The Logic Off Topic list

Hello, all -

I know full well the stunned silence and subsequent gnashing of teeth  
that usually follows any mention of the word "equalization" among  
audiophiles. The argument that one's hearing can compensate for the  
deficiencies of one's listening environment always struck me as rather  
un-audiophilic. After all, if one can adjust to a sorry listening  
environment without any detriment to the aesthetic experience, one  
should also be able to adjust equally well to a pathetic sound system.  
That, it seems, would rather defeat the sacred quest of the  
audiophile: Perfect Sound Reproduction.

At any rate, preambles aside, would anyone care to recommend an  
equalizer to balance a given listening room? This would be for a  
stereo system, in this case, mostly Acoustat components, including  
electrostatic loudspeakers. I understand that there have been very  
positive steps in equalizer evolution, including vast improvements in  
linearity and phase issues.

Any advice is welcome...

Cheers,
Zenon Marko

On 31.05.2008, at 12:13, Zenon Marko wrote:

> I know full well the stunned silence and subsequent gnashing of teeth
> that usually follows any mention of the word "equalization" among
> audiophiles...
> ...
> At any rate, preambles aside, would anyone care to recommend an
> equalizer to balance a given listening room? This would be for a
> stereo system, in this case, mostly Acoustat components, including
> electrostatic loudspeakers. I understand that there have been very
> positive steps in equalizer evolution, including vast improvements in
> linearity and phase issues.

What about one of the High-tech mastering equalizers? If the makers  
of the best recordings use them, they should get respect from the  
"teeth gnashing" audiophile listeners which are most likely dentists  
themselves ;-)

You can sell the idea as "Re-enginieering the sound after the losses  
of DVD production by using the very same gear that was used before  
the valuable intersamples reached the media."

I would exchange the knobs of the boxes of course. Elliptical knobs  
made of rare exotic wood will increase the acceptance.

But sarcasm aside, based on the assumption that more Golden Ears are  
mounted on the heads of mastering engineers than on the heads of  
Audiophiles I can imagine that an outstanding mastering EQ is able to  
fulfill the requirements.


::::::::::
Peter Ostry

On Jun 1, 2008, at 17:06 , Peter Ostry wrote:

> What about one of the High-tech mastering equalizers? If the makers
> of the best recordings use them, they should get respect from the
> "teeth gnashing" audiophile listeners which are most likely dentists
> themselves ;-)
>
> You can sell the idea as "Re-enginieering the sound after the losses
> of DVD production by using the very same gear that was used before
> the valuable intersamples reached the media."
>
> I would exchange the knobs of the boxes of course. Elliptical knobs
> made of rare exotic wood will increase the acceptance.
>
> But sarcasm aside, based on the assumption that more Golden Ears are
> mounted on the heads of mastering engineers than on the heads of
> Audiophiles I can imagine that an outstanding mastering EQ is able to
> fulfill the requirements.
>
> ::::::::::
> Peter Ostry


Dear Peter,

Thank you for the reply - Good points. I suppose one must pay a  
fortune for those EQs also...

Of course, all music is mixed and mastered for iPods these days...

ZM

I use a Behringher EQ that I fitted with Bubinga wood slider tabs - a 
very nice improvement for the money.  The ipod mixdown is much more 
organic sounding now with a much tighter grain.

On 06.06.2008, at 21:38, john dunne wrote:

> I use a Behringher EQ that I fitted with Bubinga wood slider tabs - a
> very nice improvement for the money.  The ipod mixdown is much more
> organic sounding now with a much tighter grain.

I don't think that this works well. Bubinga is a bit lame in the  
heights. At least for the treble knob you should use Spruce or similar.

::::::::::
Peter Ostry