[I.Greyhound Fan]

I am thinking about using a Pro Rane ME60 31 dual band graphic equalizer (they run about $700 new and have XLR in/outs) to tone down the mid bass hump of my Magnepan 1.6 speakers. It will be set and forget. I am not going to mess with any other frequencies. I will be using a room correction spectrum analyzer to locate and adjust the problem frequency. Has any one used one of these equalizers and what is your opinion on them? Please don't tell me to use room treatments because that is not going to happen due to the Wife. Unfortunately my room is all large windows with wood floor and area rug along with leather and wood furniture.

I am going to put it between my preamp and amp but can it be used between my DAC and preamp and is there any benefit in doing so?

Much thanks,

Larry

[FullRangeMan]

At this price I would like to sell you my mint 9/10 condition 1992 Carver Amazing Silver Ed.
They have a natural mid-bass fall at 180-200Hz and built in eq for mid and hi.
Unfortunately I located in Brazil so ship price is substantial.

Otherwise I never hear about Maggies had a strong mid-bass, what I would loved it.
Regards

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Thanks for the offer.  I have one here locally that I can buy used for $150.

Magnepan 1.6's have a mid bass hump that the newer 1.7's don't have. 

[Hipper]

Two possibilities.

1. Can you move the speakers to alter that hump? What do other Magnepan 1.6 owners do about this problem?

2. You might consider a Behringer DEQ2496, around $300 I think. Also 31 band dual Graphic EQ plus ten band dual Parametric EQ. It also has an ADC and DAC if you need it plus it is only XLR ins and outs. I use one for EQ just in digital and don't find it degrades the sound. I use it between my CD Transport and DAC. If you use it after your DAC it will need the Behringer to do an ADC/DAC conversion. When I used a turntable the phono amp went into the Behringer using its ADC, did its EQ in digital and went to my DAC. I thought it sounded pretty reasonable but others say, as you might expect, that the Behringer ADC and DAC are not the best and it's preferable to use it in digital only.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Two possibilities.

1. Can you move the speakers to alter that hump? What do other Magnepan 1.6 owners do about this problem?

2. You might consider a Behringer DEQ2496, around $300 I think. Also 31 band dual Graphic EQ plus ten band dual Parametric EQ. It also has an ADC and DAC if you need it plus it is only XLR ins and outs. I use one for EQ just in digital and don't find it degrades the sound. I use it between my CD Transport and DAC. If you use it after your DAC it will need the Behringer to do an ADC/DAC conversion. When I used a turntable the phono amp went into the Behringer using its ADC, did its EQ in digital and went to my DAC. I thought it sounded pretty reasonable but others say, as you might expect, that the Behringer ADC and DAC are not the best and it's preferable to use it in digital only.

I have considered the Behringer Ultracurve DEQ2496 to use between my CD player and DAC via its digital optical inputs  and outputs thereby bypassing the internal DAC of the Behringer but my concern is how do I hook up my usb out of my computer to the Behringer for computer music?  I have also read some reviews of the Behringer introducing noise and being unreliable.  Any thoughts on this?

[JLM]

Yes, reliability is a concern with these, that's why I bought mine used (to replace the baffle step circuits in my single driver speakers to satisfy my purist pursuits).

Yes, stock DAC sound quality is poor, that's why I had Scott Endler mod it (supposed to sound as good as the original Benchmark).

[jk@home]

I have considered the Behringer Ultracurve DEQ2496 to use between my CD player and DAC via its digital optical inputs  and outputs thereby bypassing the internal DAC of the Behringer but my concern is how do I hook up my usb out of my computer to the Behringer for computer music?  I have also read some reviews of the Behringer introducing noise and being unreliable.  Any thoughts on this?

Something like this?

http://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/ministreamer

And if you are thinking about a DEQ2496 (using it's digital I/Os), also check out the MiniDSP Nano DIGI. I have both and the MiniDSP has an easier interface, and is compatible with REW.

If all you are using is music off a PC, is there an EQ program you can install to avoid all this?

[*Scotty*]

If you are using jRiver, it has a very functional DSP Parametric Equalizer function that be used to tame this sort of problem without incurring the sonic ills of inferior electronics used to accomplish this task. The parametric equalizer has adjustable filter Q and center frequency as well as the capability to set an almost unlimited number of separate filters.
Scotty

[steve f]

JLM,

Can you provide info on Scott? I'm debating on wether to buy the DEQ 2496 or go miniDSP or I'm open to suggestions. The project is a line source using a single driver array. Thanks.

steve

[JLM]

Haven't written to Scott in years, but he offered good workmanship and great prices on the DEQ2496 mods, stepped attenuators (what he was best known for and I used during my purist days), and custom cables (which I still use).  No complaints on any of his stuff or delivery times.  Scott's modded DEQ2496 kicked one of the original Eastern Electric DACs (with the Pavane tube) to the curb.  Thanks to YouTube the complex controls became decipherable. 

[FullRangeMan]

Thanks for the offer.  I have one here locally that I can buy used for $150.

Magnepan 1.6's have a mid bass hump that the newer 1.7's don't have.

Are you serious? I unaware its so low.

[Hipper]

I've had the basic Behringer DEQ2496 for nine years with no problems.

I don't find it introduces any noise or distortion. Recently I used it's Bypass button, and took it out of the system. I couldn't detect any problems with the sound quality - transients and the like - but because the sound was no longer EQ'd to my tastes, perhaps I couldn't detect it, Or, in other words, the benefits I find in using the Behringer is so great that I can't hear any damage it may do.

It hasn't got any way of inputting a signal from USB. The only way I can think of is to buy a USB/SPDIF converter.

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/15-universal-serial-bus-industry-standard-cables-connectors-and-communications-protocols-between-computers-and-electronic-devices-spdif-converters-shootout-15327/

I agree though that if all you play is from a PC you probably are best using some PC software to do the EQ..

I haven't used a MiniDSP but I understands its method is a bit more sophisticated then standard EQ like the Behringer and is perhaps more then the OP requires. It's more about trying to correct the room particularly if you cannot use room treatment. I gather the OP just requires some sort of superior tone control.

[jk@home]

Slight correction, the Behr DEQ2496 doesn't have coaxial I/Os, just optical and digital XLRs. I have used these on my DEQ to convert to BNC cables (with RCA on the other ends, bought from Blue Jeans) for coaxial:

http://www.neutrik.com/en/accessories/aes-ebu-impedance-transformers/

[rmurray]

 Well as from my more recent posts on using eq  , I have decided on the API 5500 mark II semi parametric....expensive pro gear but should keep up with my level of components ( hope, LOL )

[Hipper]

Well, good luck with that.

If you haven't bought this yet I'd still recommend the Behringer as it's around $300 and it sits in my system that cost something like $20,000. There are quite a few I've heard of on the internet who use this Behringer, or the DCX 2496, in expensive systems.

If you are not satisfied with the Behringer you've lost $300, If you are.....    I was satisfied so never forked out thousands on Tact or DEQX which is what I had planned.

[redbook]

 Is that Behringer  a graphic or a parametric type.

[JLM]

Is that Behringer  a graphic or a parametric type.

Both options available.

[spinner]

EQ is a good way to  balance the speakers with the room. It is always better to reduce the amplitude of any given frequency than increasing it so if  your problem is too much bass than tweak until it sounds better at the listening position ( which really all that counts anyway).