Removing the fan from a pro amp.

[WmAx]

If you have virtually perfectly flat/neutral speakers, then an EQ would be almost entirely pointless, with the exception that you like to hear something other than the performance, but I like to keep it real.

Very few people have experienced *neutral* playback. Even if the speaker's frequency response is flat on axis, this does not address off axis response and room interaction, nor does it address timbre coloration due to cabinet resonance(s). I doubt that many people would really enjoy a perfect flat response on most commercial recordings. Do you think most recordings are neutral? It is not even common for most recording engineers to use a linear microphone. Even if they did, their is nothing natural sounding about a close mic recording condition in an isolation booth. Dr. Floyd Toole, as well as other researchers, found that almost all listeners [1]prefer a slightly rolled-off top end, when measured at the listening position.

As for equalizers, a simple slight push of one band might be all that is needed to enhance the experience for any particular person.

-Chris

[1]

 

[Johnny Canuck]

I quite understand that the performer wants us to hear the recording "flat" as that is how it was recorded. However, one person's listening experience is different from anothers. I like bass. I like to feel music, and at the same time, I like nice crisp highs. Also, don't laugh, but one person could have hearing loss as I do. Too much loud music with headphones and earbuds when I was younger has my right ear struggling to hear high frequencies.

I have fooled around with this EQ tonight. I tried the system with and without the EQ. Put in a CD. Pushed play, then while on pause, cranked the volume to max to hear any hiss or hum. Was barely audible on both, only when I put my ear right beside my tweeter. No difference however. So the EQ is not adding noise, if it is, it is inaudible.

I had a Technics 7 band graphic and now I have this 31 band and I can adjust it beautifully. More important for me, while listening to CD's through analog connections. Before, I could not EQ analog, only when listening to a CD digitally through my Denon 3805. My Denon 2910 analogs sound so much sweeter now!!!

 

[Nick250]

Sorry, but this is just a itch that I have to scratch.

First, what does flat mean? It means that over the entire audible frequency spectrum there aren't any variations in decibels at any given frequency. Now say you have some very flat responce speakers and a very good recording. If you leave the tonal controls and the EQ alone, then you should get the closest possible representation of the original performance, assuming your room is properly set-up. If you tamper with the bass then you have just changed what the original performance sounds like. The Polk RTi 12 speakers are very good speakers, and should have a fairly relaxed and neutral sound, and a pretty flat responce.

I am not saying that an EQ isn't good at all, just that most audiophiles see no need for such a device, just another detriment to the signal path as they say. Some people like to have more bass, and an EQ can help with that, having more than normal bass.

If you have virtually perfectly flat/neutral speakers, then an EQ would be almost entirely pointless, with the expeption that you like to hear something other than the performance, but I like to keep it real.

Seth, you have posted a lot recently and have had a lot of good, useful stuff to say. However sometimes it seems to me you have been brainwashed by the audiophile goon squad. There are no "perfectly flat/neutral speakers" nor are there any "perfectly flat/neutral rooms" within which these speakers sit. The only way to "keeping it real" as possible is to put room treatments in place where needed and then EQ the room to correct for anything the treatments were unable to fix. As for those audiophiles, if they want to ignore the empirical evidence, good luck to them.

Nick

 

[Seth=L]

Brainwashed, nah., I just don't like EQ's and as I said they can be good for some people. I don't claim to have a flat sounding system, though I try, but I like to listen to speakers they way they were made to sound, you pick speakers that you like and other components that you like and that is that. I am just saying the equalizers aren't for everyone, even among audiophiles.

 

[WmAx]

I quite understand that the performer wants us to hear the recording "flat" as that is how it was recorded.

Since when is it a standard to record anything 'flat'? Even most popular studio recording microphones are not in any way flat. This is not even getting into the mic placement/distance and E.Q. that is done in the mixing/mastering stage(s)....

-Chris

 

[Johnny Canuck]

When we daid "flat" we meant as it was recorded. Obviously the recording studio uses EQ's. The poster's comments were to say he listened to the recording as it was meant to be heard, not adjusted by the consumer with EQ's. I think anyways.

 

[JoeE SP9]

I'm with Seth+L. My preamp has no tone controls and I wouldn't use them if it did. I've worked hard to make my room response as smooth as possible. Being an editor by adjusting an Eq or tone controls for every CD/LP/Tape when listening to music is not the way I want to go. On most CD's the tunes were not recorded at the same time and frequently don't have the same tonal balance. What happens when you start being an editor for every song on every music source?