A-Designs Hammer 2 EQ – Stereo Tube Equalizer for Mixing and Mastering
The A-Designs Hammer 2 EQ is a world-class dual-channel tube/hybrid equalizer that delivers smooth, musical tone shaping for tracking, mixing, and mastering.
Building on the legacy of the original Hammer EQ, the Hammer 2 features improved internal grounding, refined power supply design, and enhanced headroom — all while preserving the original’s sweet, airy top end and solid, detailed lows.
Its combination of discrete solid-state circuitry with a tube output stage gives engineers the perfect balance of clarity, warmth, and harmonic depth that defines modern analog mastering.
Key Features
- Stereo 3-band tube equalizer with fully discrete solid-state and tube hybrid design.
- 12 selectable frequencies per band for precise, musical tone shaping.
- Overlapping frequency ranges for broad or narrow EQ curves.
- High and low shelving or peaking options for flexible tonal control.
- Bypass switches per channel for instant A/B comparison.
- Custom-wound Cinemag transformers ensure rich low-end and silky top-end response.
- Tubes only in the output stage — maintaining clarity with a touch of analog warmth.
- Balanced XLR I/O and robust 2U rackmount chassis for professional integration.
- Hand-built in the USA with high-grade components for long-term reliability.
Applications
- Mastering: Apply subtle analog polish, depth, and harmonic sheen to full mixes.
- Mix Bus: Add cohesion, warmth, and clarity with wide, musical EQ curves.
- Vocals & Instruments: Shape tone naturally without phase smear or harshness.
- Tracking: Use during recording for smooth tonal enhancement with zero harshness.
Technical Specifications
| Unit Type | Stereo 3-Band Tube Equalizer |
|---|---|
| Circuit Type | Hybrid discrete solid-state with tube output stage |
| Bands | 3 fully sweepable EQ bands per channel |
| Frequency Range | Low: 30–400 Hz | Mid: 150 Hz–2.5 kHz | High: 800 Hz–10 kHz |
| Boost/Cut Range | ±13 dB per band |
| Q (Bandwidth) | Fixed, broad, musical curves (ideal for mastering) |
| Input/Output | Balanced XLR, transformer coupled |
| Frequency Response | 10 Hz – 40 kHz ±0.5 dB |
| THD + N | < 0.05% (1 kHz @ +4 dBu) |
| Tubes | 2 × 12AT7 vacuum tubes (output stage) |
| Power Supply | Internal universal power supply (100–240V AC) |
| Form Factor | 2U rackmount chassis |
| Weight | Approx. 8.2 kg |
| Origin | Hand-built in the USA by A-Designs Audio |
Why Choose the A-Designs Hammer 2 EQ?
The A-Designs Hammer 2 brings a new level of analog sweetness and control to any production environment.
Its tube output stage adds warmth and dimensionality, while the wide-Q solid-state EQ delivers smooth, musical tone shaping that never sounds harsh or surgical.
Perfect for mastering engineers and mix professionals alike, the Hammer 2 enhances your tracks with depth, polish, and the signature analog glow that only world-class tube hardware can provide.