Stevenarrow Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Hello, I am interested in adding an EQ to my hifi. I would like it to be highend and analog (my system is turntable only). I am looking for some recommendations -- I am open to new / used / vintage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwc Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Pro Ashly. http://ashly.com/products/graphic-equalizers Adds zero noise to system. You would have to get XLR to RCA adapters. Done this many times. I have a box full of these. Work great. http://www.musiciansfriend.com/search?typeAheadSuggestion=true&typeAheadRedirect=true&sB=r&Ntt=xlr+to+rca+american Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardLVH Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 i had a DBX 231 which I used with some JBL Pro speakers. I highly recommend it. Perfect for fine tuning your frequency response and room issues. It also sounded great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 50 minutes ago, Stevenarrow said: Hello, I am interested in adding an EQ to my hifi. I would like it to be highend and analog (my system is turntable only). I am looking for some recommendations -- I am open to new / used / vintage... Do you have REW, Omnimic or something similar? Trying to use a 31 band EQ'lizer is extremely difficult and time consuming without some objective info. There is always the old smilye curve but, then you don't need a 31 band unit for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardLVH Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Also what kind of system will you be using it with? And any particular reason you feel you need an EQ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevenarrow Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 1 minute ago, BernardLVH said: Also what kind of system will you be using it with? And any particular reason you feel you need an EQ? I am using a custom Belle 2-way speaker. My amp is a Leben CS-600. I currently don't feel I 'need' an EQ at the moment, but I would like to try one to see what my room is adding / subtracting from my sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardLVH Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Good enough reason to get one. I had a 12 band Technics when I was younger and the DBX 231 more recently. I prefer the 31 band EQ as it gives me more options. I don't find it complicated as you don't have to use all of them, but it does give you the option. Also it's great for learning which frequencies affect which parts of your music. You have the option to experiment a bit. My JBL Pros came with a frequency response chart which I corrected with the EQ as my base line and then corrected it for room response and personal preference from there. Great way to learn and have some fun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevenarrow Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 Can those DBX units be placed in line with the speaker level output or does it have to be before the power amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 ^they are "line" level and need to go between pre amp and amp or in a processor loop. Or between a mixing board and power amp...well you get the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 For 2 Ch, I looked long and hard before settling on a small 9 band graph EQ. It is a nice small unit and does enough adjustment for a 2 channel system with good speaker placement. It is the Berhinger Mini FBQ800 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevenarrow Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 1 hour ago, babadono said: ^they are "line" level and need to go between pre amp and amp or in a processor loop. Or between a mixing board and power amp...well you get the idea. The Leben integrated amp has RCA "record out" > "tape in" and a "tape monitor" switch... so, I should be able to put it in line and switch it off completely when testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) ^yep, a tape monitor loop is (SHOULD BE) perfect. Edited April 27, 2017 by babadono correction suggested by NOS valves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mighty Favog Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 I've been using a dbx 1231 for almost 20-years with dead silent results. For the interconnects, I had Kimber make me some Hero's with WBT-0144 RCA's on one end and their Ultraplate XLR on the other. Can't say I regret it al all. The one I'm using has a bit of a provenance attached to it: I bought it from the guy who recorded the cash-register sounds on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". His shop is called ICB Audio in Norwood, OH just outside Cincinnati. ......shhhhhhhh.......still would like to get a Mac MEN220 one of these eons..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardLVH Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 11 hours ago, Stevenarrow said: The Leben integrated amp has RCA "record out" > "tape in" and a "tape monitor" switch... so, I should be able to put it in line and switch it off completely when testing. That's how I always hooked mine up. Tape in/out and use the Tape monitor button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 I've been using DBX 1231 for around the last 10 years..........when I first got into the 510/402 horns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 20 hours ago, Mighty Favog said: I've been using a dbx 1231 for almost 20-years with dead silent results Works better when you plug it in... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 On 4/25/2017 at 7:08 PM, babadono said: ^yep, a tape monitor loop is perfect. Not in all cases I would check the operating manual or contact Leben before making a purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babadono Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 3 hours ago, NOSValves said: Not in all cases I would check the operating manual or contact Leben before making a purchase. I stand corrected. I'll change my post to "should" be perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff. Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Steve, I just picked up DBX 1231 pretty cheap off Ebay to fine tune my Cornwall's and Cornscala's. People are dumping their analog stuff it seems to go with digital signal processors. Kind of like film cameras with the proliferation of DSLR's... There is an electronics chain down here called Sayal and the XLR to RCA adapters are about six bucks a pop. Then you can use your existing cables. I have read if you keep the run short you should not pick up any interference. I will find out when it arrives in the next day or two. I ALSO just snagged an Ashly Protea 3.6 ( 500 bucks on kijiji) to play around with my 2-way Cornscala's. Both acquisitions are a direct result of the feedback on this forum! (Special thanks to Chris A. and Mark 1101) Same XLR to RCA adapters will work with it. The Ashly has the ability to be used as a 31 band EQ, and SO much more. It will take a little more effort to dial it in, for sure, but I would wind up there sooner or later. Just like Lascala's or the like are an eventuallity! The musician I bought the Ashly from just bought a Behringer X32. I have seen Electrovoice DX38's for around the same price as the Ashly - used, but in conversation after the purchase he mentioned he had used both and found the Ashly to sound better which is why he had originally bought IT. Twenty years ago there would have been an equalizer in ANY system I was using. Loud or soft, you can make your speakers sing. I tried the purist approach and it fell short. If using an EQ means I am not an "audiophile" I can live with that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 Works better when you plug it in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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