DEQX


I’m very new to this. I read several posts concerning deqx, but am still confused and wonder if it’s for me. To all who have first hand experience, pls give me your thoughts and experiences. I was mainly looking for a room correction device, but see the new model “5” has all I need to stream. My son has been trying to get me to try streaming, but I have resisted. Looks like this may be a good reason to incorporate it into my sources. From what I’ve read, seems like a very complicated set-up procedure. Also, where would it be placed in my system? I have a TT, CD player, a phono stage, line stage and two monoblocks. Last question: since I do not stream, will a laptop also be needed?  BTW-I have Wilson MaxxII’s. It seemed in the posts, it mattered a great deal, which speaker you’re using.
handymann

Showing 5 responses by astewart8944

@handymann Larry is a wizard. During your test period Larry can allow you to hear the DEQX in different configurations so you can figure out which one best suits you. I will be surprised if you don't end up keeping the unit when the 21 days is over. Larry setup my system and I use both an external DAC and an external preamp. It works like a charm.
Regards
Al
@handymann  Hi Steve: FWIW I wouldn't run my system in any other way. The chain goes like this: Antipodes DX3 music server=>via Purist Audio Design 25th Ann. 1.5M USB=>DEQX Premate =>via Stealth Vardig 16T Sextet 1.5M SPDIF=>Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC=>via Cardas Clear Beyond XLR=>Jeff Rowland Corus Pre=>via Cardas Clear Beyond XLR=>Jeff Rowland M925 mono amps=>via 3.5M Cardas Clear Beyond speaker cables=>Joseph Audio Perspectives. All Cardas Clear Beyond and Beyond XL power cords. Three Shunyata Denali 6000S power conditioners (one each for the monos) and one for the digital chain. The 6000S units are plugged into the wall with Shunyata Sigma NR PCs. The PSU (JR's DC power supply for Aeris+Corus) plugs straight into the wall. It acts as its own power conditioner. I also have the DEQX directly feed stereo REL R-328 subwoofers. Bottom line is that the DEQX internal Pre and DAC can't compete with the Rowland Aeris+Corus+PSU combination. So, I basically use the DEQX to properly cross-over my subwoofers and, most importantly, to provide room correction and time correction of the signal to the principal listening position. Before I had the DEQX, I considered my SQ to be very good. After the DEQX addition, I attended AXPONA, listened to lots of rooms and didn't enter one of them that was near my system's price point that I thought came close to the synergy in my music room. The DEQX (and Larry) made a substantial positive difference. I consider it one of the most important contributions to my system's SQ, and it is one of the least expensive pieces in the chain. As I said earlier, I doubt you will be disappointed. I hope I have completely answered your question.
Regards
Al 
@handymann 
Hi Steve: I haven't heard any of your equipment so I'm not a good sounding board on that front. But, I wouldn't sell anything until you give Larry a shot at running some setups for you. He can run a profile with the Miles straight into the DEQX and then one inserting whatever equipment you want in the chain. You will have to switch out the cabling for him since he does it remotely, but you get a free setup and Larry will take all the time it takes to get you to the sound you prefer. He will have an educated opinion on your options and best combinations. He has set up thousands of systems using the DEQX in many combinations. In some instances the DEQX is the premium piece of equipment going into the system. In others, it is not. Larry doesn't care one way or the other. He will set it up so that the curve is correct and then let you hear the setups and compare them to each other. Once you do that, I'll bet you will know exactly what you want to sell and what you want to keep.
Hope this helps
Al
@handymann My pleasure, Steve. I will be interested in hearing how it turns out for you. I watched my computer screen as Larry did his magic for me. He let me ask him any question I wanted while he worked. It was a great learning experience and he made my system sound much better than I did on my own.
Regards
Al
@handymann I'm a big proponent of running what you already own and taking stock of how it sounds before spending more money. Several A'goners strictly adhere to 1.5 meter SPDIF cables. And I confess that I only buy 1.5 meter SPDIF cables. But, I have run a long (I think it was 10 feet but I could be mistaken) SPDIF cable that came with my Jeff Rowland Aeris DAC. I thought it sounded really good. When I decided to try and move the system up a notch, I went with a new 1.5 meter SPDIF cable. I think it made a lot of positive difference--my sound wasn't broken before at all. But, the specific SPDIF mattered to my ears. And BTW not every change I have tried has made a material difference to me.
Regards
Al