EQ Software for Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS/iPadOS and Android.

[Berwhale]

A real hassle if you swap to speakers in other rooms, headphones, etc.

Not if you automate it! https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...te-or-any-other-ir-remote.36869/#post-1297243

 

[ShadowBoxer]

A real hassle if you swap to speakers in other rooms, headphones, etc.

Isn't that one of the built-in capabilities of Roon?

 

[HighImpactAV]

No problem if it only serves one full system.
A real hassle if you swap to speakers in other rooms, headphones, etc.

JRiver Media Center lets you create as many Zones as you want. A Zone can be different physical hardware or different software settings. I use Zones for HDMI, USB, or headphone output to various devices. I have Zones for different inputs. I also have used Zones for Calibration, Testing, Music, Movies, various bass managements settings, and different DSP settings. There is no limit to what you can configure.

 

[OK1]

While I agree with you pretty much on everything you say, I think it's risky to change the terms we use to indicate stuff. It's been hard enough to settle down on the current ones, after all...

We are on the same page. This implies that, in a world where so many are more likely, as time passes on, to use some form or digital processing - for all kinds of things such as speaker correction, room correction, headphone correction, personal preference, etc, etc, i.e some form of intermediate processing, we now have to be specific about the application of the term bit perfect. I suggest.

1. Bit perfect audio stream entry - which refers to the 1st app in the chain being able to receive the source audio, without any change by the audio subsystem. The challenge with this :

Spoiler: 1.1 to 1.4

1.1 Is that some sources, such as streaming, in any area which is lossy, is already compromised by lossy compression and decompression.

1.2. Furthermore, many of us do not know what is the default sample rate for the streaming service we use. I use Free Spotify predominantly, and in Windows, I can set the default audio device, to almost any sample rate, from 44.1Khz to 380+Khz, so somewhere at the start of the chain, Windows has to be doing some kind of sample rate conversion, breaking the bit perfect ideal. If I changed to Tidal, I have no clue what the default sampling rate of Tidal is.!!, so Windows is already responsible for most likely modifying the sample rate.

1.3. Bit depth. In Windows, I can set the bit depth of the default playback device, to pretty much anything from 16 bit/24bit/32bit, in my audio settings, depending on the audio driver. I have no idea what the default for Spotify is. Fortunately this is not too much of an issue, cos if I set it to 24 bits, it's unlikely that the source is using anything higher than 24 bits, and if it was streaming @ 16 bits, and gets converted to 24 bits, there is no loss of bits, just extra padding of bits, with no additional information.

1.4. If I'm playing back local files, the bit depth and sample rate is also NOT able to dynamically change, throughout the audio change, so the only way to safely accomodate all files, is to set the playback to the highest possible sample rate, that I am likely to have in my library. I use only PCM files, so have no clue how DSD deals with this. So in my case, I'd use 24 bits 96Khz, cos I know I do not have any audio files, of a higher bit depth/sample rate. But in that process, this implies that there is some padding of lower quality audio files, such as 16 bit 44Khz, which gets converted to 24 bits 96Khz somewhere, either by Windows or by the playback app.

All of the above examples in the spoiler, are just the start of the audio pipe, and we already have the playback software/audio system already making changes, and compromising the bit perfect nature of the audio.

So bit perfect if implemented strictly, would imply that the audio system, is able to dynamically alter the bit depth and sample rate, based on the source. Otherwise if we accomodate any sample rate or bit depth conversions, that are needed in a static system, this cancels out any assertion of bit perfection. So a truly bit perfect system, has at the very least, to be able to dynamically change the sample rate and bit depth of the entire system, to adapt to the source. On Windows, that is nigh on difficult with the defaults, unless one is using a specialised playback app. I think that is possible in theory, but I am not familiar with any tool that does this - change the sample rate and bit depth of the entire playback chain based on the source.

