Frequency response: how important is it with EQ?

[V.b.]

How important is FR in a speaker if you have EQ? Shouldn't distortion and directivity be considered more when choosing speakers?

 

[ElJaimito]

IMHO - and in studio not domestic context - it's best to start with the flattest response feasible. That is, minimal deviations. If the overall response is a slope down to HF then that is less important than deviations from that line, but I like to start with a Neumann-style flat response. In room EQ it is generally better to cut than to boost, or you are eating into headroom margins. So starting out flat is a good start. Yes, distortion is a very good thing to minimise too, see not boosting! Directivity is different IMO. In a studio context I want controlled directivity. In a domestic context the arguments may differ, but the purposes differ too. In practice most units where the FR has been optimised will also have optimised distortion, as the two are inter-dependent to quite a degree.

 

[olieb]

Shouldn't distortion and directivity be considered more when choosing speakers?

Yes. You can always EQ "on axis" or "listening window" or "predicted in room" or "power response" but only one of those. The rest will follow and so it is about the relationship of those. And about the listening room of course.

 

[Holmz]

How important is FR in a speaker if you have EQ?

Less important… but if one does not have EQ, then what?

… Shouldn't distortion and directivity be considered more when choosing speakers?

There is also time domain response.
Basically all these things are in opposition and compromises are conjured to weight them.
(Cost being one as well.)

 

[amper42]

EQ is a valuable tool that can help any speaker sound better if the user understands how to properly implement it. However, if you have a fairly flat speaker frequency response already with beautiful bass like the Revel F228Be or F328Be, using the RME ADI-2 DAC FS "Loudness" feature can take your music to a whole new level.

So yeah, EQ can usually improve the sound of any speaker but it's no replacement for a flat FR AND properly implemented EQ. Using a fine tuned Loudness control can also achieve the elusive function of getting speakers to sound their absolute best at any volume level which is no small task.

 

[DVDdoug]

If you have to boost certain frequencies too much, you'll end-up driving the amplifier or speaker into distortion. That's a common problem with bass from small speakers... If you have a 5-inch woofer, no amount of EQ is going to give you bass you can feel in your body... It's actually a problem with most speakers if you try to extend the bass.

 

[Chr1]

I think that with modern EQ options, lack of distortion is much more important. I realised several years ago that for me, amps and speakers that play clean at volume was a more important starting point.
FR can be corrected with EQ easily .

 

[Bjorn]

If you EQ in listening position you're in danger of adding a lot phase distortion with the result of very unnatural and poor sound.

The reason for that is that most of the room response isn't minimum phase, so any EQ of such a response will alter the phase because the phase doesn't follow.

 

[Oddball]

I do have pretty good speakers, but without EQ would just throw them into a nearby river in the moment of dispare. I do agree that directivity and distortion are probably more important, but would not take speakers that don't have a flat-ish frequency response as well.