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EQ's... why doesnt everybody have one?

Just browsing around the systems on this site, i knoticed that very few have equalizers. I realize some claim they introduce unacceptable noise but i would hardly call my Furman Q-2312, at %>.01 20Hz-40kHz, unacceptable. This $200 piece of equiptment ($100 on sale at musiciansfriend.com) replaces several thousand dollars in assembling a perfectly linear system in perfectly linear room, and in my opinion, accomplishes the task better than any room design could no matter how well engineered. It brought my system (onkyo reciever, NHT SB-3 speakers and Sony CD changer) to a level i could not have dreamed. It extends the SB-3's frequency response by at least 10 Hz to a satisfying 30 Hz without any rolloff or sacrifice in clarity, but the greatest improvement was definately in the Mid-range, around the SB-3s crossover frequency of 2.6kHz. The clarity of vocals, strings, guitars, brass... anything in this range rivals that of uneq'd systems costing well into the thousands of dollars... my total cost; $800. One of the more supprising differences is a marked improvement in immaging, it think this might have to do with eliminating several resonances in the right channel caused by my back wall (the left back wall has a curtain over it). The second my dad heard the difference he got on my computer to buy one for himself, he couldnt even wait to get back to his own, he then kicked me outa the listening chair and wouldnt get up for the better part of an hour.
-Dan-
dk89
jafox
1,477 posts
 
Eldartford: Yes, I agree. And I would be willing to give the DEQ a fair shot. But I must admit I would go into this with low expectations.

Like anyone else, I have had several events, a few with local audiophile buddies, where I came out highly impressed from an auditon/test that started with me expecting very little or no positive outcome. And from such times, I am quick to give high praise to such a product. But I have also had enough auditions where the result was terrible, whether I expected it or not and the unit was immediately removed, never to be given a second chance.....it indeed was that terrible.

In the case of the DEQ, I have no doubt the benefits that it would bring. What would concern me here is what harm might it cause in the process. Surely it degrades the sound to some degree. My gut feeling is that the degradations would be in areas where tube-based systems excel.

Interestingly, the line stage and its cable to the amps have proven time and time again to be a VERY critical link in the chain ... and this is exactly where the DEQ or PARC would be placed. Any direct experiences or insights here to this specific concern of sonic degradation?

John
drubin
3,285 posts
 
What accessories do you need to use the DEQ? A microphone, or does one come with it?
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,351 posts
 
Used Tact 2.0s are selling at a little under $1k. Factory refurbs go for $1.5k. They are far superior at room correction and measurement than the Behringer and they include measurement mics and software. In addition to the room correction frequency and delay correction the Tact also includes a 10 band parametric EQ. To put it in readily understood audiophile hyperbole, it's in a whole 'nother league than the Behringer. If you're going to try digital room correction/EQ you're better off spending the incremental dollars for the Tact. The downside to the Tact is that it requires a Windows PC and setup is definitely not intuitive.
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
One word: DISTORTION
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Onhwy61...DEQ2494 also has parametric eq if that turns you on. Perhaps you can tell us exactly what is better about Tact equalization. Both the Tact and the Behringer do their operations in the digital domain, which can accomplish things that are not possible in analog processing. I suppose that the computer interface is a plus for some folks, but not for me. Just to be fair, costs should be compared for both units being new.

Jafox...Low expectations? Mine were zero: I bought it for the RTA. I can hear no sound quality degradation, but perhaps a golden ear might. However, the overall improvement of my system in my room is dramatic. Sometimes we take a little step back to achieve a big leap forward. I carry a small scar where the surgeon removed my appendix, that was about to kill me. Good trade-off!

By the way I have great respect for the PARC, and my research on that product is what led me to the Behringer. But the PARC cost seemed too high, (especially if you have more than 2 channels to worry about) and the Behringer offers very much greater flexibility and features. One point of interest is that the PARC would only attenuate, never boost, and this was cited as a good thing. Now I hear that a revised PARC may boost. Go figure.

I really don't want to tell people whether or not the Behringer has a sonic character, and I don't think others should speculate. You must decide this for yourself after hearing it. I do suggest that people should get it for the RTA, and then let nature take its course.

Drubin...The mic, and its cable, is sold separately. Parts Express has the mic listed at $50.

Joeylawn36111...I make the Unbalanced/Balanced transition coming out of my preamp using cables that I had made up for this purpose. RCA on one end and XLR (into the DEQ2496 on the other end. Of course this means that the DEQ2496 input is unbalanced, but the DEQ2496 detects this and adjusts gain accordingly. (Clever little box!) The DEQ2496 output is balanced into my electronic crossover, and on to the the amps and speakers. I guess you have the DEQ2496 in the Tape loop, so you will be unbalanced in and out. More cables. I get my cables from a2zcables.com, but I am sure that other vendors could accomodate you, or, of course, you could wire the cables up yourself
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