2. Audio processing - we accept that any change in the audio - deliberately, beyond the essentials such as bit padding and sample rate conversion that are needed to conform the various types of audio input formats, to a FIXED bit depth and sample rate of the Windows playback system, automatically alters any bit perfection. Simple things like gain changes, already have a direct impact, on the audio stream.

3. Bit Perfect audio stream output. Here we, fortunately on Windows, have WASAPI Exclusive and ASIO, which are, in theory, well capable of being bit perfect, i.e Windows has no control of the audio, to make any changes to the playback, further to any deliberate audio processing.

In conclusion, unfortunately because of the non dynamic nature of the audio stream, which FIXES certain things like the bit depth and sample rate, for most apps, it's almost impossible to think of a truly bit perfect audio system, on Windows, cos either Windows, or the playback app, is saddled with the responsibility of aligning a source with the possibility of variable sample rates and bit depths, for each audio stream or file, to a FIXED playback sample rate/bit depth, set in the Windows audio subsystem, or in the audio output app.

 

[Sal1950]

Isn't that one of the built-in capabilities of Roon?

No idea, I don't use Roon or J River.
I prefer free media players streaming bit-perfect from a Linux OS.
All the rest can and should be done in the preamp, AVR, etc.
YMMV

 

[Blew]

Hello guys,

Is there any software Windows so as to use EQ while streaming Qobuz, Tidal enabling bit-perfect option?

I see Roon but is much expensive for everyday use.

Is there any free or budget friendly solution.

Thanks

You could use a loopback interface such as: https://vb-audio.com/Cable/index.htm

I prefer to use the free Foobar2000 with its many useful features, highly configurable interface, wide variety of excellent plugins. I mostly use the MathAudio Headphone EQ plugin for EQ, but it has a few other EQ options, including support for VST plugins which gives you plenty of better EQ options. However, Foobar doesn't support streaming services, so you will have to first obtain the files by other means before you play them.

 

[Deckard01]

Thank you all I just wanted to know if there is a software or something that can EQ applied combined to streaming services but without loosing the bitrate of the file I listen to.

And I see that only Roon offer this option, which is too expensive for me to have.

 

[Chazz6]

Minimserver runs on Windows and, I believe, on Linux, definitely on some Linux music server boxes. You can specify ffmpeg commands that are applied to the stream as it is sent out.

MinimServer

minimserver.com

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Thank you all I just wanted to know if there is a software or something that can EQ applied combined to streaming services but without loosing the bitrate of the file I listen to.

And I see that only Roon offer this option, which is too expensive for me to have.

Perhaps using a combination of VB-Audio Matrix and CamillaDSP would provide the capability you are looking for?

1. Output from Tidal (plus any another sources on the PC) would be routed to an input provided by Matrix
2. Matrix would SEND the audio to CamillaDSP for DSP processing and room correction
3. CamillaDSP would RETURN the processed audio back to Matrix
4. Matrix would output to the external device(s)

With that approach, you could even have the Tidal audio routed separately to speakers, USB outputs, S/PDIF outputs, headphones, etc. And even with unique DSP processing applied to each output target.

 

[Deckard01]

Perhaps using a combination of VB-Audio Matrix and CamillaDSP would provide the capability you are looking for?

1. Output from Tidal (plus any another sources on the PC) would be routed to an input provided by Matrix
2. Matrix would SEND the audio to CamillaDSP for DSP processing and room correction
3. CamillaDSP would RETURN the processed audio back to Matrix
4. Matrix would output to the external device(s)

With that approach, you could even have the Tidal audio routed separately to speakers, USB outputs, S/PDIF outputs, headphones, etc. And even with unique DSP processing applied to each output target.

Thanks,. Have you test it? Is it working? I am a bit confused has how to implement this? Is there any video tutorial?

With Matrix I will get the bit-perfect result as I understand and then the Camilla DSP is the EQ option so as to add the EQ and then with Matrix it will be the output to my dac/amp?

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Thanks,. Have you test it? Is it working? I am a bit confused has how to implement this? Is there any video tutorial?

