the top cover and by rotating slightly the power transformer the hum if any can be cancelled out. It is a trioidal "round" power transformer that is held inplace by the large phillips screw you can see on the back cover.
    BSS audio grear is amoung the best.

    Enjoy
    Mike Caldwell

  5. #5
    Senior Señor boputnam's Avatar
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    Hey. Mike...

    Great review of the BSS FCS 960.

    Have you had a chance to trial the KT DN370? Oldmics hadn't yet, when I first posted my review. Just curious. Incredible unit, boy-howdy...
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

  6. #6
    Dave G
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    Bss

    I also have one of these in my rack. Very nice unit costs approx £1000 new here but mine was good used buy. Very neutral sound to my ears and can take big notch out without big problems.

    No hum or buzz problems on mine. Did replace one XLR socket with metal chassis socket as the tab was broken, mine used plastic ones so very slight cost cutting here. UK made, small volume production analog audio electronics just seem to be super expensive to do.

    BSS 360's on crossover duty too, very solid.

    Would like to try White EQ though. Klark Teknik do a dn27 too which is a mono and vintage unit using coils.


    Dave

  7. #7
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    Hello
    Since were talking pro audio equipment in the home living room. Here are a few others that could easily be used in a home system with excellent results.

    Klark Teknik - great analog and digital EQ's, analog crossovers, digital processors, comps ect. for home use their EQ's and crossovers both analog and digital would be great. ( Bob I have not had a chance yet see and hear the new KT in action)

    XTA - analog EQ's and a host of digital processors, active mic splitters ect.
    Their EQ's are in the same class as the BSS and Klark as for their DSP's many think they are one of the very best.

    BSS - analog EQ's, comps/limiters, wide range of digital products. active mic splitters and the list goes on. As we know the eq's are great and unfortunatly they have discountinued their models of analog crossovers. The last current models were the FDS310, FDS360 and FDS318 all were and are excellent sounding units. The FDS 318 used still sells for upwards to $600. They had a digital controlled analog EQ a few years ago called the Vari Curve that was a good sounding unit you can see them from time to time come up for sale.

    Drawmer - They make excellent analog comp/limters, digital mastering equipment in both solid state and tube.
    There 1960 series is all tube based, the 1969 stereo tube EQ would be excellent in a home system. I use one of their 1960 stereo tube compresors for vocals in my live PA system as well as a handful of there DL241's, DL441's and a DS404

    Audient - is not real well know in the U.S. but offers a very good EQ.

    Dave just mentioned White unfortunatly the company is out of bussiness but their EQ's were great. Their series of passive graphic EQ's used rotary knobs for control and passive (coil, caps and resistors) filters for the EQ frequencies with only a gain make up stage on the input. A friend of mine has two of them in his studio and one is his bass guitar system and they do sound very good. They also had a line of very good conventional graphic EQ's.
    They can be found used in the $200 to 300 price range. I did hear that maybe someone was trying to jump start the company back to life.

    If cost is no object....Manley makes a complete line of all tube hand built studio equipment. I have seen their mic pre amps in touring sound rigs, way too pricey to be seen in any of mine!

    For a very flexiable EQ most of these companies offer a model of a parametric EQ where you can dial up a series of any frequencies and control the width of the filter from a couple of octaves wide down to narrow as a razor blade.

    Mike Caldwell

  8. #8
    RIP 2010 scott fitlin's Avatar
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    Bss

    Good EQ, Ken! I have an FCS-966 Opal, which is second to what you have, but its good. Clean top end, clean gain! Agreed, very neutral sounding!
    scottyj

  9. #9
    Senior Señor boputnam's Avatar
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    Pro audio and Pin2 (+)

    One comment, you newbies to pro audio's heritage: Pin2(+) was only made "convention" in the past 10 to 15-years or so; prior to that it was variably Pin2(+) or Pin3 (+).

    Some of the UK makers still are Pin3(+). I recently got a KT DN514+ which is Pin3(+). It is a phenomenal "frequency conscious" gate which I wouldn't trade for nothing. But, it did take some re-wiring of my gate snake...

    Read the manuals before and after you buy. Make sure you're Pin (+) consistent.
    bo

    "Indeed, not!!"

  10. #10
    RIP 2014 Ken Pachkowsky's Avatar
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    Bss 960

    The 960 is going to replace my White 4400's. As good as the 4400's sound I missed the ease of a good graphic slider type EQ. If anyone is interested, they are on Ebay for 600.00 BIN and are in fanatastic condition. They also have not only optional Input Transformers but also Output Transformers.

