Decent quality, inexpensive equalizer?

[rinogo]

Hey, everyone!

I'm new to the forum, so please excuse any poor assumptions I may make... I recently purchased a DTA-1 T amp and have paired it with two Polk Monitor40's. For the low end, I have a Polk PSW505 (perhaps overkill ). As you probably know, most T-amps don't have an equalizer - the only control mechanism is the volume pot. So, I'm looking for a way to shape the sound a bit.

I think what I need is a decent quality and inexpensive equalizer to pass the input through before it hits the T-amp. I can always tweak the EQ on my computer/iPhone/etc, but I'd like to be able to swap my iPhone out for a friend's without having to mess with the software-based equalizer.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks!
-Rich

 

[slipperybidness]

You will probably open the floodgates with such a request. On this forum, EQ is generally frowned upon. Personally, I don't really get it. The general consensus is that you want no processing or EQ whatsoever.

My opinion is that at home I am the DJ and therefore I use my judgement to make the music sound the best and the way I like it, not necessarily how the original sound mixer liked it. Also, it seems to me that equalizers are almost a thing of the past, you rarely see them in home theaters or cars any more.

On my older stereo system, for music only, I use an AudioSource. It is not audiophile by any means. It does, however fit your request for "decent equalizer and not too expensive". It does the job and has pretty good build quality. I bought it new probably 10yrs ago at Radio Shack for $100. I see them on Amazon, but the new one is about 2x what I would pay for it.

Amazon.com: AudioSource EQ200 10-Band Stereo Graphic Equalizer: Electronics

I'm sure you can find one on Ebay. It may also be worth looking for a used Technics. Probably dirt cheap.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

How ’bout a first-class inexpensive EQ? The Yamaha YDP2006 parametric EQ is one of the finest EQs ever made, IMO. Absolutely pristine sonics. If you’re patient you can find them on eBay for $150 or less (try to get one from a permanent installation, not one that was used as a rental unit or in a touring rack). Not bad for an EQ that originally listed in the $2000 range. It’s a stereo unit with six parametric filters per channel. If you don’t need that kind of precision, you can set Filters #1 and #6 for shelving, which will let them operate as common bass and treble controls like receivers have.

You can read more about the YDP2006 here, here, and here.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt