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Using a Studio EQ for Vinyl playback

I’ve never understood the audiophile aversion to EQ..... especially having simple good tone controls on a preamp. Sadly... most tone controls really do sound bad. But unless you plan to play exclusively audiophile pressings, I feel some EQ is essential to really enjoy popular music. Since my preamp does NOT have tone controls, I have used several different studio quality EQ’s between my phono pre and main preamp. (....no, NOT graphic eqs) Having this control has never failed to increase my enjoyment of sub-par records. So why is EQUALISER such a bad word in audiophile circles??

Most studio EQs are dual channel. You have to tweak both channels separately, and it’s a bit cumbersome. There are a few that are stereo program EQs with one set of controls for both channels. I’ve recently discovered one that is working very well for me... The Vintage Audio M3D ($1300). It’s a 6 band EQ with VERY wide bell curves, and thus minimal phase shift. It has a true bypass, so it’s really out of the path when bypassed. The downside for home audio is that it runs at +4dB levels, and has balanced XLR connectors. I’ve forged ahead and use it anyway, and it’s working well for me. The noise floor is still lower than that of my phono pre (a Parasound JC3, with XLR outs) so that just means I have a ridiculous amount of headroom. I’ve made my own -10dB pad cables to convert the balanced output to RCA and it’s working great. A simple adapter will not work with the M3D.

Great pressings don’t need EQ, but older popular music pressings benefit greatly from some EQ.   Isn’t that what it’s all about? Making the music more enjoyable??
mirolab
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Then why don't you just buy a sub or two if its all about bass? 

Different RIAA is just a tone control to make darker records better. 

As for the EQ in general it's old fashioned, remember 70s and 80s hi-fi. Each system contained separate EQ unit back then. 
inna
7,322 posts
 
You will not make it sound better with EQ, it will sound just as bad in a different way. Unless you really want to have a mastering studio in your listening room, I see no reason to bother with these devices. It would also be too much work, I would want to correct every recording I have.
sleepwalker65's avatar
sleepwalker65
832 posts
 
This comes under my heading of “if it makes you happy, it can’t be so bad” to plagiarize Sheryl Crowe. I personally like to use a graphic equalizer to compensate for the effects of the way room acoustics play with my speakers, to arrive at something that (to me) sounds like what the producer wants the listener to experience. In my case, that is accomplished via a -1dB tweak at 31.5 and 63Hz, even with my speakers located several feet from the wall behind them, they still sound a little bass-heavy unless I do this. And, I’m pleased with the result to the point where it makes me happy.... so, problem solved. One day, I’ll break out the spectrum analyzer and pink noise generator, and see if the test gear agrees with what my ears subjectively tell me. Even then I will probably not change the equalizer settings. 
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,254 posts
 
teo is absolutely correct regarding maintaining the fidelity of the signal, but he fails to mention the enjoyment of the music.  If the latter is your priority, then certain EQs can prove very effective.
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