Strange behavior

[Briocat]

I have a Surfans F28 DAP with an equalizer that behaves in a way that I find strange. If I vary a frequency band, for example, by increasing 3 dB at 31 Hz or 62 Hz, I notice that it actually changes the level of other frequency bands, therefore the overall sound balance of the music changes. The same thing doesn't happen with the Sony NWA55. Is there an explanation?

 

[JSmith]

I have a Surfans F28 DAP with an equalizer that behaves in a way that I find strange.

It's only a 5-band GEQ, not PEQ. When you boost low frequencies, like 31 Hz, it can influence other neighbouring frequencies because of the wide filtering used by the graphic EQ. This is why the overall sound balance seems to shift.


JSmith

 

[Briocat]

So I have to assume this isn't a flaw with the Surfans. In any case, when I want to listen to equalized music, I prefer the Sony.

 

[Briocat]

At this point, however, I don't understand what advantage the F28's equalizer could have, given that it creates my problem?

 

[DVDdoug]

This is a wild guess...

Most digital files are normalized/maximized for 0dB peaks so they can't be boosted without digital clipping (distortion). When you boost digitally with EQ there is also a risk of clipping, especially if you are playing the audio at "full digital volume". For that reason, may EQ apps have a "preamp" function (normally used to attenuate rather than amplify) to prevent clipping. Usually, it's optional and the attenuation can be adjusted manually but maybe this one is lowering the overall volume automatically.

 

[Chromatischism]

Wide Q filters probably.