With Matrix I will get the bit-perfect result as I understand and then the Camilla DSP is the EQ option so as to add the EQ and then with Matrix it will be the output to my dac/amp?

My suggestion is to start with VB-Audio Matrix. Learn how to route (and mix) audio from Tidal and other sources to Matrix and from Matrix to various outputs.
Once you have that down, then add in CamillaDSP where you send / receive audio between Matrix and CamillaDSP.

In the above, I'm intentionally using input/output vs. send/receive to use terminology that you would find on any physical mixing board.

In my case, I've successfully used VB-Audio Matrix to route and mix audio on a PC between various source and playback devices, including : (a) internal PC software, (b) RME Digiface USB, (c) RME ADI-2 Pro FSR, (d) PC headphones. For the two RME devices (connected via USB), VB-Audio Matrix sees each as 8 channels in, 8 channels out.

However, I have not yet taken the time to move to the next stage of learning CamillaDSP... but that would simply be adding another "device" to the Matrix and mixing the audio to and from it.

Also, it is possible that CamillaDSP can also do some of the audio mixing; but I've been very happy with the VB-Audio Matrix interface and I'm inclined to keep my mixer and DSP processor separate.

And another thought: you could also invest in a simple RPi device and move the CamillaDSP from your PC to that device. In which case, your chain could easily be:
PC (Tidal) >--[USB or S/PDIF]--> RPi (CamillaDSP) >--[USB or S/PDIF]--> Playback DAC --> Speakers

 

[obsessive9119]

There's a new Mac PEQ option - Vizzdom: https://www.krisdigital.com/en/blog/2018/08/23/vizzdom-mac-system-audio-spectrum-level-analyzer/

It's free, takes autoeq settings and (for what the author describes as an alpha) seems to work really well.

 

[Blew]

1. Output from Tidal (plus any another sources on the PC) would be routed to an input provided by Matrix
2. Matrix would SEND the audio to CamillaDSP for DSP processing and room correction
3. CamillaDSP would RETURN the processed audio back to Matrix
4. Matrix would output to the external device(s)

Why not output from CamillaDSP straight to the audio device?

 

[Klonatans]

I'm looking for a good PEQ software for Mac and after reading this thread and some comments on Reddit it looks like SoundSource is the best option.
I have a couple of questions to SoundSource users:
- Does it have a PEQ and does it let save multiple PEQ settings? In the SoundSource webpage I see only a mention of 10-band eqalizer that might also be just a graphic EQ.
- Does is work on Qobuz and Tidal apps as an audio output?

 

[Doodski]

I'm looking for a good PEQ software for Mac and after reading this thread and some comments on Reddit it looks like SoundSource is the best option.
I have a couple of questions to SoundSource users:
- Does it have a PEQ and does it let save multiple PEQ settings? In the SoundSource webpage I see only a mention of 10-band eqalizer that might also be just a graphic EQ.
- Does is work on Qobuz and Tidal apps as an audio output?

I don't use MacOS but here is another popular PEQ. eqMac parametric EQ and mixer.

 

[Klonatans]

I don't use MacOS but here is another popular PEQ. eqMac parametric EQ and mixer.

Thanks for the link. This is an option too, though I've seen people reporting that this software suffers from different kind of bugs and glitches. If the issues are solved, 40 EUR for Pro Lifetime seems quite a resonable amount indeed. Has someone recent experience with eqMac here?

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Why not output from CamillaDSP straight to the audio device?

That is a possibility that I'll explore once I get to that stage. But since the input channels device and output channels are embedded with the same USB cable (in my case), it is likely easier using CamillaDSP as an off-board aux mixer; and using VB Audio Matrix as the main "mixing board" for input and output.

That said, in the case of the other person, they may simply be able to go from Tidal > CamillaDSP > Output device and not even need VB Audio Matrix in the first place. But again, I have no experience (yet) with CamillaDSP.

 

[userPaul]

from the chart, it works through a consistent process.

Spoiler: camiladsp_chart