BuzzedHornet said:
Chris,
Yes I love the look of the 802's as well. They are sexy as hell. They just never had the deep impact that I like. At first when you mentioned EQ I did in fact think of a standard 10 band type EQ and there is now way I would introduce that into my system. However a EQ / Crossover idea apeals to me. It would be much easier to "sell" the wife on the B&W's over the Wilson box look.
I would shudder at the thought of adding a regular E.Q., as well.
Since my first post I have learned about the new 802D. I buddy of mine in the industry says the B&W 802D sounds like a completely new speaker. He thinks I will like the sound a bunch better than the N802's. So I may get away without an EQ.
Here's the deal: No matter how it sounds, you can always improve response with a PROPER E.Q.. Realize, that merely with distance difference of a few feet, the high frequency response is altered. You can compensate precisely with a precision device such as the DCX. Also, you may find that subtle adjustments, using a shelf filter, for example, can be used to effectively adjust to your preference(s).
Here is an example of precision, it can alter so minutely that it is inaudible difference from reference, or as extreme as is needed:
You can specify Q of 0.1-10 for paramateric filters at any frequency between 20-20,000Hz and you can choose shelf filters of 6 or 12dB/octave rate, with a precision of 0.1dB. You can apply E.Q. seperately to each of the 6 outputs and additionally to the 3 inputs. The E.Q. and other parameters are rediculously easy to modify in real-time, using the software GUI. I recommend conncecting a computer to the DCX during setup to make things easy. It connects with a standard serial cable.
The unit also has delay functions for each channel, crossover functions(from 6db/octave to 48db/octave with a mulititude of transfer functions) for each channel. The device also has a dynamic E.Q. function, which can be set to compensate for woofer non-linearity. That is, as power level is increased to the woofer and it's mechanical behavior changes, you can, with appropriate data to work from, tune in parameters to retain a linear acoustic transfer function at varying power levels. Alternatively, you can use it as a safeguard mechanism to limit power levels in certain bands at high power levels.
You'll also need a way to reduce room induced resonances at the seating position. This device, in combination with a measuring system to obtain frequency response graphs, can be used to reduce and/or eliminate such problems.
Do you know if you can audition the EQ you are speaking of? Does it take a engineer to set up? If it is something I can set up with my RTA and I can give it a test run, it would be fun to check out.
You can check out local pro audio stores. They may carry the device. Otherwise, you can use a company such as
http://www.zzounds.com whom allows a 45 day evaluation of a product with full refund privelages.
The Behringer DCX2496 was $400 USD, but recently(within the last 2 weeks) Behringer dropped the price to $250USD. I fully realize that this price seems to good to be true. I agree. However, this device is a superb piece of gear, and uses the same standard hi-quality components as studio recording equipment. I can find no faults with the device's performance. It adds no noise, distortion or other artifacts to the signal. It only modifies and/or splits the signal as it is instructed.
The new 802D has a new 1st order tweeter crossover that just smokes, so I don't know if I want to change that.
The DCX does not cause change the signal in any way except as you instruct it to.
Here is an example. Target response specified in GUI vs. actual measured responseas(ignore the little squiggles in the actual response at low frequency section of chart, this is a product of the measurement method i used, not the DCX) from the DCX's analog output:
The device does exactly as you instruct.
-Chris
