Equalizer Question

Equalizer Question

I was wondering if anyone can provide some insight on an equalizer. When is it really important to have an equalizer with your audio system? If you are just running a new cd receiver to new speakers and are not going to add an amp and subwoofer, is there any benefit or need to add an equalizer or is it just a waste of money? Please post your thoughts. Thanks Guys.

The equalizer just lets you adjust the different levels... If you want more/less... bass, vocals, or hi's. If you arent running a system with an amp for a sub/components then it isnt really worth the money. Your aftermarket head unit should have a good enough EQ built-in. If your going to spend money b/c you want better sound quality then get a nice crossover.

EQ's are probably the most misused/misunderstood piece of equipment in consumer audio.

casual users need not apply unless they just want another flashy toy in their system. for the most part a casual user will do more harm than good to the sound of their system by using an eq, particullary if thy are setting it "by ear" or just setting it to some particullar pattern (youve seen folks with a U-shaped EQ setting? it never works out that way in the real world)

EQ's are used to correct for a peak (or sometimes but less effectavly, boost a null) in the listning environment. in order to properly employ an EQ, one must have some means to generate tones, and analyse the response.

most listening environments have one or more environment generated peaks, these peaks vary in the frequency they occur, and the spread of the frequency depending on th environments size and shape. for best sound these peaks need to be eliminated, but you have to know where and how large they are before you can deal with them.

these peaks vary from environment to environment, and even vary within that environent, EQ settings to perfect the drivers seat will likley be diffrent than settings in the back seat. larger spaces have more dramatic shifts in room modes, and are somewhat harder to EQ.

as an example my last home sub install employed an EQ to tame a peak in my bass (two actually) one at about 40hz (ove 9dB high at the center frequency), and a smaller peak up at about 50 hz. by targeting and removing these peaks with a parametric EQ (a parametric EQ allows you more flexibility on what frequencys are cut) my bass was far less bloated, and made a noticible and worthwhile diffrence. BUT it took several hours of testing and measurement to establish what to cut, and what device to cut it with.

are EQ's worth it? YES, if you are willing to put the effort foreward to use them right.

yep all the way it is for the audio phyle peeeps

it more like fine tuning... manually with lots of option =) not like the cross overs which are fixed....

now correct me if im wrong ... i just made this up lol

manual fine tuning with lots of options.

yup, thats exactly what i said, but far more conciecly. thank you.

an EQ is a tool (there are others, some active, some passive) for extracting a systems potential in its given space, and for eleminating unwanted sonic coloration added by that space.

a crossover allows a given driver to perform within its most accurate frequency range. a good set of crossovers allows a given pair of drivers to blend with one another, seemlessly connecting the two to perform as one wide range driver. its hard to get right, thats why so many high end home speakers are only 2 ways. every driver you add adds another level of crossover, in many cases adding unwanted colorations as well.

so is itworth it to add a crossover to just a receiver and speakers without and amp and sub?

its a question of what is worth it to you. and what your car audio budget is.

ive paid 3 digit sums for 1 meter interconnects for the home rig, so im no stranger to the law of diminishing returns.

the place to start is a new head unit and new speakers. (actually id start with new speakers if i were only doing one at a time)

next id do an amp and a sub.

later finesse things like external crossovers and EQ.

me? i wouldnt go any farther than a mid line head unit (just enough to get pre amp outs) speakers and an amp/sub. (so 1500-2000 spent total)

i feel that any more than that in a car is a waste. the environment of an auto just dosnt give enough benifit to highter end electronics. to that, ill add my rollas sound is stock. if i want to really listen to music ill do it at home where the real system is.

So Mr. Break... do you just peruse these forums all day waiting to expell your audio knowledge onto us little people? Honestly, I didnt understand half your post b/c I got tired of reading.You use big words like "environment" and stuff. j/k haha

I've never been an EQ kinda guy and I still feel its a waste of money unless you have a competition setup. I now know more about an EQ than I ever cared to, but thanks... I guess thats what forums are for.

I'd piggyback on what he said... Go with some upgraded speakers first, I wouldnt worry about an EQ anytime soon

long time membership over here:

HTT and here HTF

will do that to you.

im just here to chat corolla, and stumbled onto an audio pet peve.

and i apoligise for my overuse of the word "environment", but i was trying to convey that the concepts involved were not limited to home, car or PA or any other specific application.