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Would an inexpensive EQ ruin my sound?


wuzzzer

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I used to have an AudioSource EQ a long long time ago and enjoyed the convenience of being able to adjust the sound over several octaves.

I know that many people are of the opinion that not using an EQ would be best, but if I were to hook one up inline with my receiver and subwoofer's pre-ins and pre-outs, would I be introducing more noise and more distortion into my system?

With my HK 730 I only have a bass and treble knob and I have no idea what frequency that they boost/cut and by how much. I'd like to be able to leave those at their flat position and then get an EQ to adjust specific frequencies.

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Any EQ, and particularly cheap graphs, will introduce noise, distortion and phase shift. Some units control these to a point where it either pleasing or at least unobjectionable. Of course like anything else, some don't.

I've got a 430 twin and I'll say it's a great piece for the bucks, but the 7s will likely sound much nearer their potential with choices other than the 730. Whether SS or tube, a modest upgrade would be well worth the trouble I'd bet, especially when you consider the cost difference between buying a cheap EQ ($100-300) and just trying a different pre & amp.

If you do try an EQ with your current stuff, I'd suggest a decent parametric. I've always found them to be more useful than graphics for what you want. I prefer a bandwidth control on each band if possible, but that's probably a rarity on affordable gear.

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Any EQ, and particularly cheap graphs, will introduce noise, distortion and phase shift. Some units control these to a point where it either pleasing or at least unobjectionable. Of course like anything else, some don't.

I've got a 430 twin and I'll say it's a great piece for the bucks, but the 7s will likely sound much nearer their potential with choices other than the 730. Whether SS or tube, a modest upgrade would be well worth the trouble I'd bet, especially when you consider the cost difference between buying a cheap EQ ($100-300) and just trying a different pre & amp.

If you do try an EQ with your current stuff, I'd suggest a decent parametric. I've always found them to be more useful than graphics for what you want. I prefer a bandwidth control on each band if possible, but that's probably a rarity on affordable gear.

Agreed

You are "Band Aiding" limitations in a solid state reciver; a prety good one but still lacking in some aspects.

I have heard RF-7 sound amazing 2 times. Both times with tubes.

I suggest a EL84 or 7189 or more powerful vintage tube integrated. Most of us "tubies" used vintage tube integrateds as step 1. My LK-48 Scott excels in realism compared to any of the 6 SS integrateds (NAD, Dennon, HK, Sansui and Kenwood) I have owned in the past 5 years.

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I would measure the actual bumps and dips in your room with a cheap RS SPL meter and a Stereophile test disc. That will tell you within 2db what problems need to be solved. A cheap EQ can solve some of those problems, but only if you use about half of the gain or cut required; otherwise it affects other frequencies and introduces other problems. This or acoustic panels or both can really make a big difference to your home movie and music reproduction system. [H]
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