2. analog
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Go get out your pitchforks, I’ve done a sacrilegious thing. . .

. . . I’ve added an EQ!

A Loki Max to be exact - and so far, I love it!

I believe in the purist approach for the most part, and I have a main system that that’s all about, but this system, this is my fun house system, but my room acoustics are not great in my living room.  But that doesn’t mean I want crap sound in it either. The wife won’t let me treat the room, but frankly, that isn’t even the main reason I did it. 

The system is basically Klipsch Forte III’s, Balanced Audio VX 3ix pre-amp, ARC balanced V35 tube amp, Bifrost 2 DAC getting sound from a Marantz ND8006 streamer.  I put the EQ between the DAC and the preamp.

It’s dead quiet, and I can’t discern the difference in bypass mode either. 
 

I figured it’s was a lot easier, and cheaper, to add this one component and get the exact sound I want versus going through a bunch of cables or changing out other equipment. 

Soundstage is great, and there doesn’t paper to be any aberrations, but keep in mind this isn’t the most reveling system, another reason I wasn’t too worried about adding an EQ.

All in all, a good investment and make my music more enjoyable!

 

 

last_lemming
ghdprentice
6,958 posts
 

Thanks for your comments. Your systems look great. Lots of folks love the Loki. I am fortunate enough not to need one.

 

My past experience was always negative with equalizers… sounds like they are getting better.

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barts's avatar
barts
712 posts
 

@last_lemming

The naysayers kinda crack me up. I mean ALL of the music you listen to and love is EQ’d (also there is no Easter Bunny).

As long as you can’t hear the difference in bypass mode then by all means EQ to your hearts content.

Regards,

barts

sns
3,199 posts
 

Test of transparency is between no Loki in system vs Loki. Assuming no absolute transparency, I can see the tradeoffs being in Loki's favor. As with @ghdprentice  I have no need, have voiced system to sound best with widest variety of recordings. I'd only find system EQ valuable if changing settings by individual recording.

lewm
13,016 posts
 

Reading this thread, it seems to me that it is the equalizers who are defensive, whereas the anti-equalizers are either trying to be funny (which is OK in my book but could be provocative to an equalizer) or asking reasonable questions or making reasonable points. My opinion is, if it sounds better to you, do it, but let's not pretend equalizers are completely and utterly transparent.  And beware of putting stress on your amplifiers or speakers when you are trying to correct a major dip in the in-room response, particularly in the bass end of the spectrum.  There is no free lunch.

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