Outboard EQ

Hi,

Some of you may have seen my thread about the PMC AML1 active speakers.

Recently I have gone from a 'more traditional' home audio system to one that uses pro audio kit i.e. Benchmark USB DAC1 into active studio monitor speakers. I am totally convinced computer playback using pro audio kit seriously out performs my previous set-up at a fraction of the cost!!

My interest in studio kit got me looking at outboard EQ's such as the Rupert Neve 5033:

http://rupertneve.com/products/portico-5033/

Now this is a theoritical question(s); can such an EQ be set up for each channel left and right coming out of my DAC1 (I guess you would need 2 Neve EQ's) and if so what would be the advantages? Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Monty

Not sure about the price on that but you can get something like a 31 slider DBX unit for about $200 which is stereo. I have one and don't use it. I think mine is 15 or 20 sliders per channel, never hooked it up because -

a) why do you really need one

b) are you willing to have the signal processed by one of those gizmos!

Now if you really need it then it might be perfect.

I would steer clear of these boxes, but that's just me. I don't see any advantage to using them.

Maybe you can go into a little detail about what you're hoping to achieve by using one. Then us anti-EQ people might be able to help :-)

What I would be trying to achieve is to reduce a touch of bass and increase some mid-range frequencies.

Monty

Don't those have some built in EQ control already?

I'd fiddle a lot with placement and maybe some room treatment to reduce the bass before I put an inline EQ in there. I think it will ultimately add some noise.

There are some pros who prefer analog eq to digital, which is fine, but they are, quite literally, saying that they prefer the coloration that all of that analog signal processing adds to the signal chain. If you are in that camp, I'm not sure you'll do much better. But digital is better, IMO. It would be in the chain in front of your DAC one, altering the volume data for specific frequencies. It won't be in your analog signal chain at all. And if anyone who does not have a perfect room wants to understand why one would use such a box, plug something like this into your system...

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0101/behringer8024.htm

Plug a microphone into it, hang the mic a few inches above your listening position, then leave the room while it generates pink noise and tunes your speakers (separate eq for each) to a flat response.

The purpose will become clear. Quite literally. It won't improve your imaging or extension or resolution (well it will, somewhat, but only as a result of getting imbalance out of the way), but it will do more for the balance of your system than a $40,000 amp.

EQ won't work miracles, though. You still need to have a reasonably well set-up listening space (glass walls, tiled floors, etc. are hard to overcome). But I think most of us would be shocked at the horrid, fidelity-killing dead spots and spikes we'd find if we analyzed our rooms.

Tim

The only *real* advantage that I can think of for adding Neve -or any other brand -'channel strips' would be for the purpose of recording. I don't believe that the need for that level of perfection (and stylization) in EQ is needed for playback of already EQ'd material. That could just be my ears though. I will agree that something like 5% (maybe more) of the prerecorded stuff out there needs 'something', but for me, the EQ in iTunes, or other apps, gets that to an acceptable place most of the time. When that or the hardware EQ's that I have don't get the job done, I've found that the real fix to the problem would have been on a specific track, or tracks, of the master recording - maybe the engineer didn't have access to a Neve.. -. A broad band, two channel approach won't fix it. I don't see any real justification for the expense of the Neve unless you are recording instruments or voice. You might do better service to your bank account and ears by trying to find better releases of the material that frustrates you.

markr

2¢ now spent

Once again guys - thanks for taking the time to reply.

My question was hypothetical. Yes you are able to tune the EQ on a PMC AML1, but I was interested to hear if an outboard EQ would work?

I think markr's comments about spending my cash on better and more material is great advice, after all I got off the home audio upgrade treadmill and into computer/pro audio in order to that!

Thanks,

Monty

... for a great addition to your library, I would absolutely recommend the new Walter Becker release. I am totally amazed at the quality that is easily apparent upon listening to 'tha dang thing'. The fact that it is 'only' at 16/44.1 resolution is just ...... well a total mystery to me and a testament to hard work paying off. If you like popular music, spend some of what you saved by not buying the Neve on Walter's excellent new release: Circus Money. You won't feel like a 'mark' for doing it.

markr

mark,

I already have it and it is amazing! Great recommendation to others on here.

Monty

... at the risk of beating a dead horse: "Go Walter.... Go Walter...."

...its a god's-eye view....