Anyone here ever used, or currently uses, a hardware graphic equalizer?

[slugg]

Any recommendations? Care to share your experiences?

 

[biggestmuff]

Originally posted by: slugg
Any recommendations? Care to share your experiences?

why?

 

[slugg]

I'm hoping for some finer control over the EQ... something more than just "bass" and "treble" knobs.

 

[Dream Operator]

It's easier IMO and cheaper to use software EQ. What sound card do you have? What media player do you use?

I find Winamp has a decent enough EQ for basic adjustments. Can't beat free. Not to mention the plug-in options for it are huge.

 

[herm0016]

if you are going to do it, get at least a 15 band parameteric for each channel.

 

[Oyeve]

If you go the HW EQ you know you will be limited to 2.1 or at the very least analog 5.1 right? Outboard EQs dont jive with digital surround.

 

[Smoove910]

Also keep in mind that each component you add to your system will add distortion (as minimal as it may be). Sole reason I haven't used one for years.

 

[woofersus]

It's unlikely the gain (in control) or loss (from distortion) would compare to the change in sound quality you would experience from getting better speakers. I've got a lot of experience in pro audio and studio situations, so I've got quite a bit of exprience with hardware eq's. They are good to have when you need them, and a really nice one can be worth it's weight in gold, but the average computer system/gaming sound setup is NOT limited primarily by tone control. As was mentioned above, you can do that in software easily enough, and it will be as high quality as any hardware eq you'll buy for under $250. If you were going to spend more than that, I may suggest getting a surround receiver and running digital to that as opposed to just adding external processors. Then you could have automated room correction and such.

As an aside, what are you using for speakers?


as another aside, the amount of signal loss (which is not the same as distortion anyhow) that comes from adding a component is probably waaaaay below what you can hear, unless he were to add a $20 radio shack eq or a broken one. Most of the source material you're listening to went through a half a dozen components before getting recorded. What will degrade the sound is crappy components with audio signal paths that aren't clean.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: woofersus

as another aside, the amount of signal loss (which is not the same as distortion anyhow) that comes from adding a component is probably waaaaay below what you can hear, unless he were to add a $20 radio shack eq or a broken one. Most of the source material you're listening to went through a half a dozen components before getting recorded. What will degrade the sound is crappy components with audio signal paths that aren't clean.

Thank god some one who know what they are saying said this

It just Pisses me off when some one brings that

I can understand if your sending the audio through 10+ devices but 2- 5 should not make enough difference

 

[woofersus]

yes, a couple of devices will make a negligible amount of difference. (most decent stuff will have specs that will tell you their signal response, distortion, etc.) I can totally understand the desire for a simple, clean signal path. I just don't think we're dealing with a level audio fidelity where that becomes a major difference maker.