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A little bit of advice needed on equalizers

R

ridgeway

Member
I'm looking to add an EQ to my setup- to provide room correction and generally flatten things out a bit. I know that EQs have often been dismissed as "bandaids", but I'm not too keen on spending money to fix up the acoustics in my rental. I'll be using it with my rotel receiver (which is the phono stage for my turntable). I'm thinking of getting a BSS FCS-966 or other similar semi-pro EQ.

I have searched the forum already , but the info is too overwhelming to take in, and I just want to get it out of the way before I buy.

Do I just connect it as: Tape out -> RCA-to-XLR -> EQ -> XLR-to-RCA -> Tape in

In the above scenario, will my Rotel's phono stage continue to operate (and be EQ'd)? Will the Rotel's volume knob still continue to control everything?

Do I Set the Gain on the EQ to zero?

Do "pro" EQs output a signal large enough for the tape-in?

Cheers
 
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Pro signal processors typically have input and sometimes even output gain controls. Google the topics of setting gain structure and gain overlap for more info.

Yes, you have the connection scheme correct. Keep in mind that you can easily bypass the EQ by disengaging the Tape Monitor function - assuming of course that your Rotel has this functionality (AVRs don't).
 
AVRs have Audyssey so this entire equalization exercise is mooted. Also, Audyssey adjusts equalization curves for relative listening levels (dynamic equalization).
 
Yeah, I figured that from damacman's comment. I was responding to his knock on AVRs for not having a function required to accommodate a piece of equipment AVRs have made obsolete.
 
awillia6 said:
Yeah, I figured that from damacman's comment. I was responding to his knock on AVRs for not having a function required to accommodate a piece of equipment AVRs have made obsolete.
Click to expand...
It wasn’t a knock, just a statement as the OP didn’t clarify specifics of his Rotel.
 
Looks like that bss would be a good eq also. 30 bands gives you lots of control. Just make sure you don't go with an eq with less then 10 bands. I would suggest staying with a 30 band though.
 
ridgeway said:
I
Do I just connect it as: Tape out -> RCA-to-XLR -> EQ -> XLR-to-RCA -> Tape in
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Yes.

If you wanted, you could use RCA cables you already have with adapters like this.

Using XLR in this case doesn't get you anything more signal-wise as the signal is unbalanced anyway.

As well, you could use no adapters and just cut the ends off some cables (or make cables with only one RCA connection) and use the terminal strip inputs and outputs. The RCA center pin would connect to the (+) terminal, then the RCA shield to the (S) terminal and a jumper from (S) to (-).

GPR-101_RGB_1800.jpg
 
ridgeway said:
I'm looking to add an EQ to my setup- to provide room correction and generally flatten things out a bit. I know that EQs have often been dismissed as "bandaids", but I'm not too keen on spending money to fix up the acoustics in my rental. I'll be using it with my rotel receiver (which is the phono stage for my turntable). I'm thinking of getting a BSS FCS-966 or other similar semi-pro EQ.

I have searched the forum already , but the info is too overwhelming to take in, and I just want to get it out of the way before I buy.

Do I just connect it as: Tape out -> RCA-to-XLR -> EQ -> XLR-to-RCA -> Tape in

In the above scenario, will my Rotel's phono stage continue to operate (and be EQ'd)? Will the Rotel's volume knob still continue to control everything?

Do I Set the Gain on the EQ to zero?

Do "pro" EQs output a signal large enough for the tape-in?

Cheers
Click to expand...

How do you plan on measuring?

An EQ with a mic input and pink noise makes things easier.
 
Just going to get a cheap behringer ECM800 and use Room EQ Wizard and other tools to measure. It won't be a simple press of the button since there are physical knobs to adjust rather than just applying an EQ file, but with some time and patience I'm sure I can get it within the range that I'm happy with.
 
Get the microphone from the Mini DSP folks. It's cheaper than the same mic from Parts Express. Yes, it includes a calibration file for use with REW.
 
not the case in Australia unfortunately. A used behringer is cheap locally, whereas the minidsp mic is nowhere to be found. The behringer's not the best mic in the world, but it's cheap and there's ample info out there for it because it's common

How should I interpret the threads over at Gearslutz? Are their standards higher than ours, or just different?
 
JoeESP9 said:
Get the microphone from the Mini DSP folks. It's cheaper than the same mic from Parts Express. Yes, it includes a calibration file for use with REW.
Click to expand...

And you can play with the ROOMEQ (REW) software for free too. Its a really great setup. Get that mic first.

30 band is great. Use that.

Don't boost dB into nulls!!! :) (Move speakers, treat room or both)
 
ridgeway said:
not the case in Australia unfortunately. A used behringer is cheap locally, whereas the minidsp mic is nowhere to be found. The behringer's not the best mic in the world, but it's cheap and there's ample info out there for it because it's common

How should I interpret the threads over at Gearslutz? Are their standards higher than ours, or just different?
Click to expand...

You do realize the Behringer mic needs a 40V phantom power supply? IOW you will also need a mixer or mic preamp. In addition you'll also need some method of getting the signal from the mixer/preamp to a PC. This most likely means an ADC with a USB output or a PC with line level inputs.

Parts Express carries two versions of the same mic. One is a standard mic using an XLR connection the other is a USB mic. The Umik 1 from Mini DSP is also a USB mic.
 
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JoeESP9 said:
You do realize the Behringer mic needs a 40V phantom power supply? IOW you will also need a mixer or mic preamp. In addition you'll also need some method of getting the signal from the mixer/preamp to a PC. This most likely means an ADC with a USB output or a PC with line level inputs.

Parts Express carries two versions of the same mic. One is a standard mic using an XLR connection the other is a USB mic. The Umik 1 from Mini DSP is also a USB mic.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I use a Tascam US-144 mic mixer/USB interface to do it.

Not sure the USB direct mics even existed when I started with REW. I first did it with manual measurements and a spreadsheet, then advanced to using the Mic output on the Rat Shack SPL meter. Finally upgraded to the ECM8000 and Tascam US-144.
 
ridgeway said:
not the case in Australia unfortunately. A used behringer is cheap locally, whereas the minidsp mic is nowhere to be found. The behringer's not the best mic in the world, but it's cheap and there's ample info out there for it because it's common

How should I interpret the threads over at Gearslutz? Are their standards higher than ours, or just different?
Click to expand...

They create music, record music, and their needs are different from Joe Consumer, the high end people's standards are very much higher than Joe Consumer.
 
I'm fine for the mic preamp. I just don't have an appropriate measurement mic yet.

sqlsavior said:
Treat your room, even if it is a rental.

Cheaper and better, IMO.
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Unfortunately that is definitely not the case. We don't even have owens corning or similar where I live. It'll take a fair amount of money to make a dent in it. It'll be nice to own an EQ anyway. I'll slowly add room treatment over the years, and continually adjust the EQ as I do
 
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