Pultec Passive EQ Collection

Name: Pultec Passive EQ Collection
Price: 39 USD
Author: Universal Audio

by Universal Audio · EQ · Passive tube

vst3s Score 9.1/10 · rated #2 of 10 EQs

Pultec Passive EQ Collection by Universal Audio

Three Pultec units in one collection: the EQP-1A program EQ, the MEQ-5 mid-range EQ and the HLF-3C filter. The full signal path, including tube amplifiers and transformers, is modeled.

The EQP-1A is famous for its low-end trick: boost and attenuate the same low frequency at once for a tight, weighty bottom. Its highs add air without harshness.

Best for: Bass, Drums, Vocals, Mix Bus, Mastering. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: tube, hardware emulation, vocals, bass, bus processing, mix bus, transformer, vintage, drums, full mix, kick, licensed emulation, mastering, subscription, 50s, 808s, circuit-modelled, classic, component-modelled, electric guitar, enhancement, gentle, keys, lo-fi, mixing, polish, silky, static, tight.

What it does

UA's Pultec Passive EQ Collection models three tube Pultec units at component level, from the input transformer through the passive EQ network to the tube makeup gain.

EQP-1A: a low shelf at 20, 30, 60 or 100 Hz with separate boost and attenuation, a high boost from 3 to 16 kHz with a bandwidth control, and high attenuation at 5, 10 or 20 kHz.
MEQ-5: two midrange boost bands (200 Hz–1 kHz and 1.5–5 kHz) around a dip band from 200 Hz to 7 kHz, for vocals, guitars and keys.
HLF-3C: 12 dB/octave high- and low-pass filters, for clean-up or a vintage, lo-fi effect.
Availability: included in the UAD Spark subscription.

UAD-2 installs also include lighter Legacy versions, which leave out the transformer and I/O distortion modelling to save DSP.

Source: Universal Audio product page

When to use it

This is the reference Pultec for many engineers, and the only one here that gives you all three Pultec boxes. Waves' PuigTec covers the EQP-1A and MEQ-5 for less money and with less colour; the Manley Massive Passive is the other tube EQ here, broader and aimed more at mastering.

Best for: kick, bass and 808s, silky top end on vocals, and gentle mix-bus polish.
Tip: the classic low-end trick is to boost and attenuate the same low frequency at once, for weight at the very bottom with a slight dip just above it. UA shows it on the stereo bus and kick.
Standout: the MEQ-5, which few Pultec emulations include; UA suggests it for beefing up snare and shaping bass mids.
Genres: all, especially rock, hip-hop and pop.

What producers say

Users and reviewers rate it highly, and complaints are rare.

MusicRadar found it sonically better than UA's earlier Pultec models and called out the HLF-3C filters as surprisingly powerful.
Sweetwater users say its high boosts on vocals and drums don't turn harsh; one called it their most valuable plugin.
Engineers quoted by UA including Jeff Balding and Jeff Juliano, say it captures the subtleties of the hardware.

Where to buy

Best Service: $39
Universal Audio: $39
Sweetwater: $39 (regular $149) (Sale price through Sep 30, 2026)
Plugin Boutique: $39 (regular $149)
PluginFox: $39 (regular $149)
AudioDeluxe: $39 (regular $149)

Tutorials and reviews

Similar plugins

PuigTec EQs by Waves · Passive tube · $29.99
EQP-1A Vintage Tube Program Equalizer by IK Multimedia · Passive tube EQ · $79.99
VEQ-1P by Black Rooster Audio · Pultec EQP-1A-style program EQ · $39
Pulse-Tec EQs by Nomad Factory · Pultec passive EQ emulation · $24.99
VEQ-5 by Black Rooster Audio · Pultec MEQ-5-style midrange EQ · $29
PEX-500 by Lindell Audio · Pultec-style EQ · $15
Pultec EQP-1S3 by MixWave · Pultec program EQ (tube and solid-state) · $149
EA-PQ by Echelon Audio · Passive tube program EQ · $39
Pulsatec by D16 Group · Passive tube EQ · $89
SD-PE1 by Slate Digital · Passive EQ · $99

All EQs