Equalizer in a Hi Fi system

I was/am interested in the McIntosh MQ112 equalizer.  I saw the Skifiaudio video on this unit and one thing that struck me was internally, the unit incorporates op-amps.

I was looking for a fully discrete unit without op-amps.  

I'm not sure about incorporating op-amps into my system.  According to the video interview, the unit was really intended for McIntosh owners that have older systems without equalizers or tone controls.

I'm still thinking about this one.

enjoy

@minorl   I went to Skyfi audio and purchased this a few months ago. I told him what I had in my audio system. My system is ARC Ref 750s mono blocks. ARC Ref 6SE. ARC Ref CD9. B&W Matrix 800s. Mac MQ112 eq. Straightwire Crescendo tri wired speaker cables and XLR interconnects. 4 Audioquest Dragon PCs. 2) HC and 2 Source. This Mac MQ 112 is phenomenal. It’s just exactly what I needed to tame the high frequencies and not so good cd recording. I can’t recommend this MQ 112 enough. It’s an awesome unit that also looks beautiful with all my ARC gear. That was also very important to me as I did not want anything industrial looking. With or without mounting brackets. 

Okay, that's a pretty darn good system.  

Thank you for the recommendation.  I was concerned with adding op-amps to the signal path, but hmmmmm, might be worth a try.  

Thanks much

enjoy

vacountryboy It's very simple. Just take a look at your audiogram printout. It will show what frequencies you are deficient in on each ear as well as the decibel loss.

Then just find an equalizer that covers those frequencies and boost those frequencies by the same number of decibels to match the deficiencies on the printout, while leaving the remaining bands centered (not boosted or cut).

I added a McIntosh MQ112 to my system last night. Between a Benchmark HPA4 and AHB2. So far, so good. The intention is to use it more or less like a loudness button. I had a Dangerous Music BAX EQ for a few weeks, but one of the switches developed a problem. (Returned to Sweetwater for refund.) Apart from that, I can recommend the D. M. BAX EQ, especially for its separate controls for L and R channels. And the fact that (apart from the low and high cut filters), it is a shelving EQ. So why not try another D. M.? Fair question. I don't have a great answer. I did try an SPL Vitalizer after the D. M. Lots of fun. Might be worth a try. At low volumes, worries about "high fidelity" seem a bit ridiculous to me, if pushed too far. The SPL has a hard bypass. I don't recall if the D. M. does and I haven't experimented yet with whether signal passes through the McIntosh with it powered off. Again, though, I have no complaints yet about the MQ 112. It was between it and an API 5500. (Allegedly hard/true bypass also.) Could have gone either way. And I might still.