Speaker EQ, Full Range or Bass Only (with Poll)

[Chrispy]

FWIW when I see DRC I keep thinking Dynamic Range Compression as it's been so widely used rather than Digital Room Correction. In my only 2ch system I use analog tone control fwiw, thought about using a minidsp in there but rarely use that system.

 

[Newman]

I think it’s important (or at least useful) to separate the terms “speaker EQ” and “room correction”.

The thing we usually hear warnings about, and with good reason, is running room correction software full-range.

Hence the general suggestion: limit the room correction software to below 300 or 500 Hz, and apply speaker equalisation manually (and in a well-informed way) above that range.

cheers

 

[Deleted member 58670]

None of the options in the poll fit my setup.

I run fullrange multichannel speaker EQ, and room correction EQ below 500 Hz, all set up manually.

 

[Sal1950]

FWIW when I see DRC I keep thinking Dynamic Range Compression as it's been so widely used rather than Digital Room Correction. In my only 2ch system I use analog tone control fwiw, thought about using a minidsp in there but rarely use that system.

Good point Chrispy, I'll keep it in mind going forward.

None of the options in the poll fit my setup.

I run fullrange multichannel speaker EQ, and room correction EQ below 500 Hz, all set up manually.

I did give some thought to offering other options but there are so many variations available and didn't want to get things too confusing.
I mainly focused on the feelings over doing FR and phase/timing corrections to the above Schroeder range.
Some viewed the upper ranges as holy and shouldn't be touched, others "no holes barred".
We all seem to be learning some lessons here, thanks friends

I'll keep my ear tuned for further possible investigations.

 

[Waxx]

It's true that above the schroeder frequency you need to be more carefull and look at the acoustics of the room. But when done right it can be a lot better than without eq because no speaker is perfect. In general your eq above the schroeder will be more subtile, while below you will use bigger cuts and boosts (altough boosts don't work to deal with room modes). And always check your eq (measure it) from different angles to the speaker after setting it.

I usse a MiniDSP Flex for that, but no dirac (manual correction on measurements with FIR and IIR filters). I learned how to program dsp's from very experienced pro audio people where ARC did not exist yet at that time. And altough the setting is very different, the general principles and work method stays the same. I don't feel the need for an automated room correction, i got it quiet right without it, and more control on how the eq is set like that. The speaker is also diy in design and build and i use the MiniDSP also as crossover for it.

But every situation (speaker, room, ...) is different, in other setups i did use DIRAC as it worked better for that setup. Sometimes only untill the schroeder frequency, other times fullrange. Manual room correction is not easy, so if you don't have at least some experience with it, DIRAC and similar systems are a lot better than you will do manually.

 

[Sal1950]

But every situation (speaker, room, ...) is different, in other setups i did use DIRAC as it worked better for that setup. Sometimes only untill the schroeder frequency, other times fullrange. Manual room correction is not easy, so if you don't have at least some experience with it, DIRAC and similar systems are a lot better than you will do manually.

Excellent thoughts and reply @Waxx !
We know many of our members are very advanced audiophiles and are fully capable of exceeding what any "automated" system.
One of the big reasons for this thread was to find out which path the individual members have taken. I considered some other options in
the poll to better focus the question but the consideration led to a continual adding of if, ands, or buts, that would have been a mess.
I am surprised at learning how many with ears I respect are using the Dirac and Audyssey full range and love the results. But certainly near
none have just run the automation and left it at that. Most like myself then measure the results with REW and go back to manually tweak, maybe
a few times, so what we end up with is a "preference" based correction.
In this modern world of DRC we can all learn from our friends approach to move the goal posts forward.
TIA, Sal

 

[Newman]

Sal, it's worth giving this a thorough read: https://aes2.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=17839

Cheers

 

[Sal1950]

Sal, it's worth giving this a thorough read: https://aes2.org/publications/elibrary-page/?id=17839

Cheers

Thanks bud, I'll give it a go.

 

[Chrispy]

Excellent thoughts and reply @Waxx !
We know many of our members are very advanced audiophiles and are fully capable of exceeding what any "automated" system.
One of the big reasons for this thread was to find out which path the individual members have taken. I considered some other options in
the poll to better focus the question but the consideration led to a continual adding of if, ands, or buts, that would have been a mess.
I am surprised at learning how many with ears I respect are using the Dirac and Audyssey full range and love the results. But certainly near
none have just run the automation and left it at that. Most like myself then measure the results with REW and go back to manually tweak, maybe
a few times, so what we end up with is a "preference" based correction.
In this modern world of DRC we can all learn from our friends approach to move the goal posts forward.
TIA, Sal

I use Audyssey in two of three systems where that's an option. Only one has the editor app option. Rooms vary quite a bit. Another system use just a very basic avr with no particular program let alone digital eq. Time I spend in each room varies, but I think they're well setup for purpose/my taste but tend to do measurements only in the two most used setups. Haven't done Dirac but none are Dirac capable otoh. Reference indeed is one thing, preference another.

