Go get out your pitchforks, I’ve done a sacrilegious thing. . .


. . . I’ve added an EQ!

A Loki Max to be exact - and so far, I love it!

I believe in the purist approach for the most part, and I have a main system that that’s all about, but this system, this is my fun house system, but my room acoustics are not great in my living room.  But that doesn’t mean I want crap sound in it either. The wife won’t let me treat the room, but frankly, that isn’t even the main reason I did it. 

The system is basically Klipsch Forte III’s, Balanced Audio VX 3ix pre-amp, ARC balanced V35 tube amp, Bifrost 2 DAC getting sound from a Marantz ND8006 streamer.  I put the EQ between the DAC and the preamp.

It’s dead quiet, and I can’t discern the difference in bypass mode either. 
 

I figured it’s was a lot easier, and cheaper, to add this one component and get the exact sound I want versus going through a bunch of cables or changing out other equipment. 

Soundstage is great, and there doesn’t paper to be any aberrations, but keep in mind this isn’t the most reveling system, another reason I wasn’t too worried about adding an EQ.

All in all, a good investment and make my music more enjoyable!

 

 

last_lemming

What are some of the settings that you are using? 

Boosting bass and treble for low volume listening?

Rolling off the top end?

Boosting the midrange for added warmth?

I've got 2 8024 Behringers...one 'listens' to the room while the other corrects for it.  Both digital, both leave no trace of being in the path.

But I'm one of those heretics' that believe fancy cables are just esoteric eq....*L* 

I’ve used equalizers for room correction. I’ve settled on a couple Rane ME60s for two of my systems. They do the job -- 30 sliders per channel at 1/3 octave intervals. Great pro build quality with minimal unwanted impact on sound quality.

@last_lemming 

I was drawn to your post to see what responses you promoted.

However, your comment "It’s dead quiet, and I can’t discern the difference in bypass mode either." has me confused. Please can you provide clarification?

As an early Loki enthusiast I have 2 of 'em (original and "+"). Great and absolutely transparent bit of gear, one for my TV rig and another for headphones and general EQ when needed in my main hifi system. Although the "Max" isn't cheap I bet it's fun to sit there and remote control things...note I also have Heresy IIIs (better mids than the IVs I had for a couple of months) and a Bifrost II.

The high and mighty types looking down their noses at those using EQ are pathetic. Do what makes your system sound how you want it to sound and what fits in your budget. Ignore the snobs, they're part of what's wrong with this hobby.

I'm not at all surprised you're being ostracized. In fact I wouldn't expect anything else.

Personally I prefer this approach over Audyssey, Dirac and other room correction options that compromise sound quality.

Six bands are not going to be narrow enough to tame the those pesky peaks.

Play white noise or a sweep tone with a quality microphone and use an analytical app to see how the frequency response is being changed.

@last_lemming 

Based on your outcome it seems both a wise and very cost effective solution. Congratulations.

Charles

On another forum I read that attaching pennies to the knobs helps stabilize the soundstage.  There was a heated debate of BluTack vs. Gorilla Glue.

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