Dangerous BAX EQ User manual
BAX EQ®
The Dangerous Music Equalizer
USER GUIDE
SAFETY REVIEW
The Exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing)
instructions in the literature accompanying this product
Certain precautions should be taken when using electrical products. Please observe the safety hints by reading the manual and obtaining qualified
help if necessary to adhere to the precautions.
1. Always use a properly grounded power supply cord with this product. Please do not defeat the ground pin on the mains plug. This connection
provides earth to the chassis and signal grounds inside the device for clean and quiet operation.
2. Avoid high temperature operation in equipment racks by providing air circulation. The number one killer of electronic gear is HEAT. Vented rack
panels may look like wasted space to an interior decorator, but they look like beauty to a technician or equipment designer! If the front panel is
hot, it is roasting inside the box.
3. Avoid areas of high magnetic fields. The steel chassis is designed to shield the circuits from EMI and RFI (magnetic and radio interference).
When installing equipment in racks, it is prudent to put power amplifiers and large power supplies at least several rack spaces, if not in a different
rack, away from equipment that deals with low level signals. Separation of high level and low level equipment can pre-empt trouble caused by
heat and EMI.
4. Care should be taken to avoid liquid spills around equipment. If a spill occurs, please shut off the gear and disconnect the mains. A qualified
technician should investigate accidents to prevent further equipment damage or personnel hazards caused by spills.
5. If one is uncomfortable with opening gear and changing jumpers or making adjustments, please seek qualified help if necessary.
6. If adjustments or jumper changes are required, please disconnect the mains plug before opening the top. Dropped screws or tools on a live
circuit board can manifest themselves as burn marks and smoked components. While we feel your pain, (been there) subsequent damage is not
covered by the warranty.
Dangerous Music Incorporated reserves the right to change the specifications or modify the designs of its equipment. Sending in the registration
card is our way of keeping in touch with users of our equipment should this become necessary. Registration information is always kept confidential
and never disclosed to third parties for any reason. Company contact information is on the last page of this manual.
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The CE sign on this product signifies the fact that the Additional Switching System® has been tested and verified to
conform to the applicable standards of 89/336/EEC.EN55103-1 (emissions) EN61000-2 (immunity) and EN60065:2002
(safety requirements)
This product uses components of the types and quantities that comply with the EC RoHS standard 2002/95/EC. A list
of suppliers and materials is available from DMI. We tightly control production to use top quality materials.
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THANK YOU
Thank you for choosing products from the exciting and innovative line of Dangerous Music recording equipment. Many years of reliable
service can be expected from our gear. This is made possible through careful design, construction, and component choices by recording
industry veterans.
The Dangerous Music Bax EQ is designed to sweeten life by opening your sonic vistas like nothing previously heard. There are comprehensive
tips and application notes in this user’s guide, so don’t skip the read.
If you have any suggestions for future products, feel free to forward them!
ABOUT DANGEROUS MUSIC
“Audio Integrity: non-negotiable.” This is the credo upon which Dangerous Music is founded. Conceived and designed by end users—not
by engineers in lab coats- the results are products that resurrect dynamic range, punch, intelligibility and emotion. These high-fidelity,
uncompromised signal paths are achieved by harnessing over 20 years of Chris Muth’s design wizardry; creator of infamous custom black
boxes for world class facilities like Hit Factory, Masterdisk, Absolute Audio and Sterling Sound Mastering. Then the critical listening skills
of golden-eared luminaries are applied, with the result being musical tools that fulfill the actual needs of today’s flexible computer based
studio.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview 1
BAX EQ Rear Panel Features & Benefits 1
BAX EQ Front Panel Features, Benefits & Connection 2
BAX EQ Application Notes 10
Specifications 13
Warranty 14
BAX EQ | 1
OVERVIEW
The Dangerous BAX EQ was inspired by Peter Baxandall’s legendary 1950’s design that has graced hundreds of millions of home hi fi systems.
The BAX EQ’s unique design carves broad, open curves and gentle sloping cuts that are essential for recording, mixing and mastering. Seeking
the elusive Top 10 vocal sound? Add that perfect sheen of air. Chasing the chunk in grinding guitars? Dial in the meat. Lush midrange,
bottomless bass, and space are achieved effortlessly. Please welcome the BAX EQ to your tools for success- no radical sonic signature to
overshadow the music... just your music: neater, richer, sweeter.
Unpack this cornicopic ear treat and rejoice! Inside the box you’ll find the BAX EQ and standard 3 Pin IEC power cable (don’t let your guitar
player steal this for his Marshall™ head!)
Note: We recommend reading the entire manual (it’s short), but If you need immediate sexy sculpting satisfaction, jump ahead
to page 10. Just remember to circle back to the begining!