 

[Audionaut]

Basically, in order to achieve a good result with EQ, the loudspeaker itself must also contain chassis material that can be adjusted via EQ, because inferior chassis do not lead to convincing results even with EQ.

I measure and construct most of my speakers myself and use Hypex amplifiers with a built-in crossover and DSP.

But even passive crossovers are nothing more than a frequency and impedance adjustment BEFORE the amplifier, which most people overlook.

For me, EQ, whether implemented afterwards with passive loudspeakers or implemented with active loudspeakers, has been a normality at home for many years, just as it has been for decades with professional sound systems, which have to adapt to different sound situations and rooms.

I also use mini DSP at home, the Behringer DEQ2496 for quick tuning to the listening position and recently also the DEQ of the WIIM Ultra, which I find very practical for correcting headphones and for quick switching.

So, yes, EQ for many situations, many speakers and headphones. Depending on my mood, because this is also important for my listening experience. Personally, I listen differently when I consciously want to hear a mistake or an improvement during the day, or in the evening with a glass of Rare Breed in front of the fireplace when I want to relax.

 

[dedobot]

Yes sadly "you just can't fix stupid" pops up everywhere. LOL
The ability to make massive improvements also comes with the ability to make a massive disaster.
Some folks are just much better off with a plug-n-play Sonos.
I'm sure you offered this guy as much assistance as possible over the huge distances involved.
Being fair, since the demise of the brick and mortar dealers most people are just completely left to their devices. At least in the old days
if you had a good local dealer and showed your ignorance you might get offered the option of some level of support. Good thing we at least have
the internet today and might be able to gain some knowledge if your willing to put in the effort. Many (most?) just aren't.

Isle of skye !!!
Let's not judge the customer too harshly...with so much quality whiskey around, I wouldn't have found the bass knob too

Quite I am sure I have mentioned the Kii Three/BXT speakers I had shipped all the way to The isle of Skye ( about as far away as one can get over here) the customer said they give him an instant headache.
When they returned I discovered that he had effectively turned the bass off.
The Kii distributor doesn’t even tell his retailers that the Kiis have peq!
Keith

Isle of skye !!!
With so much quality whiskey around, I would mess the things too

 

[Sal1950]

Isle of skye !!!

Never knew there was such a place until Keith posted this.
I had to use Gaagle to find out where it was. LOL

 

[Purité Audio]

There are loads of them Sal, ‘Fetlar’ for example has a current population of a whopping 61.
Skye is massive in comparison.10k!
Keith

 

[Sal1950]

There are loads of them Sal, ‘Fetlar’ for example has a current population of a whopping 61.
Skye is massive in comparison.10k!
Keith

I pray neither has nuclear capabilities . LOL

 

[Doodski]

I pray neither has nuclear capabilities . LOL

LoL... That is an ally, the Scots... Nothing to fear there unless you annoy them majorly. RFLMAO.

 

[Purité Audio]

I really like this banner from a Scotland versus Russia football game in the 1970’s

 

[Smaestro]

Should we correct to Schroder, or full range?

I would like to gather opinions from ASR members as to whether we should apply room correction to the Schroder frequency, or whether we should do full range correction from 20Hz - 20kHz. There appear to be two schools of thought: - Correction to Schroder: aims to only correct bass peaks and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Jaxjax]

I for the life of me can't get curtain wall to work for me in my room. I try ... then click to my full range filters & then I'm happy. I think my room just totally sucks & maybe my speakers too. It's the same when I use a Elysia Xfilter. Cuttin up top just works for me in my no carpet/left speaker jamb'd in corner nightmare...

 

[pablolie]

I'd like to start a general discussion on the topic of Speaker EQ.
As I posted elsewhere, I find it very curious why full range EQ is totally accepted in the headphone world, while only bass range (below Schroeder) EQ gets wide acceptance for speakers?
Whether done with DRC applications or free-hand using different types of analog hardware/software, I oft been very confused on the subject.
I've read opinions from folks I respect on both sides of the issue and thought it'd be interesting to throw the question up here for general discussion.
TIA Sal

I'd like to add my response was full 2 channel but it's really 2.1. I used the tools to place the sub and optimize the xover frequency.

 

[theREALdotnet]

View attachment 425863I really like this banner from a Scotland versus Russia football game in the 1970’s

Had the Scots done a little research they'd have realised how spectacularly this banner misses the mark. Russia's (or rather the Soviet Union's) stance would of course have been: Alcoholism AND communism