EQ

[manicm]

I don't see the value of EQ on cheap devices like WiiMs, which many hype up on YT - including some professionals. If an otherwise good piece of equipment has no EQ, it's immediately dismissed.

This is a good explainer, and is in no way a condemnation of EQ/DSP.

What is interesting is unlike most other room correction/DSP technologies, Linn's Space Optimisation does not involve any use of a microphone, but does require the dealer/installer to implement it.

This overrated hi-fi feature is an excellent concept poorly executed

EQ delivers sound as you like it, but not without repercussions

www.whathifi.com

 

[Integralista]

I don't see the value of EQ on cheap devices like WiiMs, which many hype up on YT - including some professionals. If an otherwise good piece of equipment has no EQ, it's immediately dismissed.

This is a good explainer, and is in no way a condemnation of EQ/DSP.

What is interesting is unlike most other room correction/DSP technologies, Linn's Space Optimisation does not involve any use of a microphone, but does require the dealer/installer to implement it.

This overrated hi-fi feature is an excellent concept poorly executed

EQ delivers sound as you like it, but not without repercussions

www.whathifi.com

Hi, I absolutely agree with you. It is more important so select the right system than some fidly dsp or whatsoever. But I can understand people who search for such products. It is their way.

 

[abacus]

If you have a perfect room, then providing the equipment is neutral it cannot be bettered, however 99.0% of people don't, so if they want the best out of there system then DSP can help, anyone who says otherwise has not heard what their systems potential is. (Unless you are the 0.1% that have a perfect room)

Bill

 

[Friesiansam]

If you have a perfect room,

And, standard hearing, reference hearing if you will...

 

[Gray]

If I buy a Wiim Ultra, it won't be for its EQ / room correction features.
They could remove both as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Stuart83]

I tend to stay with a systems intended original sound (in that order) obviously because it's what I've built towards using my preferences to shape it so don't tend to mess with it especially after the effort.

Effort one might think is a silly word when mixed with HIFI but chuck in the various trips to demo rooms, hrs of research if not days and everything else especially when combined, then there's room acoustics to bother with which after months I'm still on with.

On that note even rudemantery room acoustics, inc the right placement of furniture or just a reshuffle makes a bigger difference in sound than Dirac etc ever could.
I have an odd shaped room with an alcove and I honestly found it easier having a slight reshuffle and fitting wardrobe doors on runners thus cutting off the alcove easier and exponentially better than anything Dirac etc could muster even with the hrs spent and knowledge gained using it.
The added wardrobe space a bonus rapidly commandeered by my fiancée

I instantly fell out room correction software for the most part finding it ineffective.
In Dirac I found a better type but because of having to be a contortionist with a microphone whilst also having to book in a further full on consultation with a laptop usually because of flat results, it usually ends in me playing command and conquer instead 😮
Don't get me wrong it absolutely has it's place with those who have no way of moving or adjusting a room etc.

I will say the lack of even basic tone controls on some amps is a real issue and step backwards from yrs gone by.
To me they far surpass Dirac etc in the "real world" situations I find myself personally in from time to time.
For those eclectic types cycling genres ie from the Lumineers and classical music to hard tekno and slash metal means that polar opposite amounts of excessive bass needs addressing.

Rudimentary tone controls usually take care of that instantly with the turn of a knob.
All instant and immediately solving the most common issues.
To me I find such room correction softwares more of a gimmick but absolutely see their uses for people with furniture nailed to the floor 😁
Or more realistically and often a partner who's opposed to the moving of anything they so perfectly placed

I've found tuning by ear with a good four band EQ like the Belleri 507 and common sense far surpasses Dirac etc (for me) on the rare occasion I need to adjust things from the HIFI's natural much sort after by me sound.
There's a little more on the bellari attached, I found it a little gem to tinker my way around heavy bass with the odd track and a host of other sound issues in my livingroom where my second hifi lives.

Bellari EQ570–WOW WOW WOW

Oh wow!! I just got the EQ570 a few minutes ago, and currently listening to music through it as I type this. I have goosebumps. My home office stereo system has been bugging me for years now—it doesn’t have the same uumph! factor as my main system. It lacks liveliness, and not as engaging...

audiosciencereview.com

Bellari EQ570 Analog EQ Measurements

The stimulus for this post came from here. I thought a separate topic would be more appropriate as others may be interested in what turned out to be a well-made, yet inexpensive little analog EQ for those who want to keep things simple. I haven't measured an analog EQ in years and it brings back ...

community.klipsch.com

 

[abacus]

I tend to stay with a systems intended original sound (in that order) obviously because it's what I've built towards using my preferences to shape it so don't tend to mess with it especially after the effort.

Effort one might think is a silly word when mixed with HIFI but chuck in the various trips to demo rooms, hrs of research if not days and everything else especially when combined, then there's room acoustics to bother with which after months I'm still on with.