BAX EQ: Rear Panel Connections
[rear panel inputs and outputs pictured above]
1. INPUTS & OUTPUTS
Feature: Neutrik XLR Connectors.
Benefit: More surface area for happy electrons to migrate through and no off shore enameled look alike connectors that “almost”
fit.
Note: All connections wired pin 2 hot as per AES standards.
Tip: ,Cables DO make a difference. Ask for Mogami 2534 interconnects.
Tip: ,To use in unbalanced mode, take your high quality Mogami cable and tie pin 3 to 1 on the XLRs
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[rear panel power section pictured above]
2. A/C CABLE & SWITCHING
Feature: Three pin IEC cable.
Benefit: Simple to replace if lost.!
Feature: Selectable voltage.
Benefit: Travel with your favorite gear anywhere in the world while spreading the equalized truth. (“Equalised” in the UK!)
Operation: Please review the mains voltage in the red window before plugging in the unit or electrifying events may transpire. To
change it, use a screwdriver to gently pry the mains inlet module’s cover open and flip the fuse block around so the correct
voltage appears in the window.
Tip: ,The power switch is on the inlet module. Seat the AC cable completely and use properly grounded power mains for safe
and quiet operation.
Tip: ,If the BAX EQ will not power on and the power is known to be good, check the fuses under the inlet module’s cover. Use
500 milliamp fast blow for 120V (America) and 250 milliamp fast blow for 240V (Europe).
Bax EQ: Front Panel Features & Benets
1. LOW FREQUENCY CUT FILTERS
[low frequency cut knob pictured above]
Feature: Infrasonic rumble reduction.
Benefit: infrasonic rumble is a PC term for the omnipresent low frequency garbage that loiters unnoticed in the audio shadows.
This headroom consuming thief propagates from HVAC units, jets, subways and yes, Rayleigh Waves (i.e. earthquakes and
BAX EQ | 3
Elephants.) Eliminating it dramatically increases low end clarity and punch while allowing higher maximum levels on
any playback device.
[low frequency filter graph pictured above]
Feature: 12 dB per octave roll off.
Benefit: These filters are smooth, accurate and musical sounding without artifacts.
Tip: ,While listening to a familiar mix, turn the knob and listen to the pleasurable changes.
Feature: Individual relay bypasses.
Feature: The first position is beyond the audio band.
Benefit: Perfect for filtering DC to avoid offsets.
Benefit: Relays remove the filters entirely from the signal path until desired, for true A/B comparisons. In comparison, many
EQs leave the filter in the circuit, even when it is bypassed. This potentially adds noise, distortion and phase shift. The
BAX EQ places only the single selected frequency (or none) into the audio chain.
Tip: ,Always leave it engaged during tracking and mixing to relieve stress on your converter’s filters. See infrasonic rumble
above.
Tip: ,Employ these knobs in conjunction with the shelf controls to instantly create remarkably musical contours.
Operation: Simply rotate the knob to the appropriate frequency and trust your ears.
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[example of filters and shelfs combined in the graph pictured above]
2. LOW FREQUENCY SHELF
[low frequency shelf knob pictured above]
Feature: Broad bandwidth shelving EQ that affects several octaves.
Benefit: Instead of a surgical or chainsaw EQ that targets problems like 50 or 60 cycle hum, but often comes with an audio
sacrifice, the BAX EQ is shapely, sweet with minimized phase delay for sexy sonic sculpting.
Tip: ,The frequencies noted on the faceplate reside at the bottom shoulder of the slope and reach way into the midrange,
thus providing a remarkably natural and smooth character.
Operation: Increase the tonal power by engaging the filters in conjunction with the boost/cut. Simultaneously boost with the main
BAX EQ | 5
controls and cut with the filter.
[low frequency shelf graph pictured above]
3. LEFT & RIGHT LOW FREQUENCY LEVEL CONTROLS
[left and right low frequency level controls pictured above]
Feature: Individual Left and Right Controls.
Benefit: Discrete left and right controls allow for the correction of any stereo low frequency imbalance in .5 dB steps. Left
channel need a hair less whomp? Pull it down a half dB or so as needed.
Benefit: Leverage the BAX for M/S stereo tracking or mixing (requires a Mid-Sides box like the Dangerous Master or S&M).
Feature: Stepped attenuators.
Benefit: Stepped knobs provide for the repetition of previous settings with deadly accuracy. Producer requesting a touch more
thump? Return to your prior settings and add judiciously as required.
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4. LEFT & RIGHT HIGH FREQUENCY LEVEL CONTROLS
[left and right high frequency level controls pictured above]
Feature: Individual Left and Right Controls.
Benefit: Identical to the low frequency level controls, discrete left and right controls allow for the correction of any stereo high
frequency imbalance in .5 dB steps. Left channel need a hint more than the right? Bring it up a half dB or so as
needed.