    I was damned tempted to get a KT or even a Rane DEQ of which I have heard great things although I know several people who slam them on a regular basis.

    I'll have it Thursday and will post my impressions.

    Ken

  11. #11
    aust-ted
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    White Instruments EQ

    [QUOTE=Mike Caldwell] in part "- Dave just mentioned White unfortunatly the company is out of bussiness but their EQ's were great. Their series of passive graphic EQ's used rotary knobs for control and passive (coil, caps and resistors) filters for the EQ frequencies with only a gain make up stage on the input. A friend of mine has two of them in his studio and one is his bass guitar system and they do sound very good. They also had a line of very good conventional graphic EQ's.
    They can be found used in the $200 to 300 price range. I did hear that maybe someone was trying to jump start the company back to life."

    Mike, I have been checking these out after Mr Widget brought them to my attention [Thank you Mr Widget]

    The company, White Instruments is being resurrected by its previous owner Carl Van Ryswyck, at least to a limited extent. The story can be found here - http://www.whiteinstruments.com/index.htm.

    I contacted Mr Van Ryswyck about some aspects of a 4400 I bought on eBay and he has been helpful.

    I noticed that there have been earlier discussions on White Eqs on these forums which I read with interest. I have only been looking at the 4000 series and its successor the 4400/ 4200A.

    I have a couple of questions on these EQs that someone might wish to comment on.

    1. I note the main difference between the 4000 series and the later 4400 seems the ability to triamp rather than biamp and the optional balanced input transformer. Apart from these obvious differences is there any quality difference between the two types? I note they seem to fetch similar amounts on eBay.

    2. Has anyone tried the optional plug-in xover umits for active xover?

    3. I am also curious about experiences with the passive versions of these (eg 4200A).

    Regards
    Ted

  12. #12
    RIP 2010 scott fitlin's Avatar
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    4200a

    Active EQ, 10db make up gain, but cut only on frequency bands! These are what I use still, but they are not passives.

    They are good, they do have a sound that pleases, and can be found economically on Ebay! But there are different generations of the White 4200/4400 EQ,s, and if you have the older ones, which I do, and something goes bad, ( which is rare ) some of the parts for these things are NLA!

    I have both the 4200A,s the 4400,s and the older 4200,s, I also have both transformer ins and outs, and without, personally I prefer the sound without the transfomers, jus me!

    And I also have more modern EQ,s such as the BSS 966, and there are times where I prefer this with todays source material!

    The Whites have that certain something on the bass, though, that L-C tuned filters are known for!
    scottyj

  13. #13
    Senior Member B&KMan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Pachkowsky
    This requirement is consistent with applications where high selectivity is required such as for correcting room resonances and where a number of notches are required to be inserted to avoid feedback. Again the filters produce a constant Q shape which allows high selectivity for small amounts of cut or boost. A feature hard to realise on many other graphic equalisers.
    Well' i'm not specialist of the EQ, but actually the new generation is digital processor for calculate, rate of echoe, enveloppe, an other parameters of room response, for adpatation signal path. In general case this processor have a input mic and in some high level, (include mic) in this the calibration is automatiquely process. The slide manual pot is paradoxal with option for room correction internal process and supposse external datas (RTA process for frF and Echoes, modal response analyse...)

    look psf at http://www.accuphase.com/dg-38_e1.htm for more info...

    But other cie produce state of art same machine.. but is not same price...

    In any case remember this is a artificial patch.. never is better than a good placement speaker, and treatement of room...

    in ideal the room is perfect
    in second the 3 first modal response is corrected by EQ and part of physic treatment and high frecuency never touch by eq...
    in third, the signl is compasatd by entire EQ because is temporary room, (disco mobile, flight acoustic material...)


  14. #14
    Webmaster Don McRitchie's Avatar
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    I have posted this before, but some may not have seen it. BSS is part of the Harman family. The JBL DSC 260 and 280 are rebadged BSS digital x-overs/equalizers. BSS products are very highly regarded in their market and are priced accordingly.
    Regards

    Don McRitchie

  15. #15
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    I talked to White down in Austin a few months ago. At the time they claimed they had some 4400's still in stock, but they are no longer in production. $1800.00 a pair with input and output transformer's. As far as repair they said they have some parts as we spoke but when there gone, THAT'S IT
    Like Scott said the good thing is not much goes wrong with them.

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