EQ for hifi

[Lord Bobbymort]

I am running a Hifiberry DAC+ Pro into my amp which works out pretty well and I am thinking of using the DSP EQ in it to correct for some mediocre hand-me-down AIWA SX-F12 speakers (yeah, try to find any info on those haha). The issue I have is that I'd like a whole system EQ if possible because I also listen to vinyl and may add a CD transport going forward, and even with all that I'll eventually buy new speakers and would still need to correct them too because I'm not in the budget of buying speakers that are designed in particular ways that EQing would be a sin.

Does anyone use or recommend using a stereo 31-band EQ in their system? They exist in the pro/sound reinforcement world for a reason but I don't know if anyone has any issues using something like that in their hifi setup just because of introducing other issues like phasing and... whatever.

Thanks

 

[thewas]

A 31-band EQ might not be able to compete with a parametic EQ, DSP and DRC but with some careful usage can also solve quite some tonal problems, I for example use REW measurements and EQ simulation to tune the graphic EQ of my vintage system with quite decent results.

 

[JeffS7444]

A popular old favorite offering 1/3rd octave graphical eq, parametric eq and a bunch of other toys:
https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=P0146
Plus if you connect the recommended measurement mic, it will auto-eq.

 

[Lord Bobbymort]

A 31-band EQ might not be able to compete with a parametic EQ, DSP and DRC but with some careful usage can also solve quite some tonal problems, I for example use REW measurements and EQ simulation to tune the graphic EQ of my vintage system with quite decent results.

what particular unit do you use?

 

[Lord Bobbymort]

A popular old favorite offering 1/3rd octave graphical eq, parametric eq and a bunch of other toys:
https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=P0146
Plus if you connect the recommended measurement mic, it will auto-eq.

Yeah most likely I figured it would be rack gear that I would find. The auto-eq is a cool feature.

 

[thewas]

what particular unit do you use?

I use an old Technics one which even has a pink noise generator, graphic spectrum analyzer and its own measurement mic (which I don't use anymore though) as its model series is period and design matching to my vintage hifi system.

 

[Lord Bobbymort]

I use an old Technics one which even has a pink noise generator, graphic spectrum analyzer and its own measurement mic (which I don't use anymore though) as its model series is period and design matching to my vintage hifi system.

Ooh what's in your system? The idea of the spectrum analyzer on-board is cool too

 

[thewas]

Ooh what's in your system? The idea of the spectrum analyzer on-board is cool too

Mind you its too limited for usual bass modes having only 2x12 bands.

The next generation had even auto-EQ but also just 2x12 bands:

Still they are very nice though for a vintage system considering how advanced they are for their release date (early-mid 80s!)

 

[theyellowspecial]

Why not just jump straight into a MiniDSP and get everything you're asking for and more?

 

[Lord Bobbymort]

Why not just jump straight into a MiniDSP and get everything you're asking for and more?

Ooh boy that sounds good, but I don't have the money for those. A used pro 2-channel 31-band EQ is much more in my price range right now, I'm just trying to see if anyone has used anything like that in their hifi setups and what they think. Maybe emerging like a dbx 231s, or dbx 3231L, or an Ashly MQX 2310,or anything like that.

 

[Lord Bobbymort]

View attachment 102528
Mind you its too limited for usual bass modes having only 2x12 bands.

The next generation had even auto-EQ but also just 2x12 bands:

View attachment 102530

Still they are very nice though for a vintage system considering how advanced they are for their release date (early-mid 80s!)

Ahh yes the presets haha as if they actually made certain genres sound better compared to others or made anything around better at all

 

[thewas]

Ahh yes the presets haha as if they actually made certain genres sound better compared to others or made anything around better at all

Yes, but am not talking about those presets of course.

 

[Le Concombre]

A 31-band EQ might not be able to compete with a parametic EQ, DSP and DRC but with some careful usage can also solve quite some tonal problems, I for example use REW measurements and EQ simulation to tune the graphic EQ of my vintage system with quite decent results.

I m getting a Ashly GQX 3102 for my analog rig tomorrow and used REW as well for simulation

I' ll go for a BK basis, no correction above 315 Hz and no amplitude greater than +- 6 dB ; and assuming the 12 dB/octave HPF is a Butterworth