[JLM]

For the last couple of years I've been "slumming" with an Oppo player in my audio system.  My single driver speakers (capable of reaching below 30 Hz) use a baffle step/zobel circuit.  BTW I have a Cardias perscribed audio mancave and nearfield setup with six GIK 244 panels.  I'd like to minimize the investment in the transport, so the Oppo works.  But would like to replace the baffle step/zobel to get a more direct amp/driver connection, upgrade the DAC, and tweak the room response.

So I've been looking into the Behringer DEQ2496, but in stock form is not known for great sound.  I've found three modders of the DEQ2496 (Ric Shultz, Steve Endler, and RAM) but don't know which way to go.  Budget is a important consideration.  I listen mostly to jazz and classical.  Any advise would be appreciated, thanks.

[warnerwh]

You may want to consider that you can just hook a dac up to the DEQ 2496. One benefit is that you can sell it for about what you paid. Another is that you can try different ones. With the mod you're stuck with whatever it sounds like. The resale value just guessing means you'd take a hit when you sell it.

There is a wide selection of used dacs for a price comparable to what mods would cost or less. 

[JLM]

The problem with your suggestion is that I'd still be listening through the stock 2496, using some sort of cheap/decent DAC, and adding additional cabling.  I've had nicer DACs, and haven't been "waiting" just to settle for a so-so solution.

The reviews of any of the modded 2496's would indicate that they are quite impressive.  I suppose thats the real question, just how good are the modded 2496's?

[Bob in St. Louis]

Good thread JLM. I'll be watching with interest.  aa
I've got a stock DCX2496.

Bob

[JLM]

Don't know how, but it'd be great to have a shoot out between all the vendors mods.

I'm an electrical dummy, but the mods seem to clean out more parts than they add.  As a purist and minimalist I really like that.

Oh, and add Asi Tek to the list of modders.

[Regalma]

I have no idea what a modd'ed unit would sound like. But I just did a comparison between my Behringer DEQ2496, Behringer SRC2496 and my Monarchy Audio M24 DAC. The differences were much greater than I expected. The DEQ was heavy and thick, dull The SRC was bright lacking in bass, nothing I would want to listen to. The Monarchy blew both of them away, especially the DEQ. The SRC is suppose to be a good DAC. But I did not like it.

Of course the Monarchy is several several times as expensive.

[sendler]

I have no idea what a modd'ed unit would sound like. But I just did a comparison between my Behringer DEQ2496, Behringer SRC2496 and my Monarchy Audio M24 DAC. The differences were much greater than I expected. The DEQ was heavy and thick, dull The SRC was bright lacking in bass, nothing I would want to listen to. The Monarchy blew both of them away, especially the DEQ. The SRC is suppose to be a good DAC. But I did not like it.

Of course the Monarchy is several several times as expensive.

That's funny because the DEQ and SRC are a very similar design from the dacs through the output (as is the Behringer DCX2496) and sound almost the same in my system. I assume you used the same transport and digital cable for all and that "bypass" was selcted on the DEQ. The other difference is that the SRC has selectable upsampling and bitrate conversion whereas I believe the DEQ runs native from input to output so it may be that the SRC and Monarchy are better able to clean up your transport/ cables. I use an SRC2496 in front of all my digital in gear for sample and bit rate conversion/ jitter reduction and it makes a nice improvement. They look high tech cool too. Considering the low price they are a must have for anyone running digital in.
   .
   Try the DEQ again with the SRC in front of it upsampling to 24/88.2 to see if it improves at least to the level of the SRC.
.
The improvement to either the DCX2496 or the DEQ2496 from implimenting the direct out mod and the dac swap to AK4395 is night and day.

[warnerwh]

The problem with your suggestion is that I'd still be listening through the stock 2496, using some sort of cheap/decent DAC, and adding additional cabling.  I've had nicer DACs, and haven't been "waiting" just to settle for a so-so solution.

The reviews of any of the modded 2496's would indicate that they are quite impressive.  I suppose thats the real question, just how good are the modded 2496's?

Actually the beauty of it is that the signal remains in the digital domain so the DEQ doesn't get to use any other circuits. It goes digital into it and out of it. The quality of the dac will be what affects the sound, not the Behringer. 

 

[JLM]

That's seems right Warnerwh (remember I'm an electrical dummy). 

So the question still is: "Would the mods cost less than a comparible/separate DAC plus 2nd digital cable?"