Graphic Equalisers - horrors or helpers?

[Tassie Devil]

Purists (and I used to be one) are horrified at putting a graphic equaliser in the path of "pristine" audio.  But hang on, that audio is not always so pristine with annoying resonances creating hurdles that can destroy the musical impact.  One approach is to employ sophisticated "room correction" software to modify nasties but I've never found them particularly useful, possibly because the main listening room here was specially designed with a pentagonal shape with no two parallel opposing surfaces, and yes, that includes the carpeted floor and vaulted ceiling with sound absorbent tiles.

 

But it is not in this situation I'm discussing graphic equalisers, although they might indeed have application in some rooms.  My use of the equalisers is with headphone use, initially because of failing high frequency hearing deficiency.  A good equaliser will boost those missing frequencies and restore the listening enjoyment.

 

However one must be careful with adjustment as a few db here and there can make a huge difference to the AQ.  In particular it is easy to introduce or remove a muffled sound with upper bass adjustment and easy to get carried away with excessive bass boost.

 

The choice of suitable equalisers can be a problem as there are few professional reviews and most products are designed for PA application.  New consumer audiophile items are a bit scarce but there are a few around.  I've been impressed with the Aussie made Australian Monitor AMIS 215EQ, unfortunately now out of production but some used ones surface from time to time.  They also have the advantage of being used for a balanced system and are a dual 15 band item.  My experience has been there is little or no advantage in a 31 band unit.  And, for some purposes even a 7 band Pioneer SQ 300 can work well.  These, and similar used units from the 1980's are often on Gumtree for good prices.  I actually have a Pioneer hooked up to the headphone system in the office here so it changes audio coming from a (much modded) Benchmark DAC1 and feeds into Sennheiser HD800S headphone to yield very nice audio.

 

So, if you can overcome your prejudice about equalisers, do some experimenting.  You might be surprised how much improvement they can make to AQ at a far less cost than the upgrade merry go round - yes I've been on that, often, and it really can be a case of a different, rather than an improved sound at high expense.  An equaliser can give you that different sound very easily and, you can very simply change it once a bit bored with what you have.  Pardon my cynicism but I do feel that the upgrade urge is often a result of wanting to hear something a bit different. It does not always result in the AQ actually being "better".  But I'm now delving into dangerous subjective territory so better stop.

Edited May 11, 2017 by Tassie Devil
typo

[Snapper()]

I use one, but i'm no princess. One things I do like about the older Sansui are the tripple tone controls - extremely useful!

The Audiophile way would probably be to use a DEQX, which at the Hifi show was pretty impressive - however I can't help feeling it's just a big smart equaliser (with other stuff)  

[Sub Sonic]

I don't use graphic equalisers but I do sometimes use parametric eq in the form of a MiniDSP, along with a measurement mic. IMHO the benefits can outweigh the disadvantages in many (not all) situations.

 

Regards,

 

SS

 

Edit: there is also available a graphic eq plugin for the MiniDSP.

Edited May 11, 2017 by Sub Sonic

[audiofeline]

From an audiophile point of view, it would be preferable to have quality components that are well-balanced, and appropriate room correction so there is no need for an eq.  They can be useful to adjust the sound balance for early LPs made before RIAA eq was standardised for vinyl, and when record companies used different eq curves.  I recall mastering guru Steve Hoffmann making a post on his site where he used a graphic eq to adjust a frequency spike which was common for a particular classical label's pressing. 

 

Graphic EQ's are also essential if you have old bootleg records/tapes, which were often very poorly recorded and mastered.  They won't make a silk purse from a sow's ear, but can make some poor quality audio listenable. 

 

I also acknowledge their use to restore frequencies attenuated by hearing loss.  That would be for personal listening, as I'm sure those adjustments would make for poor listening for those with good hearing!

 

[GregWormald]

It's really your choice. Use what sounds best to you, for the music to which you listen and in your venue.

 

I found that even relatively expensive pre-amps suffered with the tone controls in circuit, and the equaliser deteriorated the sound significantly.

 

Greg

[davewantsmoore]

EQ is powerful.      Decibels are BIG.

 

Plus or minus 1, 2, 3, 6dB .... these are BIG changes.

 

IMHO the EQ harmed my sound outcome, is mostly a result of it being used poorly.

 

 

3 hours ago, Snapper() said:

however I can't help feeling it's just a big smart equaliser (with other stuff)  

 

That's exactly what it is.

[Roumelio.]

EQ is what you make of it, a lot of people who will denigrate an EQ wont know how to use one, or wont pay for one with pink noise and with a spectrum analyser to see how the changes they are making affect the music they are playing or where unwanted clipping is occurring. Notwithstanding, Graphic EQs are powerful tools when used correctly, the problem is most people today don't know how to use them correctly so we default to:

"The engineer got it right in the studio leave it alone"

Fair point, but just because the engineer got it right for the studio doesn't mean the studio is right for your room.

[TerryO]

Pardon my newbie ignorance, but doesn't a equaliser just do more conveniently and in a one stop component what changing out and swapping around components and cables does?

 

I have four sets of speaker cables and the difference in sq on all four sets is very noticeable, same goes for amplifiers, I have three and each has its own sound, then there is speakers, I have two different sets set up next to each other and each have their own sound. I have come to the conclusion, rightly or wrongly, that HiFi is just a big jigsaw puzzle where we all chase our tails constantly swapping stuff trying to tune the system to get the sound we desire. I don't have a equaliser but again I can't help but feel that a very good one would potentially do that fine tuning that most of us are always chasing by changing components.

 

cheers Terry

Edited July 21, 2017 by TerryO

[sir sanders zingmore]

On 11/05/2017 at 1:58 PM, audiofeline said:

Graphic EQ's are also essential if you have old bootleg records/tapes, which were often very poorly recorded and mastered.  They won't make a silk purse from a sow's ear, but can make some poor quality audio listenable.

 

Its not just old recordings that are poorly mastered. 

[audiofeline]

1 hour ago, Sir Sanders Zingmore said:

 

Its not just old recordings that are poorly mastered. 

I very much agree.  Life would be much more enjoyable if people in responsible positions are good (or even competent) at what they should do. 

[Steever]

The controls on the rear of my Dragons are very useful and I am not ashamed to say they are not set to "0".

[Happy]

Well doing it right is pretty hard, and one really needs to measure the stuff with a mic etc while the absolute majority would just rely on their audiophile hearing. So, most cases, horrors yes.