Is the Rives Audio Parc an audiophile component

Adding to Greg's post, I have a friend who has a system including Dynaudio Evidence Masters, Levinson 33 monos and the Levinson 32 pre and top of the line digital. He can hear every change to a component, cable, power cord, you name it, in that system. He's been trying out a Parc, and is very seriously impressed--to his ears, there's only improvement, and it's sonically not present in the chain (save for the obvious equalization it does, of course). The biggest difference he's noticed is how much more open and transparent the lower midrange became once the bass peaks were attenuated; and this in a system that sounded pretty damn good to begin with. He's got me seriously considering trying one out in my system as well.

The last two points are pretty much correct at pointing out alternatives to the Parc; however, having a much-used analog source, a DSD source and a digital source with a D/A converter that I far prefer over those in other units, I welcome the thought of a transparent analog equalization device in my system over a device that converts analog to digital and back again. Even with a pcm digital-based system, you have to weigh the undeniable benefits of the room correction against the use of an ADA converter that may not be as good as the digital converter you're using. Fortunately, if you have a tape loop in your preamp you can easily do some A/B comparisons to satisfy yourself on this point.