Vintage Gem: EXR EX3 Exciter vs. Kush Clariphonic Review

#Vintage Gear#Review#Audio#EQ#Exciter#EXR EX3#Kush Clariphonic#Mastering

Welcome to a review exploring vintage audio gear! This time, we’re putting a lesser-known unit, the EXR EX3 Exciter, on the bench and comparing it directly against a modern studio staple, the Kush Audio Clariphonic MS.

Despite the “Exciter” name suggesting dynamic processing or harmonic generation, the EXR EX3 is actually a dedicated high-frequency equalizer. This makes it an interesting candidate for comparison with the “Clarity” section of the Clariphonic, which is renowned for its smooth top-end lift.

Check out the detailed comparison and measurements in the video:

Let’s break down how these two units stack up.

Functionality & EQ Shapes

Both units excel at adding high-frequency sheen, but they offer different options:

  • EXR EX3: Features four distinct high-frequency boost shapes, labeled “Process A, B, C, D”.
  • Kush Clariphonic (Clarity Section): Also offers four modes: “Silk”, “Presence”, “Sheen”, and “Shimmer”. It also includes the separate “Focus” section for mid-frequency lifts, making it a more versatile EQ overall. This comparison focuses mainly on the Clarity section vs. the EXR.

In the video, EXR’s Process B is shown to be quite similar curve-wise to Clariphonic’s Shimmer mode, with one notable difference: the EXR curve includes a gentle dip around the 1 kHz region.

Gain Compensation: A Key Difference

One of the most significant practical differences lies in how gain is handled:

  • EXR EX3: Applying the high-frequency boost does not significantly increase the overall output level of the unit. This is excellent, as it allows for accurate A/B comparisons without the “louder is better” bias tricking your ears.
  • Kush Clariphonic: Boosting the high frequencies via the Clarity control also significantly boosts the overall level. As shown in the video, a +6dB boost at 20kHz can result in a +2dB increase in overall level. While it sounds great, this behaviour makes objective comparison much harder.

For ease of unbiased comparison during workflow, the EXR’s approach is arguably superior.

Distortion, Noise & Internals

Under the hood, these units are different beasts:

  • EXR EX3: Uses transformer balancing. This results in measurable, but extremely low levels of harmonic distortion (mainly second-order, THD around -97dB). It’s technically measurable “character” but far too low to be considered a “color box” – it’s cleaner than CD quality in this regard. Its noise floor is exceptionally low, potentially even quieter than the measurement converters used.
  • Kush Clariphonic: Uses electronic balancing, resulting in virtually no measurable harmonic distortion. It’s incredibly clean. Its noise floor is also excellent, suitable for mastering.

Both units qualify as mastering-grade in terms of noise.

Headroom & Level

  • The EXR EX3 exhibits a small inherent signal loss of about 0.5dB when engaged.
  • It also appeared to clip about 1dB earlier than the Clariphonic in the tests (though absolute levels weren’t calibrated).

The Sound & Null Test

How similar do they sound in practice? I processed music through both units, matching the EXR’s Process B against the Clariphonic’s Shimmer mode.

  • Levels required adjustment (Clariphonic track lowered by 1.6dB).
  • To achieve the best possible null, I digitally added a small 1kHz dip to the Clariphonic track to mimic the EXR’s inherent curve shape.

The result was a null hovering around -30dB LUFS. This is an astonishingly deep null, indicating a very high degree of sonic similarity, especially considering one unit is transformer-balanced and the other is electronically balanced.

Conclusion: A Bargain Vintage Find

The EXR EX3 Exciter turned out to be a surprisingly capable and high-quality unit. It functions as a clean, quiet, and effective high-frequency EQ. Its major advantage over the Clariphonic’s Clarity section is the lack of overall level boost when applying processing, making it easier to judge its effect objectively.

While the Clariphonic is undoubtedly more versatile with its added ‘Focus’ control, the EXR EX3 holds its own remarkably well for high-frequency sweetening duties. Considering you might find one for around $200 on eBay, it represents an absolute bargain compared to the significantly more expensive Clariphonic.

It has definitely earned a permanent spot in my bus and mastering rack. Keep an eye out for related models like the SP1, SP2, and EX4 – they might offer similar performance!