DEQX Final Config and impressions...

I had been living with the DEQX Premate for about 2 weeks now and recently went through a DEQXpert configuration session.  I had worked through the setup/config first, then scheduled the session.  The units are pricey and in this audio world, sometimes it is worth it, sometimes it’s not.  I’ll share my opinions and attempt to be unbiased.  

My setup:
PS Audio BHK 300 monos
PS Audio Direct Stream Junior
McIntosh C2500
Dynaudio Confidence C4 Signatures
DEQX Premate
Shunyata Hydra
Nordost QX4
REL R-528SE
GIK Acoustics room treatment
Audioquest IC/Speaker cables
Shunyata power cables
Room size: 26 x 18

The initial setup was a little challenging, not so much from a “technical” perspective, but rather the verbose nature of the DEQX documentation.  The only “gotcha” I struggled with was that the EQ’ing process is out of band.  Essentially, you take your speaker and room measurements, create the correction filters in a different window; which isn’t immediately clear while going through it.  I would say anyone that’s able to follow directions, would be able to get the unit to about 97% on their own.  The last 3%, that’s where the DEQXpert comes in.

I connected with Larry Owens out of Denver.  Larry ran through the process, but shed light on a few things I had no clue regarding; checking phase with various sweeps, aligning time delay between the 3 speakers (important to note, as the documentation says that the front stage should always be the same delay) and sharing his personal insights into how the unit operates.  His insights did diverge from the documentation and he articulated why.  After explaining, it all came together.  

Per Larry, the speakers behave quite flat at about 2Khz and above, below that they get a little messy.  There were various phase cancellations occurring due to the speaker and room interactions, but nothing too noisey.  Interesting to note, during this process, Larry shared how to best approach leveraging the EQ to assist in mitigating against phase cancellation.  Again, super insightful and something that’s not in the documentation.

The unit does take some getting used to, not that without it a system can’t sound good, as many do.  Mine does and without the DEQX, I would know no difference.  What I have noticed most, it really cleared up busy mixes.  Some recordings, say Mumford & Sons, to me their mixes sound cluttered on busier tunes.  The  main vocals often sound congested by what is happening on the right and left pans of the mix.  The DEQX has brought clear definition in those mixes.  Instruments lay better in the overall mix, having more definition as to where they are supposed to be sitting on the soundstage.  Though, it won’t bring up Jason Newsted’s bass mix on ...And Justice For All.  In various passages on different songs, it does make it more audible.  On the song “Blackened”, at about 2:50 in, you finally hear Jason’s bass, clearly.  I had not heard this before.  For those not familiar with the history of that album, Metallica cut the bass to about -6db vs. the rest of the mix, rendering it nearly inaudible.  Same holds true for many of the Lamb of God mixes, there’s so much going on, definition of the instruments can sound mushed in all one spot.  The DEQX creates separation in everything, allowing for specific instruments to be identified and heard.

Recordings that I have been listening to for years are now wider in soundstage, with clear definition.  Tracks from Radiohead’s Ok Computer come off as being more definitive with instrument pans.  Things like taking the recorded guitar track, panning it to the opposite side, bringing it way down in the mix and using heavy chorus are clearly heard, prior to the DEQX, it was not as pronounced.  Led Zepplin’s Physical Graffitti, it adds more punch to the midrange.  Many of us know Jon Paul Jones was a studio musician, prior to LZ; which may not be entirely evident on many of their recordings.  I can hear him, lock step, with Bonham, bringing even more delight to their recordings.  

In short, the unit, for me, has been worth the investment.  I do believe that going through and working to improve the room acoustics with treatment is paramount, prior to adding a DEQX.  Understandably, for some that may not be feasible.  Larry noted that my room was void of many room errors, due to the treatment; which really allows for the DEQX performance to shine.  I did find having a DEQXpert go through the process with me to be very helpful.  Like with anything, as soon as we were done, I did repeat the process, making slight tweaks to what was laid down.  Will it make miracles happen, nah, I don’t think so.  Nonetheless, my music library has been transformed for the better, which is always worth it.