[kinku]

I have been using /abusing a Rane RPM 44 for last 3-4 weeks. It was just for experimenting the acoustic principles.
I was also experimenting with a measurement mic( CSL calibrated Dayton EMM-6) and REW for room measurements.
I have to admit that of all the money I wasted on cables and stuff ,I got the most benefit from this investment. I am not pretending here as Einstein of audiophiles. Fellas believe it or not room interactions and room mods have more impact on sound quality from your system than the golden interconnects and magical cables.
The only issue with Rane is it has a fan on board which can be a lil noisy,but I turned off fan and left the top cover open( only part heat up is SMPS). But on normal setup the SMPS is not going to heat up bad since a compressor and 10 band PEQ on Rane will not take up more than 40% resource at any time.It is an old unit so an need to be changed,the fan is rated only 14dB so it need replacement  obviously.
Moreover RPM44 can be controlled easily through a Windows 7 computer without any wires hooked up through WLAN.I used the same switch for my Squeezebox touch. So you can see the effect of each change in PEQ without moving from your seat. It is a nice feature since acoustic guys say even changing head position few inch changes way sound perceived making things muddy for A/B com-parsion.
It is a very versatile tool for experiment besides PEQ ,it can be used as GEQ and 2/3 way crossover too.
It has digital AES input which I am using with an adaptor ( AES/SPDIF)from eBay.
I used Tascam US-144MKII which comes with digital outs,which I routed through RPM 44 too see effect of PEQ on peaks from SPL curves and have to say it worked like a charm. I did not need more than 4-5 PEQ filters per channel. I know it is not the right way ,I have to treat room but I am in the middle of a relocation and that would be the next step.
Word of caution never use a DSP to boost anything,as I learned from Rane support. Just imagine it like adding brightness to digital pictures which would make it fuzzy but easy to make a bright picture dark without much damage.Same applies to all DSP processing of sound.Always cut never boost.
I know I am going face the wrath of purity audiophiles who are against all EQs. But believe it or not used properly PEQ can be very useful. But you need to have some measurement from room and then use it and ear together to make changes. When you take off some of those bass peaks and mid thorns ,you can hear more from same speakers. Hearing is believing

[JohnR]

I know I am going face the wrath of purity audiophiles who are against all EQs. But believe it or not used properly PEQ can be very useful. But you need to have some measurement from room and then use it and ear together to make changes. When you take off some of those bass peaks and mid thorns ,you can hear more from same speakers. Hearing is believing

Hi kinku, I only just saw this post. Glad you posted it! I agree entirely 

[Guy 13]

Hi kinku and all Audio Circle members.
I agree with you about the acoustic of a room.
Acoustic of a room account for 50% of the quality of the sound.
A Vietnamese that I know and that was new to the wonderful world of audio
bought some horn enclosure with a pair of the best and most expensive Lowther drivers,
but he put the speakers in a room the size of a small bathroom with the acoustic of a bathroom, but he did not mind as he told every audiophiles he invited to listen to his system that the Lowther were the most expensive drives money could buy (2,495 USD).
I am sure my GR Research V1 sounds better than his Lowther even if my listening room is not very well acoustically treated.
Just wanted to share this with you and all Audio Circle members,
even if I am sure that many Audio Circle members know that already.
I am not a believer in active equalizing devices, but I have nothing against it if the person can hear an improvement.

Guy 13