Is DEQX a game changer?

By the way, I think time and frequency correction is very cool. However, there’s a few points I want to make.

Many speakers are just not very neutral in the frequency domain and an EQ is the only way to fix it. From B&W to Martin Logan, some highly touted speakers are not objectively neutral. While we can argue about the overall importance of frequency response, it’s usually the thing people hear first and most. So, the good news is modern EQ can correct this, the bad news is it may leave your speakers sounding like something else.

Second, speaker designers know how to do time and phase matching, it’s just not worth it for many of us. If it were all that, we’d hear about Thiel and Vandersteen exclusively, and no other brands would dare compete. However it’s not the case. There are also some negatives. The hardest part about doing time/phase alignment is actually finding drivers that will let you. You need particularly well behaved drivers, AND you’ll possibly give up significant amounts of dynamic range for it since you may be limited to using first order networks.

Could I design a time/phase coherent speaker? Sure. Would I? Meh. Honestly the Thiel and Vandersteens I’ve heard didn’t do it for me enough that I gave up all other designs. Still, the idea that I can just get a DiracLive or DEQX to fix that all up for me is intriguing!

The one thing to remember too is EQ by itself is not nearly as good as with a balanced, low compression, low distortion speaker with good room treatment.

As with all things, please make yourself happy! :) This is just my own impressions and experience, which doesn’t matter a bit when you shell out your hard earned cash.

Best,

Erik

And on top of all that, some designers like B&W or Focal do totally wonky things like putting the tweeters ahead of the mids. Never ends well.

One odd thing I'm still wrapping my head around are companies that make multiple driver enclosures, but are still not fully time aligned. Wilson, the old KEF robots, B&W, among others do this. Check the step response in a review, if available.

Best,

Erik

Goldmond did that as well, but they were one of the best sounds I ever heard coming from a box speaker in my life.  Mechanical coupling.  That is how they achieved linear bass.  Seems to be the key to that uber sound.  The non-linear bass just smears everything in the midrange just a tad.  Linear bass and incredible things happen.

@cerrot

I'm sorry but what exactly do you mean by "linear" bass?  I'm afraid I could interpret that about a half dozen ways and not be sure I got your intention.

Best,

Erik

I too have followed MQA very closely.  Very promising, crazy enthusiasm, but so far...nothing.  

I wrote to DEQX a few weeks ago with some questions, one of which regarded MQA integration.  Their response was that the jury is still out on MQA, they place significant burdens on the DAC manufacturer, and the availability of media remains far too limited.  So it does not sound like they are getting on board anytime soon.  

MQA integration was one of my few hesitations regarding the HDP5.  I assumed that something would be lost in the additional AD/DA required using a separate DAC.  The comments above more than confirmed my suspicions.  So I recognize that if I go forward with the HDP5, MQA is likely not happening for me for quite a while and I think that's okay.  The real benefits of the DEQX seem to outweigh the promises of MQA.