California-based audio hardware designers Phoenix Audio have launched the Pivot Tone channel/500 (Pivot TC/500) — an API 500 series compatible balanced line amp driver and direct input channel with an EQ control processor. The processor is similar to a classic ‘tilt style’ design EQ (which has the seesaw effect) and is designed for use with line level, guitar, keyboard and all other DI & line level sources.
The Phoenix Pivot TC/500 contains a mono Class A discrete channel from the company’s well-regarded Nicerizer 16mk2 summing mixer and a mono channel of from the popular rack-mount Nice DI unit. It is also a completely Class A discrete unit using Phoenix’s own custom-wound output transformer.
The DI has a 10Mohm input impedance load giving which gives it the ability to capture all frequencies and give a full sounding tone for all instruments, claim its makers. The Pivot TC/500 has a DI input, thru and a switch to accept balanced line level through the rack’s XLR input.
The Pivot control is based on the 1970’s concept of a ‘tilt-style’ EQ but where Phoenix have advanced the design is in offering a three-way pivot compared to the usual one-pivot point. The tilt points are 160Hz, 800Hz and 1.6kHz — frequencies that have been selected to offer LF, MF and HF pivot positions. This is combined with a sweepable tone control feature, which makes the Pivot EQ either darker or brighter, but unlike a regular tone control this will effect both the LF and HF ranges.
