Which Digital processor/equalizer ?

Cerrot...The 8024 is obsolete. The 2496 is much better.

Kr4...Although the equalization is done by a 32 bit floating point DSP module in the Behringer 2496, the unit includes excellent A/D and D/A converters, so can be used just fine with analog signals.

"Transparency" is a subjective thing. One should judge for themselves.

And Cerrot...I know it would be difficult to concede that a $300 item could improve a $70,000 system. But, with a $70,000 system the worst element will be your room, and an equalizer of some kind would help.
A grandson of mine imports products from the far east, including some speakers. One model he was selling for something like $50, but there were few sales. He jacked the price up to $200, and now they are selling well! Go figure.

Kr4...Well yes. It probably would apply to the Behringer DEQ2496. Jack the price up to at least $1500, and audiophiles might give the thing a try :-)

Snook2....I heard that Rives is coming out with a new PARC model that will boost as well as cut (like the Behringer).
IMHO, and based on hands-on experience, your 8 dB problem should be easily foxed. Don't forget that the correction could be limited to 4 dB boost by cutting gain over the rest of the range.

By all accounts the PARC is an excellent item. My point is that while the PARC would set you back a few thousand bucks the Behringer would cost about a tenth as much. It would be a good way to find out if the suckout is really impossible to fix, as Rives has told you. Furthermore, the RTA of the Behringer will diagnose your problem easier and better than the SPL meter and Rives CD, which I also have used.

Rodman99999...I guess the ECM8000 mic is not individually calibrated, and absolute SPL measurements might be off. However, the plot of frequency response (typical I suppose) is quite flat down to 50 Hz (where the plot ends) and the frequency response is quoted as 15-20KHx without a +/- dB number. Your suggestion that it falls off fast below 100 Hz does not jibe with my experience, and with results using the RS meter and Rives CD (which many people seem to believe). Where did you get this idea?

Whatever.

Fact is that I and some others find that the autoeq works fine all the way down to 20 Hz. The Behringer manual says it "may" not work well below 100. Perhaps they are worried about room resonances, where placement of the mic might yield various results. Of course each user can try it both ways, and make their own decision.

Rodman99999...
Are you sure you are looking at the right box:-) And, I suppose you know that the RIVES CD has tracks which are, supposedly, compensated for the RS meter.

Since you referenced the plot printed on the ECM8000 box, something objective we can talk about, I took another close look at it. It shows a broad rise of about +1 dB peak over the range from 200 to 50 Hz. Nothing like what you describe. From 200 to something like 14 KHz it's flat +/- 1 dB. There is a rise of about 2 dB at 20 KHz, and then it rolls off. How the mic actually performs is another matter, but you are dead wrong about the plot.

Of course what's printed on the box, or posted on this website is irrelevant. I have had excellent results with the Behringer DEQ2496, and so have many others. The cost is so low that anyone who won't give it a try is foolish.

Rodman99999...Your box is not the same as mine, which shows only one plot.
Use of the Rives CD in conjunction with the ECM8000 suggests to me that the mic is nowhere near as bad as you suggest. For whatever reason, it and the DEQ2496 make a great improvement to my two systems.

But I agree with you that the RTA is worth the price. I bought the thing for the RTA to back up the Rives CD/RS meter approach. The benefit of room correction was a pleasant suprise. I have suggested that people buy it for the RTA, and discover room eq for themselves.