EQ Standard Switch
EQ Standard Switching indicates whether a reel-to-reel machine can select between supported NAB and CCIR/IEC tape-equalization curves.
Tape equalization compensates for characteristics of magnetic recording and playback. The selected curve must match the recording arrangement. It is different from a tone control, fine calibration trim or a noise-reduction system such as Dolby or dbx.
EQ Standard Switch — Reel-to-Reel
Check the equalization used for the tape and the selected speed. An incorrect playback curve can change the frequency balance even when the machine has the right tape width and track layout. Record and playback switching capabilities should be confirmed separately where they differ.
A machine listing one fixed curve does not necessarily offer a switch. Keep any speed or mode restrictions with the feature. Changing equalization is not a substitute for aligning the heads or selecting the noise-reduction decoding that the recording requires.