The Elta Music Polivoks PF3 Dual Filter MK2 is a double-stereo filter built around the classic Soviet filter chip, the same component that gave the Soviet-era Polivoks synthesizer its filter character. ELTA Music describes the chip as delivering "a unique and iconic filter tone"1. For a guitar or bass player, that means a filter unit with a voice that does not come from the usual OTA or state-variable designs found in most filter pedals.
It is a desktop unit rather than a stompbox, and its shape reflects that: two complete filter paths in one box, a noise generator, and control voltage input for connecting to synthesizers or modular gear. It sits in ELTA Music's Polivoks line alongside the Polivoks PF3 and the earlier POLIVOKS PF-3 desktop filter announced in 202221.
Two 12dB filters or one 24dB filter
The core of the MK2 is two independent 12dB multimode filters that can be controlled by a single cutoff knob1. Each filter offers four modes: Lowpass, Bandpass, Hi-pass and Notch3. Gearnews's Robin Vincent, covering the PF-3 line, noted that these modes "are selectable for each channel rather than having individual outputs for every mode"2, which keeps the panel simpler than a filter with a dedicated jack per mode.
Connecting the two filters in series turns the unit into a single 24dB filter1. That is the practical difference between the two configurations: two 12dB filters give a gentler, more gradual sweep and can process a stereo signal independently per channel, while the series connection doubles the slope for a steeper, more resonant-style cutoff in one channel.
| Configuration | What you get |
|---|---|
| Two independent filters | Two 12dB multimode filters, usable as two separate mono filters or in stereo mode4 |
| Series connection | One 24dB filter1 |
Stereo operation
The PF3 MK2 is a double-stereo filter: two full filter paths that can be used totally independently or linked, as Gearnews described the PF-3 design21. ELTA Music adds a point that matters for stereo use: because of how the circuit behaves, "you will not mathematically get two identical filters. Which is an advantage when using the unit in stereo"3. In practice, the slight difference between the left and right channels keeps a stereo filter sweep from sounding like a single cloned effect duplicated across both channels.
The noise generator and balance controls
A noise generator sits on board ahead of the filter section, and it can be used separately from the filters as a source of white and pink noise1. Its controls cover pink, white and channel balancing3. As Gearnews put it in its coverage of the line, the generator offers "pink or white noise that you can mix into the signal and balance between the two" channels2.
For a player, this gives the unit a second life as a sound source in its own right: pink noise for a darker, more even bed of hiss, white noise for a brighter wash, both routable into the filters for swept noise effects, or usable on their own143.
Control voltage and signal levels
The modulation CV input accepts -5 to +5 V or 0 to +10 V1, covering both the bipolar range common in modular synthesizer systems and the unipolar range used by many standalone gear. The input audio signal level is rated at a maximum of 1.5 V1, which is generous compared with instrument-level signals and means the unit is built to handle line-level sources as well as guitars.
Power and size
The MK2 runs on a universal mains adapter with a 100 to 220V input and a 12V 1A output1.
This unit runs on a 12V 1A output from a universal mains adapter with a 100 to 220V input, so it is powered from the wall rather than from a typical pedalboard power supply or daisy chain.
The unit measures 175 x 135 x 50mm and weighs 0,7kg, with a packed weight of 1 kg1. That footprint is a desktop effects unit rather than a pedalboard stompbox, consistent with its stereo I/O and CV connectivity.
Where it came from
The PF3 line takes its name from the Polivoks analog synthesizer, and the MK2 keeps that connection in its filter design and its price. Elta Music lists the Polivoks PF3 Dual Filter MK2 at €350.001, in the current double-stereo format.
Questions
What is the Polivoks filter chip?
It is the filter chip from the Soviet-era Polivoks synthesizer, a component ELTA Music describes as producing a unique and iconic filter tone. The PF3 Dual Filter MK2 is built around this chip, which is what gives the unit its character compared with filters built from more common designs.
Can I use the PF3 as a noise source?
Yes. A noise generator sits on board ahead of the filter section and can be used separately as a source of white and pink noise. The generator offers pink, white and channel balancing controls, so noise can be mixed into the signal and balanced between the two channels.
What power adapter does the Polivoks PF3 Dual Filter MK2 use?
It runs on a universal mains adapter rated 100 to 220V input with a 12V 1A output, according to ELTA Music's product page. This is a wall-wart style supply rather than a standard 9V pedal power input, so it is not something a typical pedalboard daisy chain will feed.
Is the Polivoks PF3 Dual Filter MK2 stereo?
Yes. It is a double-stereo filter, meaning two full filter paths that can be used independently or linked. ELTA Music also notes that because of the nature of the circuit, two units will not be mathematically identical, which the maker calls an advantage when using the unit in stereo.
What CV range does the PF3 accept?
The modulation CV input accepts a range of -5 to +5 V or 0 to +10 V, per ELTA Music's specifications. That covers the common bipolar and unipolar control voltage ranges used by synthesizers and modular gear.
How big is the Polivoks PF3 Dual Filter MK2?
The unit measures 175 x 135 x 50mm and weighs 0.7kg, with a packed weight of 1kg. That is a desktop-sized box rather than a standard stompbox footprint, in line with its role as a stereo filter unit.
Sources (4)
- POLIVOKS PF3 Dual Filter MK2, eltamusic.com
- ELTA Music reveals POLIVOKS PF-3 stereo filter in a box, gearnews.com, 2022-08-17
- PF3 mk.2, eltamusic
- PF3 | eltamusic, eltamusic
