Is DEQX a game changer?

Hi Al, Any updates to report?

Not yet, Unsound. I should be addressing room corrections next week. Meanwhile my listening has been focused on the upgrades I alluded to above, most notably the new phono stage, and I've also had to devote a lot of time to activities unrelated to audio.

BTW, you can check out updated photos and descriptions of the recent system changes in my system description thread.

Best regards,
-- Al

^Thanks for the prompt response. Obviously I'm curious as to your impressions of this component.

Hi Unsound,

I presume that your Thiel speakers are designed to be time coherent, and if so presumably the DEQX speaker calibration function would not be beneficial to you. I would expect, however, that the equalization functions a DEQX can provide would allow you to eliminate the speaker's line-level analog equalizer from your system, and avoid the sonic tradeoffs that are inherent in that equalizer. (As you've probably seen in the past, Larry Archibald commented on those tradeoffs in this 1989 review).

And even though I haven't yet addressed room corrections in my system, I don't doubt that with sufficient tweaking (which can be done in real time, while listening), that function can provide significant benefit in most circumstances.

Also, as you no doubt realize a DEQX, depending on model, may be able to serve as a preamplifier, as well as providing remarkably transparent A/D and D/A converter functions.

Whether all of those potential benefits would to you be worth the not inconsiderable cost is, of course, your call. (And figure on $745 for the optional reference microphone kit on top of the cost of whichever DEQX model you might choose. Having some experience with both inexpensive and high quality professional mics for other applications I would not rely on the inexpensive mic that is included in the base price of the unit).

FWIW, in my own case I'm glad I made this investment, notwithstanding that as I've described earlier in the thread it has in my case turned out to be a bit of a science project at times. Albeit one that to me has been interesting and educational.

Best regards,
-- Al

Al, as usual, you've nailed it. My thoughts, exactly!