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Using a Studio EQ for Vinyl playback

I’ve never understood the audiophile aversion to EQ..... especially having simple good tone controls on a preamp. Sadly... most tone controls really do sound bad. But unless you plan to play exclusively audiophile pressings, I feel some EQ is essential to really enjoy popular music. Since my preamp does NOT have tone controls, I have used several different studio quality EQ’s between my phono pre and main preamp. (....no, NOT graphic eqs) Having this control has never failed to increase my enjoyment of sub-par records. So why is EQUALISER such a bad word in audiophile circles??

Most studio EQs are dual channel. You have to tweak both channels separately, and it’s a bit cumbersome. There are a few that are stereo program EQs with one set of controls for both channels. I’ve recently discovered one that is working very well for me... The Vintage Audio M3D ($1300). It’s a 6 band EQ with VERY wide bell curves, and thus minimal phase shift. It has a true bypass, so it’s really out of the path when bypassed. The downside for home audio is that it runs at +4dB levels, and has balanced XLR connectors. I’ve forged ahead and use it anyway, and it’s working well for me. The noise floor is still lower than that of my phono pre (a Parasound JC3, with XLR outs) so that just means I have a ridiculous amount of headroom. I’ve made my own -10dB pad cables to convert the balanced output to RCA and it’s working great. A simple adapter will not work with the M3D.

Great pressings don’t need EQ, but older popular music pressings benefit greatly from some EQ.   Isn’t that what it’s all about? Making the music more enjoyable??
mirolab

Showing 3 responses by chakster

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
If you need an EQ in high-end system then something wrong with the system, normally in a very well balanced system you will forget about knobs and disappear in the music with a smile on your face. Remember that musicians and mastering/cutting engineers already prepared your vinyl media to sound as the master tape which is the reference.

In mediocre system EQ will help to adjust the weakness a bit, but in reference system EQ must be avoided. Normally we can still add different flavour to the music with different cartridges, speakers, cables etc.

Some phono stages comes with different RIAA EQ curves for different vintage records, but all new records must have standard RIAA curve.

I think the main target for audiophiles is neutrality of the audio system, but the EQ is like cooking with too much salt, paper or sugar.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@mirolab

So chakster.... I DO have an excellent system that sounds amazing with well recorded and well mastered recordings. Sorry, but I disagree with you. I have many LPs that do NOT sound great, but have great music on them. (I have around 2500 LPs) Take LPs from the 70’s for example.. funk, jazz, rock, disco.... yeah i said it..... Disco.... (once in a while). Many records were rolled off in the low end to fit more minutes of music on them. They were not mastered for audiophile ears, nor for level of quality of audio systems we have today. THESE records need some help, and CAN sound amazing when the low end is restored, or maybe adding a touch of HF shine. Why should I suffer the mediocre sound of great music that I love?? This is the purist audiophile attitude that I’d like to turn around. (respectfully, of course!)

This is exactly my choice of music, except for the rock! Some original records are bad, but most of them are amazing to my ears, and much better that modern reissues of the music from the 70s. I do not use EQs at home. I just prefet to play well recorded original pressings from the 60s, 70s and early 80s. But i have an option on one of my 3 different phono stages. Gold Note PH-10 - maybe you have to buy that preamp.

6 EQ CURVES TO CHOOSE:
Select between 3 equalisation curves and experience outstanding performances. You will finally be able to switch from the internationally recognised RIAA curve, to the DECCA LONDON or the AMERICAN-COLUMBIA curve, always graphically shown on the front display. And there’s more, because you will also be able to “enhance” each curve with a modern Gold Note proprietary design for superior dynamic and powerful results.




chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Then why don't you just buy a sub or two if its all about bass? 

Different RIAA is just a tone control to make darker records better. 

As for the EQ in general it's old fashioned, remember 70s and 80s hi-fi. Each system contained separate EQ unit back then. 
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