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EQ's... why doesnt everybody have one?

Just browsing around the systems on this site, i knoticed that very few have equalizers. I realize some claim they introduce unacceptable noise but i would hardly call my Furman Q-2312, at %>.01 20Hz-40kHz, unacceptable. This $200 piece of equiptment ($100 on sale at musiciansfriend.com) replaces several thousand dollars in assembling a perfectly linear system in perfectly linear room, and in my opinion, accomplishes the task better than any room design could no matter how well engineered. It brought my system (onkyo reciever, NHT SB-3 speakers and Sony CD changer) to a level i could not have dreamed. It extends the SB-3's frequency response by at least 10 Hz to a satisfying 30 Hz without any rolloff or sacrifice in clarity, but the greatest improvement was definately in the Mid-range, around the SB-3s crossover frequency of 2.6kHz. The clarity of vocals, strings, guitars, brass... anything in this range rivals that of uneq'd systems costing well into the thousands of dollars... my total cost; $800. One of the more supprising differences is a marked improvement in immaging, it think this might have to do with eliminating several resonances in the right channel caused by my back wall (the left back wall has a curtain over it). The second my dad heard the difference he got on my computer to buy one for himself, he couldnt even wait to get back to his own, he then kicked me outa the listening chair and wouldnt get up for the better part of an hour.
-Dan-
dk89
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,681 posts
 
Unsound asked: "Does a high quality digital room correction device that only effects sound below this point exist?"
There are subwoofer EQs such as the R-DES and the Velodyne SMS-1 and, of course, you can use the Behringer and z-systems units only in this range if you choose.

Autoll said: "The meridian 861 might be there, but the lack of owner devotees is scary for the price. And their source cost is insane. "
The MRC in the latest generation of 861s only works at these lower frequencies. There are many devoted owners of this marvelous device but they don't hang out here. Cost insane? Well, that's subjective as there's nothing really comparable on the market.

Kal
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
The difference with the Parc is the fact that it uses high end components inside that are less likely to degrade the sound. A $200-300 EQ is like running your hifi gear through a clock radio
Well, the PARC is analog. I agree with your clock radio analogy for a $200-$300 analog EQ. Digital is a different kettle of fish, though that price point may still be too low for gen-u-ine audiophile requirements.
autoll
16 posts
 
Kal said:"There are many devoted owners of this marvelous device but they don't hang out here. Cost insane?" Please excuse the insane reference, I should have said "out of my range". May I divert this thread a bit toward the M861 since you may have personal listening experience? Assuming their room correction card is excellent as I imagine it is, what about the 2 channel performance? Without writing a review for us, if you had a great sounding analog system with redbook source and say a ML32 as a somewhat well known reference and swapped in the 861, what would we think? I know this is highly subjective, but opinions on Meridian gear solo are hard to come by. I'm sure you know the common rap from store owners/salesman of "it only sounds good with the I-link", and then it's still not better than much cheaper equipment. Since I've not been impressed at shows, I have to assume these very experienced folks(albiet sellers of other products generally)are probably right. Wrong? I/we do appreciate your input. Thanks!
aball
2,016 posts
 
My EQ is clearly the best room treatment I have ever had!
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,681 posts
 
I have reviewed the Meridian 861 twice and I just had mine updated to the latest version. However, I have not yet had the time to install it and take advantage of the EQ.

One reason that you might not have been impressed with show demos is that you always get a full Meridian system and the character of their speakers is probably what you heard.

Kal
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