Eq?

[Godzilla]

If my PC is my source and i want to EQ my speakers does it make sense to use the equalizer on my PC or will it sound better using an equalizer hooked up to my PC? Using the equalizer in Media Player resulted in distortion. Are there better equalizers out there as a free download with better performance? Should I expect the same with an outboard unit? What are the advantages of one over the other.... or is it the same?

[bvan]

I've heard the iTunes EQ recommended, but havent tried it myself.

I have used a Behringer DEQ2496 and while I dont know if it sounds better than PC based EQ it does offer greater resolution than at least iTunes, i.e it can have filter widths down to 1/60 of an octave, not that you would ever need that.

With the DEQ, if you boost too much, which you shouldnt anyway, it will clip the signal and sound shite. Otherwise no complaints sound wise when feeding an external dac.

cheers
B.

[BHTX]

Godzilla,

Use VST plugins. It's by far the best solution I've found yet for things like this. I use foobar2000 for all my audio playback. Within it, I use the active DSP "George Yohng's VST Wrapper", which enables you to use multiple VST plugins simultaneously with Foobar. For EQ'ing, I use the "posihfopit" version of Aixcoustic Electri-Q.. by far the best I've found yet (when configured properly).

Assuming you're running a simple 2 channel setup, you're at a big advantage when it comes to stuff like this.. take advantage of it!

[BHTX]

For example, here's the crazy complicated nasty looking EQ curve I've been applying to my headphone setup for the last several months.. a pair of old Sennheiser HD-497's to a Presonus Central Station. Can't tell the difference between these and HD-600's now..

[dazydee]

A good PC-EQ will not sound worse than a good than a stand-alone EQ. The distortion you experienced was because you raised the volume of some frequencies over the maximum for Winamp. (when raising a band in a player like Winamp or Foobar you have to turn down the master volume of the player by the same amount).

I use the shibatch EQ for Wonamp and Foobar. It's FIR (I think it means it doesn't mess up the phase like other EQs do) and is very flexible. A little akward to use, though.

[BHTX]

Originally posted by dazydee
I use the shibatch EQ for Wonamp and Foobar. It's FIR (I think it means it doesn't mess up the phase like other EQs do) and is very flexible.

You should see what those EQ's you speak of are actually doing to the response.. completely unusable IMO. It's more like a wide notch filter that you can't adjust.. or something. I used to use the Shibatch EQ for Winamp too, every day for many many years (back when I used Winamp).. until I started using VST plugins. There's absolutely no comparison. Use the right VST plugins correctly, and nothing else even comes close.

[Godzilla]

I was able to bring my inexpensive Pioneer B20's to another level in performance with a bit of EQ the other day. The problem was the distortion (i added a bass boost). The added bass sounded great on many recordings but also distorted badly on many as well. I am using a low powered Sonic Impact amp. Would using a more powerful amp allow the bass boost (to a point of course) and allow me to enjoy using EQ?

The subtle but effective changes in sound were really great!

[BHTX]

Originally posted by Godzilla
Would using a more powerful amp allow the bass boost (to a point of course) and allow me to enjoy using EQ?

Yes, and yes..

I once had one of those little SI amps.. can't imagine trying to feed much low freq boost to it, I think it would have distorted like crazy. On the other hand, the EQ in Windows Media Player sucks worse than Windows Media Player itself, and that's pretty bad.

Use what I recommended above, along with a more powerful amplifier. If you spend enough time getting it right, you should end up with good results.

[Godzilla]

This is changing how i am thinking about my next speaker project... i quickly looked at Parts Express catalog and found some inexpensive Pyle Pro and Art Audio gear along with cheap equalizers... I wonder if this cheap pro gear will allow me to tailor the way my music sounds without losing the quality of sound from the SI amp. Any thoughts?

[mjkempton]

I can only agree with BHTX. Also use Foobar and VST, but I prefer Karma or Aqualizer eq - I find them easier to use. Again, setup correctly the difference is remarkable. Until recently I used a Behringer DEQ2496, without anything to compare it to it's still a good unit. But by comparison to eq in software the DEQ sounds muddy and puts a clamp on dynamics.

I use the DEQ to measure the room/speaker response and simply transfer the settings to the software eq. Although I recently came across REW from Home Theatre Shack -

http://www.hometheatershack.com/forums/rew-forum/

This software does all the DEQ does and more for free.

What I do miss is being able to eq both channels. Is anyone aware of a two channel VST eq with 31 points, i.e. 1/3 octave, or is there a way to run two mono VST eqs and use one for each channel ?

Jim