On that note even rudemantery room acoustics, inc the right placement of furniture or just a reshuffle makes a bigger difference in sound than Dirac etc ever could.
I have an odd shaped room with an alcove and I honestly found it easier having a slight reshuffle and fitting wardrobe doors on runners thus cutting off the alcove easier and exponentially better than anything Dirac etc could muster even with the hrs spent and knowledge gained using it.
The added wardrobe space a bonus rapidly commandeered by my fiancée

I instantly fell out room correction software for the most part finding it ineffective.
In Dirac I found a better type but because of having to be a contortionist with a microphone whilst also having to book in a further full on consultation with a laptop usually because of flat results, it usually ends in me playing command and conquer instead 😮
Don't get me wrong it absolutely has it's place with those who have no way of moving or adjusting a room etc.

I will say the lack of even basic tone controls on some amps is a real issue and step backwards from yrs gone by.
To me they far surpass Dirac etc in the "real world" situations I find myself personally in from time to time.
For those eclectic types cycling genres ie from the Lumineers and classical music to hard tekno and slash metal means that polar opposite amounts of excessive bass needs addressing.

Rudimentary tone controls usually take care of that instantly with the turn of a knob.
All instant and immediately solving the most common issues.
To me I find such room correction softwares more of a gimmick but absolutely see their uses for people with furniture nailed to the floor 😁
Or more realistically and often a partner who's opposed to the moving of anything they so perfectly placed

I've found tuning by ear with a good four band EQ like the Belleri 507 and common sense far surpasses Dirac etc (for me) on the rare occasion I need to adjust things from the HIFI's natural much sort after by me sound.
There's a little more on the bellari attached, I found it a little gem to tinker my way around heavy bass with the odd track and a host of other sound issues in my livingroom where my second hifi lives.

Bellari EQ570–WOW WOW WOW

Oh wow!! I just got the EQ570 a few minutes ago, and currently listening to music through it as I type this. I have goosebumps. My home office stereo system has been bugging me for years now—it doesn’t have the same uumph! factor as my main system. It lacks liveliness, and not as engaging...

audiosciencereview.com

Bellari EQ570 Analog EQ Measurements

The stimulus for this post came from here. I thought a separate topic would be more appropriate as others may be interested in what turned out to be a well-made, yet inexpensive little analog EQ for those who want to keep things simple. I haven't measured an analog EQ in years and it brings back ...

community.klipsch.com

Yep great, if you can treat the room, it's always a bonus, however Dirac (Or other room correction software) is not just EQ.

Bill

 

[Stuart83]

Yep great, if you can treat the room, it's always a bonus, however Dirac (Or other room correction software) is not just EQ.

Bill

Agreed but I never advocate messing around with speaker phasing in HIFI for obvious reasons.
Other than messing with speaker phasing these softwares sound output adjustment, bass control and room acoustics etc is still, although automatically all dealt with via EQ/balance adjustments.

I fully understand how Dirac works but that aside often don't find it's results very good (for me), more often than not they return a flat artificial sound, (coincidentally it's a comment often made about dirac especially if not used properly) which needs a further messing around with that is easier a far more effectivly remedied via other means.

I had what turned into a few long conversations and the keeping in contact with a lovely guy called Brian a pro audio technician whilst messing around with dirac and a few others.
It quickly went far deeper (as usual with me) into the inner workings of these softwares following his email which had me wanting to know more when learning about dirac in particular and how to use it more effectively.
He sent via email-

"Dirac does not make sense to me and is not a fix for bad room acoustics. Also improving a room does not need to cost a fortune, just moving furniture or repositioning speakers can make a vast difference. If you have opposing hard walls without acoustic break up (positioning a book case etc. etc.) no software is going to prevent standing waves from occurring which will affect the sound negatively.
Also messing around with the phasing of the material is extremely artificial and frowned upon in the Pro Audio sector.
Regards
Brian"

As said in my original prior post-
"Don't get me wrong it absolutely has it's place with those who have no way of moving or adjusting a room etc"

People may think a "room treatment" because of its name has to be a full on dramatic rebuild but quick and easy things can be done that are far more effective than messing around with speaker phasing which causes it's own problems whilst introduced along side with EQ.

Moving speakers around even slightly or toe out/in can address many problems as I'm sure you know along with the careful placement of a few sound absorbent pictures or acoustic panels brings huge improvements, combine that with softer materials on couches or/and a few rugs placed around that is often overlooked deals with the most common problems.
To go one further small corner Bass traps are none invasive and quickly installed.
Combining them together renders instant improvements.
All quick and easy, anyone can do atleast some of these things.
Most people already have pictures up and rugs down, with throws on their seating in their rooms so in those cases its just a swapping of materials.


I do find Dirac etc a far more useful tool in AV setup's with multiple speakers to deal with mostly as a head start to build onto but for hifi where staying true to source is important and the HI-FI'S components are chosen and bought particularly on their actual sound signature it's not something I personally like.