API 560 Special Edition

A 10-band Special Edition graphic equalizer based on the original 1969 API 560 equalizer. Originally designed for API mixing consoles from the 1960s and 1970s, this unique unit performs tasks that no other equalizer can.

Quick to adjust and reset thanks to precise zero-point settings, the 560’s curve-shaping capabilities remain unmatched. Offering a wide range of mounting options in the 500 Series format—from racks to consoles—the 560 is a valuable asset for all performance-critical applications.

The current version of the 560 improves resolution in the ±4 dB range and incorporates exclusive circuitry and proprietary components, including the API 2520 operational amplifier. The extraordinary headroom provided by the 2520 ensures consistent analog performance, even when using radical EQ curves.

The 2520’s ability to drive low-impedance loads proves essential when paired with API’s custom-designed output transformers. The results are audible, offering improved low-frequency reproduction and a more precise soundstage to deliver API’s legendary, punchy sound.

The 10 precision EQ bands make the 560 ideal for signal optimization and room acoustic correction. The perfect companion to a parametric equalizer, the 560 utilizes API’s unique Proportional Q design, introduced in the 1960s, which intuitively widens the filter bandwidth at lower boost/cut levels and narrows it at higher settings. The boost and cut characteristics are identical, allowing previous adjustments to be reversed if necessary. Reliable, durable, and consistent, the API 560 equalizer delivers that unique sound with easy-to-adjust precision filtering and high headroom in a compact enclosure.