Iron Age Audioworks V2 User manual
User’s Manual
V2 Equalizer
Thank you for your purchase of an Iron Age V2 Equalizer. Iron Age Audioworks is a small team
of engineers and designers and we truly appreciate your business. We hope you enjoy using
this as much as we enjoyed making it.
Safety
Safety with audio equipment is normally a matter of common sense, but we want to make sure
you get the best use out of your equipment. So please, use common sense including...
●Use typical practices for using electrical and audio equipment.
●Don’t clean this with water or use it around water.
●Any ventilation openings in the case need to remain open.
●Don’t use this around anything that’s hot (such as a radiator or space heater).
●Don’t defeat the ground pin on the plug or use a ground-lift device that does.
●Don’t use a cut or damaged power cord, and keep the cord from getting pinched or
stepped on.
●Don’t service the box unless you’re a qualified technician.
Power
The unit is powered by an internal linear power supply and will accept standard 110 VAC
power. A user-accessible fuse is located on the IEC connector at the rear of the case. It will
come set at +/-22V. Please contact us if you would like to change the supply voltage for use
with other op amps.
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 1
Overview
The Iron Age V2 is a go-to tracking, mixing, or mastering equalizer featuring two channels of
versatile, musical EQ in a one rack unit space. It features a proportional Q, bridged-T circuit
topology with fully symmetrical active boost and passive cut, true bypass, and an all-discrete
signal path. The output amplifier drives a custom wound Cinemag transformer.
Block Diagram
Each equalizer channel is a three-band, selectable frequency design using two hand-built
discrete op amps for gain. There are 18 center frequencies divided into three bands (Low, Mid,
and High) as shown below:
Low
Mid
High
33 Hz
400 Hz
5k Hz
50
600
6k
110
750
7.5k
200
1.6k
9.1k
300
3k
11k
400
5k
16k
Each band features up to 12 dB of reciprocal boost or cut in stepped increments of 2, 4, 6, 8
and 12 dB using a bridged-T filter design. The same filter bank is switched between the
feedback loop of the amplifier in boost and a passive circuit in cut, which ensures that the
boost and cut points are completely identical.
Passive circuits are separated by discrete transistor buffers, which contribute a unique
character to the tone of the unit.
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 2
The bridged-T circuit implementation also features a proportional Q: as the amount of boost or
cut is increased, the bandwidth of the filter is adjusted by a switched resistor to become more
narrow. This allows for a wide range of use from broad-brush shaping to careful tone carving,
but ensures that the filtering is never harsh and always musical.
The Low and High bands can be switched between peaking and shelving behavior. In shelving
mode, the frequency response hits the indicated boost or cut level at the selected frequency
and stays elevated or reduced through the extent of the audible range. This allows for musical
shaping of the high and low extremes of the audio spectrum.
Additionally, the EQ features a switchable band-pass filter with -3 dB points at 60 and 16k Hz.
The module has a balanced transformerless input stage using a third discrete operational
amplifier.
As with all Iron Age products, the V2 uses the M2 discrete operational amplifier, designed and
built in-house by us.
Through the IAA Custom Shop, we also offer a variety of output transformers, op amps, and
even customized center frequencies or features to give you the sound you want. Reach out to
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 3
Controls
The POWER switch turns the unit on and off. An LED is illuminated when the unit is powered
on.
The IN/OUT button switches the EQ in when depressed. When the unit is not in, a true bypass
circuit is engaged, connecting the channel input directly to the output with no other
components in the signal path. When the EQ is engaged, the LED over the switch is
illuminated.
Each of the three EQ bands have identical controls. The amount of boost or cut is selected by
the 11 position gain switch. When the gain switch is set to cut, the filters are inserted for
passive attenuation at the selected frequency. When the gain switch is at 12 o’clock no filters
are in the signal path, ensuring a flat frequency response. When the switch is set to boost, the
same filters are inserted to the feedback loop. This ensures equalization moves are reciprocal
and reversibel.
The center frequency for each band is selected by the six-position frequency switch to the right
of the gain switch.
The PEAK / SHELF switch is a two position toggle which changes the shape of the filter curve
for the Low and High EQ bands at the selected frequency.
The FILTER switch is a two position toggle which engages the band-pass filter.
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 4
Inputs and Outputs
The input is a nominal +4 dBu amplifier balanced line input via a TRS jack on the rear panel.
The output is a +4 dBu transformer balanced line output via a TRS jack on the rear panel.
Chassis
The Iron Age V2 uses a standard 19” 1RU. The unit is powered by an IEC power cord and an
internal bipolar power supply.
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 5
Technical Specifications
Gain Range +/-12 dB, per band
Maximum Input Level +20 dBu
Maximum Output Level +26 dBu
Input Impedance >10 kOhms, balanced
Output Impedance <75 Ohms, transformer balanced
Frequency Response +0, -0.6 dB 20Hz-20kHz
Actual Measured Noise -110 dBA
THD @ +15 dBu output 0.014% typical
Power Consumption 150 mA max
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 6
Frequency Response
Low Frequency
<<to be updated>>
Mid Frequency
<<to be updated>>
High Frequency
<<to be updated>>
Band Pass Filter
<<to be updated>>
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 7
Warranty
We warrant this product to be free from defects of materials and workmanship for a period of
one (1) year from the date of purchase. We will remedy any defect identified within this period
by repairing or replacing the product at our option. It will be your responsibility to pay for
shipping the product to us, and if the product is determined to be defective, our responsibility
to pay for shipping the product back to you.
LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS. This warranty, and any other express or implied warranty,
does not apply to any product which has been improperly installed, subjected to usage for
which the product was not designed, misused or abused, damaged during shipping, or which
has been altered or modified in any way. This warranty is extended to the original purchaser
only. THIS EXPRESS, LIMITED WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED UNDER APPLICABLE STATE LAW. IN NO
EVENT SHALL IRON AGE AUDIOWORKS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT.
If you suspect a defect in this product, please contact us to discuss the problem (it is possible
that a suspected defect could be quickly remedied or due to improper usage).
Call or email us with any issues, to say hi, or share the music you’ve made. We love this gear
and want you to love it too.
© 2020 by IronAgeAudioworks 8
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