Feature: Stepped attenuators.
Benefit: Stepped knobs provide for the repetition of previous settings with deadly accuracy. Producer requesting a touch more
air? Return to your prior settings and add judiciously as required.
5. HIGH FREQUENCY SHELF
[high frequency shelf knob pictured above]
Feature: Broad bandwidth shelving EQ that affects several octaves.
Benefit: Instead of a surgical or chainsaw EQ that targets problems like string buzz, but often comes with an audio sacrifice,
the BAX EQ is shapely, sweet with minimized phase delay for subtle, sexy sonic sculpting.
Tip: ,The frequencies noted on the faceplate reside in the middle of this slope, thus corresponding with the most audible
band. The highest frequency shoulder is approximately twice the listed frequency (where the cut/boost is exactly 5dB).
So for example, when modifying 1.6kHz, a 5dBu boost occurs at 3.2kHz.
BAX EQ | 7
[high frequency shelf graph pictured above]
6. HIGH FREQUENCY CUT
[low frequency cut knob pictured above]
Feature: Ultrasonic Noise Reduction
Benefit: ultrasonic or out of band noise is an A/D converter’s audio nemesis. Derived from a myriad of man made and natural
sources it propagates slew rate overload, ultimately manifesting itself as harsh, brittle sound.
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[high frequency filter graph pictured above]
Tip: ,While tracking, utilize the hi cut filter. Especially when boosting bodacious amounts of top end, this practice will
reveal a bright & airy treble that is never harsh or blaring. Perfect for adding “air” to a ribbon mic and conversely, for
“gentling up” an overly bright and sassy condenser mic.
See the graph on the next page for a visual example.
BAX EQ | 9
[example of filters and shelves combined in the graph pictured above to craft awarm shimmering vocal]
7. ENGAGE IN & OUT
Feature: Hard wire bypass engage switch.
Benefit: Allows true A/B comparisons by completely removing the hardware from the circuit while in bypass.
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Bax EQ: Application Notes
1. COMBINING CUT AND LEVEL CONTROLS
Tip: ,To achieve more bottom from a mix, cut first and then add. The result will be tighter, punchier low end.
Tip: ,Leverage the BAX for tracking. Even in “cut only mode”, utilize it on every track to control the source’s frequency range,
thus dramatically focusing the energy and making the mix process a snap.
Tip: ,Increase the tonal power by engaging the filters in conjunction with the boost/cut. Simultaneously boost with the main
controls and cut with the filter.
Tip: ,Engage the BAX in conjunction with a surgical style eq to improve the latter’s efficiency.
Tip: ,Add to any outboard gear chain (i.e. mic pre, comp, eq) to take it from good to great without altering the original
character.
[your sculpting pictured above and more on the following two pages]
Now it’s your turn to actually put the BAX EQ through it’s paces (this is why you bought it, after all, right?)
Go ahead and engage the cut controls to remove the garbage and ease the burden on your converters. Remember, these are
remarkable shaping tools as well when employed with the shelving and level controls to gracefully sculpt Michelangelo-like audio
hillocks and valleys. Go forth and seek the audio truth amongst that audioscape.
-The Dangerous Music Team
BAX EQ | 11
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BAX EQ | 13
SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Response +- 0.1dB from 10Hz to 20kHz
+- 0.2dB from 1Hz to 80kHz
Maximum level > +28dBu
Noise floor < -92dBu band limited from 22Hz-22kHz
THD+N < 0.002%
IMD < 0.003%
Crosstalk rejection > 105dB
Replacement Fuses: USA 500mA fast blow for 120V
Europe 250mA fast blow for 240V
Input Impedance: 25K Ohms
Output Impedance: 50 Ohms
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WARRANTY
Free 2 year extended warranty with online registration.
Standard warranty: 90 days parts and labor, subject to inspection.
Does not include damage incurred through shipping damage, abusive operation or modifications/attempted repair by unauthorized
technicians.
USA EUROPE
Dangerous Music Inc. Dangerous Music Europe
231 Stevens Road Stieleichenweg 55
Edmeston, NY 13335 50999 Cologne, Germany
Fon: +49 2236 393731
Dangerous Music, Inc. reserves the right to alter the software and design of their equipment.
If after reading the manual more information for an application is needed, please contact us via email for the quickest response.
•FactorycontactforRA#mustoccurbeforeshippingaunittousforservice.
•Pleasekeeptheoriginalcartonsincasestorageortransportationofunitsisrequired.
•Alwaysinsureshipmentasthesedamagesarenotcoveredbythewarranty.
•Thankyouforactuallyreadingthemanual.NowgomakesomeDangerousMusic!
revision 4.0 marek April 2013
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