The Best Equalizers
Equalizers, also known as EQs, are a powerful, but often forgotten tool for musicians, sound engineers, and anyone who listens to music. They come in many forms, but they’re all used to shape the frequencies and adjust the overall sound of a signal. You can find them on guitar players’ pedalboards, studio rack units, and even in most car sound systems. However, not all equalizers are created equal, so we’ve rounded up the best to help you find the one that’s right for you.
What to Look For
When narrowing down the best equalizers on the market, we considered available frequency adjustment, durability, practical functionality, and price. For example, if you wanted an all-purpose rack EQ for recording, mixing, or playing live music, the Behringer Ultragraph Pro FBQ1502HD stereo graphic EQ is a great option. If you’re a musician and you wanted something to fit onto your pedalboard to shape your overall tone, the Boss EQ-200 graphic equalizer pedal is the best in the biz. Read on to see all our top picks and find the equalizer that’s right for you.
Behringer Ultragraph Pro FBQ1502HD Stereo Graphic EQ
Simple and sweet
Behringer has been building a reputation for making great audio gear at an affordable price since the late 80s, and they haven’t stopped since. This EQ rack unit proves that they’re still living up to their name. With this unit, you can adjust the tonal qualities of a live performance, help certain instruments cut through the mix, and remove nasty feedback with the FBQ feedback detector. It also features a high-pass filter to get rid of muddy low frequencies or floor rumbling that can overpower the rest of the mix. It’s simple, convenient, and extremely affordable. At this price point, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bargain out there.
Pros:
- Great price
- Features FBQ feedback detection
- Noise-free power
- Includes a high-pass filter
- 12-segment LED meter for input gain
Cons:
- Feedback has to be fairly loud to be spotted by the feedback detection feature
DBX 231S Dual Channel Equalizer
The more the merrier
If you have your own studio or your own recording setup, it’s important to have the right tools for the job. For adjusting frequencies, this is the equalizer the pros count on. It comes with an option for either 15 or 31 adjustable bands, making for double the adjustments that most other competitors have. It has dual channels to monitor two different inputs and bright LED ladders to make sure your gain isn’t peaking in the output. It may not be as glamorous as some of the other rack units out there, but it does the job right.
Pros:
- TRS and XLR inputs and outputs
- Dual channels
- LED ladders for measuring output levels
- Front panel bypass switch
- Options for either 15 or 31 bands
Cons:
- It doesn’t have a power switch because it’s always on
Boss EQ-200 Graphic Equalizer Pedal
Stomp it
Boss has been a pioneer of guitar effects since the late 70s, and they’ve only gotten bigger and better in the meantime. Their flagship EQ pedal, the GE-7, has made its home on the boards of legends like John Mayer, Slash, David Gilmour, and plenty more. However, this new and improved EQ pedal serves as the GE-7’s fancier sibling. It features a 10-band EQ, stereo ins and outs, MIDI functionality, and a memory bank to store EQ presets. This means you can adjust settings while running MIDI on a backing track rig, or access different settings for different songs at the touch of a foot switch. As with all Boss pedals, it comes in a virtually-indestructible housing. With better tone-shaping options and more features than ever, this EQ pedal is one of the most powerful on the market.
Pros:
- 10-band tone shaping
- Stereo input and output
- MIDI input and output
- Options for saving presets
- Durable housing
Cons:
- More expensive than other pedal options
Behringer EQ700 Ultimate 7-Band Graphic Equalizer
Don't break the bank
When it comes to making quality pedals at an affordable price, Behringer is the undefeated champ of the guitar world. Their entire line of pedals is made up of clones of popular circuits that are priced extremely low. This particular model is a clone of the Boss GE-7, one of the most popular equalizer pedals of all time. However, the Behringer version is less than half the price and sounds almost identical. As with most of their pedals, after some tweaking, they’re a dead ringer for the original. These aren’t just budget pedals, by the way, since plenty of touring pros use Behringer effects on their board. If you’re shopping on a budget, you can’t go wrong with this extremely affordable pedal.
Pros:
- Great price
- Sounds almost identical to the Boss GE-7
- Runs on a 9V battery or power supply
- Lightweight construction
- 7-band tone shaping
Cons:
- Not as durable as the Boss GE-7
Skar Audio SKA7EQ Pre-Amp Graphic Equalizer
Blast those speakers
If you have an aftermarket car sound system and you’re looking to have ultimate control over how it sounds, this equalizer may be just what you need. This EQ is meant to shape the overall sound of your music, rather than just amplify it. It has 7-band tone controls and a low pass switch for extra customization, as well as multiple outputs for front, rear, and subwoofer speakers. Whether you’re blaring rock music or shaking the windows with hip-hop, this equalizer gives you everything you need to get it to sound exactly how you want.
Pros:
- Low pass switch
- Comes with mounting brackets and hardware
- Multiple gold-plated outputs
- Two inputs
- Simple layout
Cons:
- Knobs may be difficult to turn
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bass player use an EQ pedal?
Yes. Since EQ pedals shape various frequencies, bass players can use them to boost or cut the frequencies from their signal path. Since bass uses primarily low-end frequencies, they may only utilize a few of the bands on a 15-band equalizer. However, it’s still a practical tool any musician can use in their pedalboard.
Do I need an equalizer if my car stereo already has bass, middle, and treble controls?
Not necessarily, but it can help fine-tune your sound. If just adjusting the broad spectrum of the bass, middle, and treble is all you want, there’s no need to get an additional equalizer. However, these equalizers can adjust specific frequencies, so you have much more control over your overall sound. For audiophiles, it’s a very useful piece of gear to have, even if it’s only in your car’s sound system.
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