dbx 1231 Graphic EQ Review

[Chrise36]

Ok i just tried the 1231 i found it is degrading the sound at least with unbalanced source. Could be because of the peak limiter is always active.

 

[Angel II]

I'm very happy with these cables:

 

[Angel II]

Ok i just tried the 1231 i found it is degrading the sound at least with unbalanced source. Could be because of the peak limiter is always active.

Do you have the DBX 2231? This has the peak limiter.

 

[Chrise36]

Do you have the DBX 2231? This has the peak limiter.

The 2231 has the variable version

 

[Angel II]

Why did you purchase the DBX 2231? Can you disable the limiter function?

 

[Angel II]

I attach the image of the manual:

 

[Chrise36]

I attach the image of the manual: View attachment 363002

I did not purchase it yet i tried the 1231 but i was disappointed.Is the limiter active on the 1231? The difference was significant when the eq was active vs inactive.

 

[Angel II]

The DBX 1231 has no limiter (as it should be). I seem to have read that the DBX 2231 has some limitations on the limiter for audiophile use. I recommend the DBX 1231 which is a simple excellent equalizer and does not degrade the sound. You probably got the 2231 for other uses.

 

[Chrise36]

Well using the Album "Fleetwood Mac's - Rumors" with the DBX Equalizers sounds excellent. Without the Equalizers that album sounds flat, lacking bass under 100hz. So using the EQ to boost 40hz, 50and 63 hurtz works wonders. CD Player I'm susing is Rotel RCD-1572MKII I using the units XLR outsconnrected to Rotels Rc-1590 Pre amp connected to DBX Then to Rotels RB-1582 MkII Power Amp. The Equalizer works well with streaming too.

With my headphone setup (Tanchjim space lite unbalanced to DBX 1231 and then unbalanced to.SABAJ A10H to Philips X2HR) it was like listening to 80s hifi when engaging the EQ. Maybe with a balanced setup it would be better. I will try to hear the 231s or the ART 355. There are also used RANE ME 60 around. Any experience with these units?

 

[stoo23]

The other issue is a good Equalizer should have a remote control

Well, the DBX units are designed for and regarded as Professional Audio products and would arguably Never need or require a remote !!
They would either be setting a general 'House Curve' in a Venue or would be in a Rack, at Front of House or Side of stage for Stage Monitor EQ in a Live 'gig' setting.
The units being discussed here, were never designed for Audiophile 'Home' use per se

 

[EJ3]

soooooo retroooooo.... I now want wide lapels and platform shoes.

And a leisure suit

 

[The Guy who cares]

Sorry about me deleting this old Maxwell Tape Add from the 1980's. It's excellent.

 

[The Guy who cares]

Update on my DBX Equalizers all four still work flawlessly. Still a pain in the ass that the sliders don't have led lights on them. A perfect Equalizer would have a remote control or at least a mobile phone remote control "App".

 

[stoo23]

Really ???, ... can you imagine the required complexity of a unit like that, requiring all those Faders to be 'Motorized' let alone how damn annoying all those LED's would be (well I think they would be).
Remote control, would make the unit Stupidly expensive, for what it does.

Design wise, these units were not intended to be a Glorified 'Tone Controls'

 

[The Guy who cares]

Really ???, ... can you imagine the required complexity of a unit like that, requiring all those Faders to be 'Motorized' let alone how damn annoying all those LED's would be (well I think they would be).
Remote control, would make the unit Stupidly expensive, for what it does.

Design wise, these units were not intended to be a Glorified 'Tone Controls'

I actually had a Yamaha Equalizer in the early 90s that had a remote control. There was a Kenwood Equalizer that also had a remote. Both Equalizers had a LCD light Display too. I found it better with the remote. My current Equalizers I had to set them up in the lower shelf of my coffie table to adjust easily. Most of the time I don't need to adjust anything at all. The only time I find I need to enhance anything is with Classic Rock Music, and that's only to increase the upper bass. With movies and television shows I sometimes need to increase the dialog frequencies a tad or two.

 

[stoo23]

Yamaha Equalizer in the early 90s that had a remote control. There was a Kenwood Equalizer that also had a remote

Really ?? 1/3rd Octave units ??
How were they Price wise by comparison ??

 

[The Guy who cares]

 

[The Guy who cares]

 

[The Guy who cares]

Both Yamaha and Kenwood Equalizers had remote control
S. Both were from the early 1990s. I had the Yamaha Equalizer at that time.

 

[stoo23]

Ahh yes, OK but they were both Octave band EQ's