Large speakers plus EQ, what have you done?


Hi Everyone,

I’m hoping to collect experiences from those who have:

1. Large (floor standers) with genuinely deep bass

2. Have EQ’d the speakers, at least through the bass section.

There are many ways to get excellent bass, but please keep OTHER methods off this discussion.  If you use a subwoofer, or bass array, or whatever, this discussion is not about that. I know I’ve recommended some of those ideas myself. I just genuinely want to know who has tried this particular combination and what their experience has been.

This is also not a discussion about what I’m going to buy. Just curious who has done this and how far they feel it got them in terms of integrating the speakers with the room.

Were you satisfied?  Did you end up giving up and doing something else?

 

Thanks!

 

Erik

erik_squires

Hi @toddalin - Every passive crossover is an EQ, but that’s really not what I wanted to discuss especially as most hobbyists aren’t going to mod anything about their passive crossovers.

While we can, generally, adjust the speaker to the room to match output with room gain what we can't really do efficiently is deal with narrow room modes.  I mean, it's possible, but then you end up with a very custom speaker that only works in one place with probably a large extra outlay in parts. 

pickindoug, these eq units are what you need, but they are probably "one-offs" made especially for my "one-off" tri-amped Super Big Reds with their "one-off" electronic crossover. I bought these from a recording studio that went under.

I also have the NS-5000 with a CODA #16 amp and is a really great coherent sound. I do not want to eq anything on this system or add any subs. I have used convolution filters with other systems that were in smaller rooms with different speakers,

I will be buying an open baffle speaker in 2026 that uses multiple 16-inch woofers, and the bass on that speaker is setup using some sort of analog eq. I think there will be 5 Eq settings on the bass. That speaker sounded so good that I am going to get it and flip back and forth with the NS5000. 

Another way I have eq'ed bass is using the services of Mitch Barnett of Accurate Sound CA. His solution works with digital streaming servers such as ROON. I used that with my old Thiel CS3.7 which were in a too small room. I got some genius level convolution filters made by Mitch for that room, speakers, and listening position.

 

I just purchased a White Instruments Model 4856 graphic equalizer. I only set it up Wednesday so I can't say much about my satisfaction with it. I'll be playing with it for a few days. 

I can tell you it's extremely quiet. I tried a Schiit Lokius and found it produced both hiss and hum, so I returned it. The White added no detectable noise. 

White Instruments was in high end studios for decades. I think they are still in business.