I know this is heresy, but...

audiophiles. Actually I don't know how many people have said that.

The amount of destruction caused by the DEQ 2496 compared to the good it's capable of is negligable. After 35 years in the hobby I think I have a handle on what's important and what is not important to me. Many others seem to agree.

I've been told by others that my system is of the best they've ever heard. It is the best I've ever heard:)

Shadorne, good catch... Yeah I would bet fact is the richness and harmonic resonance of vinyl is in fact part of the whole equation.. However I have been lucky as of recent to find the miracle of room acoustics, I just treated my whole room with Killer results! Digital sounds nearly just as smooth, not all recordings hit rock bottom, but more of the panels I add keeps getting the room deeper and deeper in the gut region. Now of course you can overdue it, and I am done adding panels, very excellent balance, However I will probably get some of the little foam corner wedges to run along the long part of the ceiling soon cutting off that one major 90 degree angle left over.

As for balance, My Digital and Analog sources come SUPER close now, some albums show very rich bass, but the Cd's that are done low compete very well now too. Also for a good solid dose of analog bass in a digital system, I can't recommend Highly enough of giving a Cardas Digital cable a shot, this is the most analog I have heard CD since getting a hold of one for the Coax digital duties.

Acoustics". That is my opinion also. A major transformation is often possible. Glad to hear of someone else enjoying their system in a good acoustical environment.

If you don't have bass traps then they're also a very excellent improvement. You can't have too many but a minimum of two is a good idea. And the bigger the better.

Warnerwh, that is excellent your room treatments have resulted in great sound and I'm sure you have one of the better systems on Audiogon. My post was addressed to the average audiophile who is looking for a more economic solution to room acoustics. There is another school of thought here which involves selecting components and cabling that works within the existing room acoustics. Not every audiophile is so blessed and knowledgable as you.

Phd: Components and cabling are not nearly as effective as room treatment or a digital equalizer. With the large variation in amplitude in the frequency response of all of our rooms more drastic measures are really necessary to allow our systems to perform to their potential.

I realize this is not possible for everybody due to WAF or other concerns. Imo however if you've got 2k or more into your system and a live room some room treatments may help considerably if your system has issues that are bothering you. With electronics and especially cabling you're much more limited in the improvements.

I'd just like to see everyone realize what they've been missing as I found I did a couple of years ago. Even though I had significant treatments in my last house going all the way improved my sound profoundly. I once even took the rear speakers out of our HT system to see how they'd sound in a good acoustical environment. I was amazed especially considering I think I paid 2 or 300 for a pair of these Polk Rti 25's I believe. They sounded way better than they had any right to. Actually they sounded as good as they're capable of. That's why everyone needs to do the best they can with their room.

I've seen many pics of people's systems that must have cost 2 or three times what mine did of very nice gear. The rooms however have often been absolutely horrible for acoustics. I've also been to people's homes that had nice systems that I knew had way more potential but their rooms were awful. Two of these people after being in my room have also spent a significant amount on room treatment and have thanked me. Just as Undertow above says: The miracle of room treatments. Very well said!