SSL 500-Series 611 EQ

Now I've finally made the effort to compare different equalizers of various manufacturers and different aggregate states (hardware / software), because grad so a Bohei drum is made in the relevant trade press. The bruised man thinks quickly, then one writes of the other and one Toni chatters to the other ...
Previously you had an Eq per channel in the desk (and always the same!) And has screwed so long until it sounded good. Today, a plug-in bar is no longer suitable for the 30 "monitor, but it's a good decision, apart from all the" outboard "possibilities that one now has go here:
I have the SSL 611 EQ compared to Neve 8803 (19 ") and Sonnox Oxford EQ (software plug-in). Audio source was exclusively a single snare hit of a real percussion recording that looped, decreased with SM57 and Beta57 by And a small subgroup with inserts, to be tested with the subjects to be tested, A / B switchable without audio pause with the head constantly in the "sweet spot" The decision for the snare therefore, because Hardly another instrument in a single, short beat accommodates so many frequencies and always the same beat, so that one is not irritated by the various interpretations of the drummer.

With the SSL 611 EQ, you really get the "big" snare sound of the 80s, with a "black" switch also between the first and second half of the decade switchable ("black" has 18 instead of 15dB stroke / lower and something else Bells).
One really feels like Bob Clearmountain (Bryan Adams): rich basses (so 170Hz), silky heights (about 11.5k), a narrow notch at 330Hz, some presences at 5.5k ... There he was, The thick sound that is normally hard to reach without layerering with samples, pink noise etc ...
The Neve sounded more like the middle, not so bold, not so 80s, subjectively somewhat more distorted ... It sounded more like in the 60s, 70s, where also its evolutionstechnischen roots lie.
The Sonnox plug-in sounded softer, more reserved with the same settings. Software sounds softer, prima donkey bridge. The experience makes one again and again, that one has to give more gas with plug-ins, in order to get similar sound results as with hardware.

Conclusion:
The SSL 611 Eq actually sounds "more physical" than software and "more loud" than neve. I really had the impression that what was artificial in my equalizer result was not on the device, but on my artistically valuable curve. SSL is said yes, that one does not "hear" and this impression has confirmed itself to me. I really had after decades of the "equalization" finally the impression that what I would like to achieve, and also sounds good without unwanted artefacts. The fact that SSL is not mentioned so often in the relevant audio forums, I attribute to the vintage hype that preferred coloring devices from earlier eras.
The equipment: as far as the article description everything is known, LEDs, there is no, no level correction, filter is not and the tapes can not be switched individually. But has in a 500-slot also no more space and in return, the EQ is very clear and not at all fiddly to use.
From my side all 5 thumbs up!